Marquardt sets unofficial national track record in women’s 1km time trial

31 August 2020

Team Novo Nordisk’s Mandy Marquardt unofficially set a new US National Track Record in the Women’s 1km Time Trial on August 30 at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center in Trexlertown, Penn. Marquardt clocked a time of 1:08.694 (52.4kph average) at the 2020 Ocean Spray Time Trial Record Day.

The record is unofficial until U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) results are confirmed and the bike inspection is verified by USA Cycling.

“This ride meant a lot because my former teammate and Olympic medalist, Kelly Catlin, who passed away last year currently holds that record. We were roommates at major events, sharing some close conversations and she inspired me in many ways. This ride was to personally honor Kelly.” said Marquardt.

Marquardt bettered her own Valley Preferred Cycling Center Track Record of 1:11.168 and (unofficially) the National Record by 3 seconds in less than ideal weather conditions for speed. The previous record was set by Kelly Catlin in 2016 in a time of 1:11.652 at altitude in Aguascalientes, Mexico.

“After I finished, I was taking a lap to collect myself and waiting on a reaction from my coach and he gave me the thumbs up and was there to catch me with my Colnago road bike in hand. My legs felt like bricks,” she added with a smile. “My family was there to support me and it was awesome to see my Edge Cycling teammates crush it too.”

“Last summer, I attempted the record and my time was 1:11.168 – it was a track record. It never became an official National Record because I had to be tested by USADA within 24 hours and I wasn’t aware of that. This time, I made sure all the pieces were together for this attempt. It felt awesome to do that in my new National Champion kit by GSG Cycling Wear.”

Earlier in the day, Marquardt finished second in the Women’s Flying 200m, with a time of 11.38.

“The day was really motivating as I continue this big block of training. Some days I’m at training and am frustrated with how slow I am going, but coach Andrew Harris reminds me and my teammates that it’s all part of the process. This is the year to really lay down all the groundwork.”

The outdoor facility at T-Town, with its 333-meter concrete cycling track, held a various time trial events this summer for the socially-distancing series.

“The velodrome has put on time trials over the summer, not the normal racing schedule, but they still managed to make it all happen in these unprecedented times. I think now it’s almost more meaningful,” Marquardt mused, “that out of a period that was really challenging, personally, something great came from it.”