Valente’s Silver & Bronze and Dygert’s Silver Were Team USA’s Only Medals at an Otherwise Disappointing World Championships
Day 1 (October 16, 2024): Valente Claims Silver in Women’s Scratch Race, Men’s Team Pursuit Finishes Fifth
The 2024 UCI Track World Championships began with Team USA competing in the Men’s Team Pursuit and Women’s Scratch Race at the Ballerup Super Arena. Jennifer Valente (San Diego; Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY24) narrowly missed reclaiming her world title, finishing second behind Loren Wiebes (Netherlands) in the Women’s Scratch Race. Valente was reabsorbed by the group with seven laps to go but sprinted to secure the silver. Ally Wollaston (New Zealand) finished third.
Women’s Scratch Race Results:
1. Loren Wiebes (Netherlands)
2. Jennifer Valente (USA)
3. Ally Wollaston (New Zealand)
Team USA’s Elite Men’s Team Pursuit squad, consisting of Anders Johnson, David Domonoske, Grant Koontz, and Brendan Rhim, placed fifth overall. After qualifying fourth, they raced Great Britain but narrowly missed advancing with a time of 3:54.887.
Elite Men’s Team Pursuit Results:
1. Great Britain
2. Denmark
3. Italy
5. United States (3:54.887)
Day 2 (October 17, 2024): Valente Adds Bronze in Women’s Elimination; Lange Finishes 20th in Men’s Scratch Race
Jennifer Valente added another medal to her collection, securing bronze in the Women’s Elimination Race. She stayed at the front throughout but was eliminated by Lotte Kopecky (Belgium) and Ally Wollaston (New Zealand) in the final laps. Wollaston ultimately won, beating Kopecky in a sprint finish.
Women’s Elimination Race Results:
1. Ally Wollaston (New Zealand)
2. Lotte Kopecky (Belgium)
3. Jennifer Valente (USA)
On the men’s side, Colby Lange (Edwards, Colo.; Chaney Windows and Doors) competed in the Men’s Scratch Race but struggled to stay with the leaders, finishing two laps down in 20th place. Kazushige Kuboki (Japan) took gold, with Tobias Aagaard Hansen (Denmark) and Clement Petit (France) rounding out the podium.
Men’s Scratch Race Results:
1. Kazushige Kuboki (Japan)
2. Tobias Aagaard Hansen (Denmark)
3. Clement Petit (France)
20. Colby Lange (USA)
Day 3 (October 18, 2024): Moore Just Outside the Medals in Points Race, Johnson Top-Ten in Individual Pursuit
Peter Moore gave a standout performance in the Men’s Points Race, finishing fourth overall. He earned points in sprints three and 15, totaling 48 points, just 18 points shy of the podium. Sebastian Mora Vedri (Spain) claimed gold, followed by Niklas Larsen (Denmark) and Philip Heijnen (Netherlands).
Men’s Points Race Results:
1. Sebastian Mora Vedri (Spain)
2. Niklas Larsen (Denmark)
3. Philip Heijnen (Netherlands)
4. Peter Moore (USA)
Anders Johnson led Team USA in the Men’s Individual Pursuit, placing eighth with a time of 4:08.623, while Brendan Rhim finished 12th. Jonathan Milan (Italy) won gold, with Josh Charlton (Great Britain) and Daniel Bigham (Great Britain) taking silver and bronze, respectively.
Men’s Individual Pursuit Results:
1. Jonathan Milan (Italy)
2. Josh Charlton (Great Britain)
3. Daniel Bigham (Great Britain)
8. Anders Johnson (USA)
12. Brendan Rhim (USA)
In the Men’s Time Trial, David Domonoske finished 20th with a time of 1:02.559. Harrie Lavreysen (Netherlands) took the top spot.
Men’s Time Trial Results:
1. Harrie Lavreysen (Netherlands)
2. Jeffrey Hoogland (Netherlands)
3. Joseph Truman (Great Britain)
20. David Domonoske (USA)
Jennifer Valente competed in the Women’s Omnium, finishing ninth overall with 82 points after four events. Ally Wollaston (New Zealand) won the event, followed by Jessica Roberts (Great Britain) and Anita Yvonne Stenberg (Norway).
Women’s Omnium Results:
1. Ally Wollaston (New Zealand)
2. Jessica Roberts (Great Britain)
3. Anita Yvonne Stenberg (Norway)
9. Jennifer Valente (USA)
Day 4 (October 19, 2024): Chloe Dygert Breaks World Record, Secures Silver in Women’s Individual Pursuit
Chloe Dygert (Brownsburg, Ind.; CANYON//SRAM Racing) broke her own world record in the Women’s Individual Pursuit with a time of 3:15.663 but was edged out in the final by Anna Morris (Great Britain), who won gold. Dygert settled for silver, while Bryony Botha (New Zealand) took bronze. Emily Ehrlich also competed, finishing 10th.
Women’s Individual Pursuit Results:
1. Anna Morris (Great Britain)
2. Chloe Dygert (USA)
3. Bryony Botha (New Zealand)
10. Emily Ehrlich (USA)
In the Women’s Madison, Tokyo 2020 Olympic Madison partners Megan Jastrab and Jennifer Valente finished sixth with 9 points. Denmark claimed the win with 46 points, followed by France and Great Britain.
Women’s Madison Results:
1. Denmark – 46 points
2. France – 43 points
3. Great Britain – 42 points
6. United States – 9 points
In the Men’s Omnium, Grant Koontz finished 13th after placing fourth in the Scratch Race but struggled in the other three events. Lindsay de Vylder (Belgium) won the gold.
Men’s Omnium Results:
1. Lindsay de Vylder (Belgium)
2. Simone Consonni (Italy)
3. Yanne Dorenbos (Netherlands)
13. Grant Koontz (USA)
Day 5 (October 20, 2024): Valente Finishes Ninth in Points Race; Koontz and Lange Struggle in Final Events
On the final day, Jennifer Valente finished ninth in the Women’s Points Race, earning 25 points. Julie Leth (Denmark) took gold, followed by Lotte Kopecky (Belgium) and Lara Gillespie (Ireland).
Women’s Points Race Results:
1. Julie Leth (Denmark)
2. Lotte Kopecky (Belgium)
3. Lara Gillespie (Ireland)
9. Jennifer Valente (USA)
Grant Koontz finished 18th in the Men’s Elimination Race, which was marked by crashes and relegations. Tobias Aagaard Hansen (Denmark) won the event.
Men’s Elimination Race Results:
1. Tobias Aagaard Hansen (Denmark)
2. Elia Viviani (Italy)
3. Dylan Bibic (Canada)
18. Grant Koontz (USA)
In the Men’s Madison, Colby Lange and Peter Moore finished 14th after struggling to stay with the leaders. Germany won the race, followed by Belgium and Denmark.
Men’s Madison Results:
1. Germany
2. Belgium
3. Denmark
14. United States
