On the fourth day of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow, Jennifer Valente (San Diego; TWENTY24 Pro Cycling) raced her second individual event of the week, the Women’s Elimination Race. She earned bronze, making this her 19th World Championship medal. With that impressive total Valente becomes the most decorated American track cyclist.
The Elimination Race whittles down the number of racers each lap until it’s down to two riders and a sprint for gold. At the 2022 UCI Track World Championships, Valente earned the bronze medal, but her sights were set on the top step of the podium in 2023.
The race was fast and technical with riders starting the event who don’t ordinarily race the event. There was a three-person crash mid-way through the race. Shaking up the field and changing up the riding style in the race. Valente was able to whittle down the field to just herself, Lotte Kopecky (BEL), and Valentine Fortin (FRA).
When asked about her impressive performance, Valente said, “The race was good, hard but good. Following up the 2022 result with another bronze is good. I'm proud of the result. Taking home another medal is something no one should take for granted.”
Valente always takes something away from a race, “I learned so much from the race. I was able to get a feel for what to expect on Wednesday. How this track will ride during the Omnium Scratch Race. How the riders will behave during the rest of racing.”
Valente returns to the track on Monday for the Women’s Madison event in the evening. She’ll be partnering with Lily Williams (Tallahassee, Fla.; Human Powered Health).
