Colorado Springs, Colo. – USA Cycling today unveiled the final team to race at the 2018 Pan-American Elite Track Championships. The lineup of 10 men and seven women will represent Team USA over the five-day event, running Aug. 29 - Sept. 2, 2018 at the Aguascalientes Mexico at the Bicentennial Velodrome.
“We are excited to have an elite group of riders to the Pan Am Championships,” said Jeff Pierce, USA Cycling director of elite athletics. “This event is an opportunity for each member of the team to race against some of the best internationally at one of the fastest tracks in the world and to gain valuable UCI points, which will help secure start positions at key international races.”
Riders on the final team were selected based on results at World Championships, the USA Cycling Elite Track National Championships, World Cup performances this season, and finishes at other UCI races. Among them are members of the 2018 World Champion women’s Team Pursuit squad of Jennifer Valente (San Diego, Calif.), Kelly Catlin (Arden Hills, Minn.), and Kim Geist (Allentown, Pa.). Valente captured three gold medals at last year’s Pan Am races, winning the Points Race, Scratch and Omnium. Madalyn Godby (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Mandy Marquardt (Allentown, Pa.) will be also looking to defend gold after winning the Team Sprint at the Pan Am Championships one year ago.
The men’s lineup features several members of the USA Cycling National Team, including Adrian Hegevary (Ashville, N.C.), Dan Holloway (Boulder, Colo.), Gavin Hoover (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), Ashton Lambie (Lawrence, Kan.), Colby Lange (Vail Valley, Colo.), and Eric Young (Geneva, Ill.).
USA Cycling Final Team for the 2018 Pan-American Elite Track Championships:
MEN
Joe Christiansen (Lyons, Colo.), Keirin, Sprint, Team Sprint
Sandor Delgado (Hialeah, Fla.), Sprint, Team Sprint
Josh Hartman (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Keirin, Team Sprint
Adrian Hegevary (Ashville, N.C.), Madison, Team Pursuit
Dan Holloway (Boulder, Colo.), Madison, Omnium, Points Race, Team Pursuit
Gavin Hoover (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), Individual Pursuit, Team Pursuit
Ashton Lambie (Lawrence, Kan.), Individual Pursuit, Team Pursuit
Colby Lange (Vail Valley, Colo.), Team Pursuit
Dominic Suozzi (Fountain Hills, Ariz.), Team Sprint
Eric Young (Geneva, Ill.), Points Race, Team Pursuit
WOMEN
Christina Birch (Los Angeles), Madison, Omnium, Points Race, Team Pursuit
Kelly Catlin (Arden Hills, Minn.), Individual Pursuit, Team Pursuit
Kim Geist (Allentown, Pa.), Madison, Team Pursuit
Madalyn Godby (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 500M, Keirin, Sprint, Team Sprint
Mandy Marquardt (Allentown, Pa.), 500M, Keirin, Sprint, Team Sprint
Jennifer Valente (San Diego, Calif.), Madison, Omnium, Points Race, Scratch, Team Pursuit
Jennifer Wheeler (Seattle), Individual Pursuit, Team Pursuit
The USA Cycling selection criteria for the 2018 Pan-American Elite Track Championships is available here.
The Pan American Championships are held annually for member nations of the Pan American Cycling Confederation. Riders competing in the Pan American Cycling Championships are selected by their respective national governing bodies and provide another avenue for athletes to qualify for World Championships.
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Please contact Kelly Fox with questions at apalermo@usacycling.org
