For the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games, USA Biking has set the formidable aim of securing 7-10 medals, putting their hopes squarely on the shoulders of their feminine athletes, and observe cyclists specifically.
The American federation right this moment unveiled the star-studded observe squad meant to satisfy these objectives, led by three-time World Champion and Olympic Champion Jennifer Valente (Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY24) and seven-time observe world champion and two-time Olympic medalist Chloe Dygert (Canyon-SRAM) — each making their third Olympic appearances.
Valente, already a four-time Olympic medalist, is poised to compete in all three girls’s observe endurance occasions: Group Pursuit, Madison and Omnium. On the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Valente made historical past by securing USA’s first Olympic gold within the Ladies’s Omnium. She continued her streak by successful her first particular person World Title within the Omnium a month later.
“I am excited to formally be named to my third Olympic crew. The Olympic Video games have all the time been particular to me, and this time round is simply as fascinating,” says Valente. “The journey to Paris has been its personal distinctive course of with new challenges on this shortened quad. I am thrilled to be lining up alongside longstanding teammates and a few recent faces.”
Within the Ladies’s Madison, a race that made its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, Valente will crew up as soon as once more with Lily Williams (Human Powered Well being). Williams will even return to the Group Pursuit squad, a self-discipline during which she received the 2020 World Championship and the Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo.
Dygert, the reigning UCI World Champion within the Particular person Time Trial on the street and the Particular person Pursuit on the observe, is a big-time Olympic favourite. She’s simply 27 years previous however will probably be making her third journey to the Olympics as a member of each Group USA’s street and observe biking groups. On the observe, she’ll be an important member of the Group Pursuit squad.
“I’m really blessed to be chosen for my third Olympic Video games in USA colours. Grateful for many who go above and past behind the scenes to ensure I am one of the best I will be on and off the bike. We are going to see you in Paris,” feedback Dygert.
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The Olympic debutants becoming a member of the Group Pursuit roster are U.S. nationwide street race champion Kristen Faulkner (EF Schooling-Cannondale) and Olivia Cummins (DNA Professional Biking), a member of the successful Pan American Championships Group Pursuit squad.
Faulkner has made a fast rise within the biking world since beginning bike racing in 2020. She’s already received two Nationwide Championship medals to her title in addition to three Grand Tour stage wins over the previous two years.
“I dreamed of competing within the Olympics ever since I used to be 8 years previous, and I noticed it on T.V. That is the largest dream I’ve ever had, and it is lastly come true,” says Faulkner. “I’m past excited to characterize the USA alongside such a robust group of athletes. I’ll do my finest to convey residence a medal for Group USA!”
Group USA’s observe squad additionally has a male presence, albeit a really small one. Grant Koontz (Trak Star Biking) is the one U.S. male contender in observe biking on the Paris Olympic Video games. Koontz has had a standout 12 months, successful titles on the Pan American Championships within the Elimination, Madison, and Group Pursuit, in addition to a bronze medal within the Adelaide Nations Cup Elimination Race. He’ll be representing the celebrities and stripes within the Omnium race.
“The Olympics has been a lifelong obsession of mine, and I am extremely grateful to be named to the crew. I nonetheless cannot fairly consider I will be representing Group USA in Paris this summer season. It is really a dream come true, and I’ve 1,000,000 individuals to thank for serving to me get there,” says Koontz. “However for now, it is again to coaching and protecting to the grind that helped me get right here within the first place.”
The Paris 2024 Olympic Video games kick off on July 26, 2024, with biking occasions scheduled daily. Observe occasions start on Tuesday, August 6, and can conclude on Sunday, August 11. Group USA’s BMX and street biking crew have but to be introduced however its four-member mountain bike squad was unveiled earlier this week.
Group USA’s mountain bike roster contains two Tokyo 2020 returning Olympians and two first-timers: 2024 Pan American Champion Haley Batten, Christopher Blevins, U.S. Nationwide Champion Savilia Blunk and prolific XCO podium finisher Riley Amos.
This group of riders has had an excellent begin to the 2024 season, collectively incomes 6 Elite Cross-Nation Olympic (XCO) podiums, 5 Elite Brief Observe (XCC) podiums, and an ideal season within the U23 Males’s races.
