For the third year in a row, the Golden Wheel Race will come to the Valley Preferred Cycling Center in Trexlertown, Pennsylvania. The Friday, August 8 event highlights one of the most exciting forms of bicycle racing: the wheel race. Otherwise known as a "handicap", the wheel race has riders qualify for a seeded final via traditional events such as the scratch, elimination, and points.
In the wheel race final, riders are ranked according to speed and ability, and are then staggered around the track for the start of the race. The objective of staggering the start is to give all riders a fair chance to win the race, producing arguably the most exciting finish in cycling.
Professional riders scheduled to attend this Friday's race are Argentina's Leandro Bottasso, New Zealand's Simon VanVelthooven, Australian national team members Jason Niblett and Kaarle McCulloch. Jackie Simes, a Trexlertown native, will also hit the track along with Ben Barczewski, last year's Rider of the Year Pete Fitzpatrick and host of many other international riders.
In conjunction with the wheel race, the Corporate Challenge teams will fight for "bragging rights" in the Lehigh Valley. Eighteen different corporate teams will duke it out in the Italian Pursuit time trials to see who will bring home the title of "fastest business in the Valley". Participants in the Corporate Challenge include Air Products, Lehigh Carbon Community College, Mack Truck, Valley Sports and Arthritis Surgeons, Dual Temp, St. Lukes, Red Robin, Rodale Press, Bicycling Magazine, Fuji Bicycles, Ondra-Huyett Associates Inc., and Valley Preferred.
Gates will open at 6:30 and racing will begin promptly at 7:30. To view ticket prices for all World Series of Bicycling events please go to www.valleypreferredcycling.com.
