Nebraska Cycling News

U.S. Medal Count Stands at Two with Four Events Remaining

Manchester, Great Britain - Jennie Reed (Kirkland, Wash.) gave the United States Cycling Team its second medal of the 2008 UCI Track Cycling World Championships on Saturday with a bronze in the women's sprint.

Reed bested Guo Shuang (CHN) in two out of three head-to-head rides to claim her first career world championship sprint medal.  After falling in two straight rides to defending champion Victoria Pendleton (GBR) in the semifinals, Reed was sent to the bronze-medal round for a face-off with Guo.  Reed won the first heat but was beaten by Guo in the second to set up a third and decisive ride.  In the decider Reed edged Guo in a photo-finish to place third overall. 

"I haven't medaled in my whole career, but once I made the top four I was like 'I can't go home without a medal'," said Reed.  "Then after losing the second ride I knew I had to go to the line wanting it the most. I just didn't want to leave anything out there."

Saturday's bronze in the sprint was her second-ever world championship medal after winning a bronze in the keirin in 2004.  On the international circuit, Reed is primarily thought of as a stronger keirin rider. But since the keirin isn't an Olympic event, Reed is refocusing her efforts towards the sprint.

"The last few years, I was more of a keirin rider and I think I was a little bit settled on that," explained Reed, "but working with Andy Sparks made me really believe in myself in the sprint, so we decided to give it a go this year."

Reed's bronze-medal performance at the world championships less than five months away from the Beijing Games confirms her potential as a medal favorite.

In the gold-medal final, Pendleton gave Great Britain its ninth world title of the week as she successfully defended her 2007 crown.  Simona Krupeckaite (LTU) fell to Pendleton in two straight rides to take the silver.

Reed will compete for a second medal on Sunday as the women's keirin is one of four events scheduled for the final day of competition.

In the women's 25-kilometer points race on Saturday, the United States' Becky Quinn (Quakertown, Pa.) placed eighth after scoring seven points in a highly-animated race.  Three riders - including eventual race winner Marianne Vos (NED) - managed to lap the field and collect 20 points each.  Quinn was in medal contention until the third rider to lap the field, Italy's Vera Carrara, did so late in the race to ultimately put the podium out of reach for the American.

Quinn's seven points came in four of the race's 10 intermediate sprints. As the only three women who lapped the field, Vos won the gold medal with 33 total points while Trine Schmidt (DEN) was second with 25 points and Carrara was third with 20 points.

Also on Saturday, the team of Colby Pearce (Boulder, Colo.) and Michael Friedman (Pittsburgh, Pa.) rode to a 13th-place finish in the men's madison.  The pair scored four points over three of the race's 10 intermediate sprints, but finished two laps down from the leaders. Great Britain won the event as one of five teams on the lead lap with 19 points.  Germany was second with 13 points and Denmark placed third with 11.

The 2008 UCI Track Cycling World Championships conclude on Sunday as several more U.S. riders will be in action. Joining Reed in competition will be Bobby Lea (Mertztown, Pa.), who will compete in the multi-event men's omnium, and Quinn, who will contest the women's scratch race. 

Cycling fans can watch the action live online at www.WCSN.com.

2008 UCI Track Cycling World Championships

Manchester, Great Britain

March 26-30

Day Four Results:

Women's Points Race
1. Marianne Vos (NED) 33
2. Trine Schmidt (DEN) 25
3. Vera Carrara (ITA) 20
8. Becky Quinn (Quakertown, Pa.) 7

Women's Sprint
1. Victoria Pendleton (GBR)
2. Simona Krupeckaite (LTU)
3. Jennie Reed (Kirkland, Wash.)

Men's Madison

1. Great Britain 19

2. Germany 13

3. Denmark 11

13. United States 4, -2

About USA Cycling
Recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee and the Union Cycliste Internationale, USA Cycling promotes American cycling through its 60,000 members and 2,500 annual events. USA Cycling associations include the BMX Association (BMX), National Off-Road Bicycle Association (mountain bike), U.S. Cycling Federation (road/track), the National Collegiate Cycling Association and the U.S. Professional Racing Organization (professional men's road). For more information, visit www.usacycling.org or contact USA Cycling Director of Communications, Andy Lee at 719-866-4867.