Oregon Cycling Magazine

by Dave Campbell

Now in its eighth year, North America’s richest track race—the Alpenrose Velodrome Challenge—saw exciting competition amongst world-class riders with a strong Portland-area contingent competitive in every event. Riders from both near and far love riding the unique 268-meter cigar-shaped concrete track whose banks peak at a nerve-rattling 43 degrees. With over $12,000 on offer, top North American “trackies”, one of cycling’s most passionate subcultures, convened July 7-9 at Portland’s Alpenrose Dairy for the unique combination of friendly cameraderie and fierce, aggressive competition that is at the heart of track cycling, the oldest form of bicycle racing.

Time Trials
The breezy, sun-baked weekend opened with time trials and the local riders immediately made their presence felt amongst their top-level competitors. Alpenrose regular Seth Hosmer (CMG Racing/Alpine Mortgage) won the 4000 meter pursuit in front of Seattle’s Daniel Harm (Recycled Cycles) and Californian Mike Garrett (Kahala-LaGrange) with a solid 5:06.99. His teammate Andrea Fisk dominated the women’s 3000 meter event in 4:13.35 in front of Heather VanValkenburg (Team Rubicon) and San Jose Bike Messenger Mary Maroon (Cyclesport-Trummer Pils). In the Womens 500 Meters, San Diego’s Becky Quinn (Spike Pro Cycling Team) notched the first of what would be many victories with a time of 39.25 in front of Canadian National Champion Auna-Brit Erickson (Symmetrics) and Vancouver teacher VanValkenburg. In the Mens Kilometer, local rider Steven Beardsley (Team Rubicon) posted an impressive 1:10.75 to top Calgary’s Felix Haspel (Synergy Racing Club) and 19-year-old Tom Hanley of Indiana (Bacardi/NUVO).

Miss & Out
One of track racing’s signature events, and most unique, is the Miss & Out where the last rider every other lap is pulled until only three remain to contest a 3-lap finale. Pro Trackie Quinn, a veteran of the World Cup Circuit and reigning National Scratch Race Champion astutely and consistently stayed up front, often tucked behind Pro Roadie Kele Murdin (Velo Bella Kona) of Seattle.

Murdin, new to the track but clearly one of the strongest riders, drove the pace relentlessly until only she, Quinn, and multiple World Masters Champion Annette Hanson (First Rate Mortgage) of Washington remained. Murdin tried to go long but Quinn’s sprint power was unmatched as she overcame Hanson on the backstretch with Murdin in third. Portland’s gritty Darien Curl (Team Rubicon) hung tough to be the last rider eliminated, thus placing 4th. Curl’s teammate Beardsley displayed similar local heroics to end up 4th, leaving Aussie Peter Fitzpatrick (Velocity Sports) to impressively outspeed Hanley and the easy-going Garrett.

Scratch
Fitzpatrick, who calls Pennsylvania’s Trexlertown his home track, would prevail in another Classic Track endurance race… the 10 mile Scratch Race in a blistering 21:10 despite being bandaged from a crash in the Kierin heats. There was an AVC bonus, though, with $3 and $2 primes to each laps leaders, assuring the pace would be high throughout the 60 laps and giving the riders significant earning opportunity. The 2004 Australian National Team Pursuit Champion took a lap in the company of Hanley, Garrett, and Canadians Matt Chater and Mike McCorkell. His presence at the front of this breakaway also earned him the “top dollar honor” with $56 additional to the victory in front of Hanley and McCorkell. Mikkel Bossen (CMG Racing/Alpine Mortgage) was the top local in 6th place. The women’s 5 mile was the only time Quinn’s dominance was upset all weekend with the gutty Murdin attacking solo near the halfway point to win. She also earned the top money spot ($63) and the respect of the large Alpenrose crowd as the gap hovered at a half-lap for what seemed an eternity before she ultimately lapped the field with two to go in an impressive display of power and determination. Speedy Quinn easily took the sprint for second in front of the consistent VanValkenburg.

Kierin
The real crowd favorite at AVC is the Kierin, where a motorcycle paces the jostling riders for six laps before a two-lap flat-out sprint to the finish line. The valiant Murdin took a flyer when the motor pulled off but was swept up with a little over half a lap to go. With both Ericksson and VanValkenberg making bids on the outside, the compact Quinn, somehow shot through the middle to blast to victory with Erickson and VanValkenburg close behind. The AVC Mens Kierin has been the almost exclusive domain of reigning Pan American and US National Sprint Champion Stephen Alfred of California. In the previous seven years, only a rainout and Aussie Jeff Hopkins had defeated the powerful Spike Pro Cycling team member. Overcoming a toe strap problem in the semifinals and the wounds of a Tuesday crash, the big man had to chase down an incredible two-lap attack by Pan American Kilometer Champion Cam MacKinnon of Calgary that gapped the rest of field in the star-studded final. But overcome he did, with a 41 mile per hour lap while MacKinnon hung on for second in front of fellow Canadian Matt Barlee (Fast Twitch Cycling). Portland’s Zac Copeland (Sum Bike Team) was 6th.

Match Sprints
The match sprint tournament has been a real center-piece of the AVC program and this year was no exception. McKinnon posted the top 200 meter qualifying time of 11.54, only .2 second off Jeff LaBauve’s track record and advanced steadily through the early rounds to meet four-time AVC Sprint Champion Alfred in the final. In a spectacularly fast and tactical duel, the experienced Alfred controlled the talented Canadian for the victory. Sprint Veteran Copeland exploded past Barlee for third. Portland’s Dean Tracy (Team Rubicon) raced consistently against the heady competition for a solid fifth. The women’s match sprint was hotly contested from the beginning with only .13 of a second separating top three qualifiers Quinn, VanValkenburg, and Erickson.

Quinn advanced strongly into the finals to face Erickson after VanValkenburg (who would later impressively win the race for third) was relegated for taking the Canadian too aggressively up-track out of the final turn in their hotly contested semi-final. Quinn easily outgunned Erickson while the fans were thrilled with the performances of some local up-and-comers: 19 year old Fisk and 16 year old Kayla Woolcock (Sum Bike Team), who finished 5th and 6th against some of the world’s fastest women.

In the team events, the Bike Central team of Amelia Bjesse-Puffin, Lynn Hughes-Godfrey, and Jen Featheringill were the top women’s Olympic Sprint team in 1:05:39. On the mens side, a trio of burly beefcakes from the Burnaby Velodrome in British Colombia dominated the Olympic Sprint for their third consecutive year. Keith Bruneau, Barlee, and Chater (Fast Twitch Cycling) blasted smoothly and powerfully to a 54.36, only half a second from the track record. Locals McLaughry and Copeland brought Alpenrose legend Tim Luther out of semi-retirement to earn second in 55.46, with Team Rubicon’s Tracy, Beardsley, and Brian Abers third in 56.34. The 30 minute Madison was dominated by the powerful Southern Hemisphere duo of Fitzpatrick and Kiwi Adam Curry (Broadmark Capitol) who won the first four sprints to triumph with 26 points. The home-track pairing of Bossen and Beardsley finished strong, winning the last two sprints, to claim second with 21, in front of Indiana’s Josh Weir (Team Major Taylor) who paired with Portlander David Klipper (Guiness) to score 13.

Points Race
The grueling 110 lap points race saw one of the weekend’s most impressive performances by the affable McCorkell. Known as “IronMike” (in addition to high speed track racing, he finished last years Ironman Canada Triathlon), he utterly dominated the event that awarded points every five laps. First, McCorkell took a lap in the company of Curry, Seattle’s Jimmy Lingwood (Recycled Cycles), & local Bossen. While still amassing points (he would end with 81), McCorkell went clear again with local bike shop owner Molly Cameron (Veloshop) and Giovanni Rey (VeloEuropa/CYFAC) to gain a second lap and assure the victory. Curry, transplanted to Portland from his native New Zealand, would hang on for second (51) in front of the tenacious Cameron (49). Bossen, who crashed hard, impressively bounced up, repaired his bike and finished fifth with 35 points. The Womens Point Race had no major breakaways and was stifled by the heat and the utter domination of Quinn, who won with 47 points in front of Murdin (28) and Hanson (also with 28). Local hero Miranda Duff (Colorado Premier Training-Colnago) returned from the road racing circuit to notch 6th, a lap down.

Flying Lap
The traditional closer to the AVC weekend is the Flying Lap, which really gets the supportive crowd on their feet and making noise, bringing out the best of the competitors in an exciting individually recognized finale. The racously popular VanValkenburg overcame some of her sprint disappointment with a ferocious 18.22 in front of rivals Erickson (18.54) and Hanson (18.62). Early starter McKinnon laid down the law with 15.35, only .2 second off Alfred’s track record set just last year. Alfred, wearing #1 and starting last, was impressive as always, but fell just short in 15.45. Local strongman McLaughery made up for his disappointing 7th in the match sprint with a 16.06 lap for third place. The consistency of Hanley (Four top-five finishes for 15 points) allowed him to narrowly win the Weekend Omnium in front of Fitpatrick and Alfred (both with 14) while Quinn dominated the Women’s field with 40 points in front of VanValkenburg (17) and Murdin (16).

Possibly Related

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