Marquardt Celebrates Her Birthday with Two UCI Wins at Final Weekend of T-Town Summer Games
13 August 2021
Mandy Marquardt celebrated her birthday with two victories at the third and final weekend of the T-Town UCI Summer Games, August 6-7. She claimed the UCI Elite Women’s Keirin and UCI Elite Women’s Sprint at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center in Trexlertown, Penn.
Following a very successful three-weekend series where Marquardt won all the events she entered, she is now ranked 10th in the UCI Women’s Elite World Sprint Ranking, and 9th in the UCI Women’s World Keirin Ranking. Marquardt is the highest-placed American rider in both World Rankings.
On Friday, in the UCI Keirin, Marquardt won her qualifying heat, then went on to win the quarterfinals to secure a spot in the Women’s Keirin Major final. Marquardt rode a strong and tactical ride to take the win, followed by Amber Joseph of Barbados in second place and Sarah Orban of Canada in third.
“It was great to kick off my birthday weekend doing what I love,” exclaimed Marquardt. “Really happy to take the win and McKenna [McKee], who is only a Junior, took fourth and earlier that morning she won the U23 UCI Women’s Junior Keirin. It’s great having a teammate out there. I’m proud of the growth she’s made and excited for our future together!”
On Saturday, Marquardt celebrated her birthday racing the UCI Women’s Sprints. In the morning session, she set a personal best time of 11.197 on the T-TOWN track in the 200m qualification for the Sprints, putting her in the top spot. That time is also the second-fastest time ever set in the 200m for the women at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center. Marquardt went on to win the quarter-final ride against American Mary Wintz and later that evening the Semifinals (best two out of three rides) against Kayla Hankins. In the Finals, Marquardt faced Nicole Hacohen Rodriguez of Guatemala and won both sprint rounds to take the win.
“It’s been a great training and race block. I’m having fun. I’m really happy with my results and performance all around. I’ve put in the work on and off the bike – physically and mentally and it’s paying off. Good things are on the horizon,” Marquardt concluded.
Next on the schedule is the UCI Track Cycling Nations Cup in Cali, Colombia, scheduled for September 9-12.
Photos: Vishrut Garg (@vishrut_fa)