National Champion Marquardt Takes Two UCI Wins at the first weekend of the T-Town Summer Games Series

Strong off her four national titles at the U.S. National Track Championships last week, Mandy Marquardt of Team Novo Nordisk went two-for-two at the first event of the UCI T-Town Summer Games Series, winning the Elite Women’s Keirin on Friday, and the Elite Women’s Sprint the following day. Held at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center in Trexlertown, Pennsylvania, the UCI T-Town Summer Games Series is scheduled over three consecutive weekends from July 23 to August 7.

The two days of racing started with the Elite Women’s Keirin on July 23. Marquardt, wearing the Stars and Stripes, took the win in Friday morning’s qualifying heat. Team Novo Nordisk Ambassador and sprinter McKenna Mckee was also in the same qualifying heat.

Marquardt said, “It’s great to have McKenna staying with me for the series and getting more race experience on the track. You can see the joy in her journey. She’s only 17, keeping an open mind on learning and improving her race tactics. It’s fun to be in it together!” McKenna also raced the U23 Keirin and came in 4th and 9th in the Elite Women’s Keirin.

In the evening, Marquardt raced the Women’s Elite 1-6 Major Keirin Final, and made her way to the front of the Keirin. She rode an aggressive and tactical ride to win the gold. Silver was Canadian National Team Member Sarah Orban and American Kayla Hankins in third. 

On Saturday morning, July 24, Sprint National Champion Marquardt qualified first with a time of 11.255 putting her in a good position for the sprint tournament.

“Despite it not being very fast race conditions and continuing to train hard, I was really happy with my qualifying time. It was a Personal Best on this track,” she noted.

Following her qualification, Marquardt won the quarterfinal ride against American Mary Wintz. In the Semifinals, Marquardt won both rides against Orban and met Guatemalan Nicole Hacohen Rodriguerz in the finals, winning both rides to come away with the victory in the Elite Women’s Sprint.

“It’s really great that the velodrome is hosting their own T-Town Summer Games Series. As much as I’d love to be in Tokyo right now, I’m happy to be home and racing with some top international riders. I’m keeping a good perspective on what’s ahead and wishing my USA Cycling teammates all the best in Tokyo,” Marquardt concluded.

The outdoor facility at T-Town, with its 333-meter concrete cycling track, will hold two more UCI Class-1 events this summer, the T-Town Summer Games: Festival of Speed, July 30-31 and T-Town Summer Games: Fastest Man/Woman on Wheels, August 6-7.

Photos courtesy of Vishrut Garg (@vishrut_fa) and Trevor Raab (@Trevorraab)