Newell rides to silver in points race at UCI Track World Cup in Manchester

The women's points race podium. Photo: Guy Swarbrick

November 3, 2013 (Manchester, UK) — A silver medal by Beth Newell (Oakland, Calif. / NOW and Novartis for MS) in the women’s points race highlighted the American effort at the first UCI Track World Cup of the 2013/14 season. The women’s team pursuit squad also scored a top-five at the event, finishing fifth.

Newell entered the third day of competition at the National Cycling Centre in Manchester, England, having already competed in the scratch race, in which she finished 15th, and three events of the women’s omnium. She picked up twenty points for lapping the field once, as well as a point in the fourth sprint and five points in the seventh sprint. Her total of 26 points was just three short of the 29 that winner Laura Brown of Canada earned. Newell’s point total was tied with Wan Yiu Jamie Wong of Hong Kong, but she took silver by virtue of finishing ahead of Wong in the final sprint.

"I wasn't expecting a great result in the points race after riding the omnium over the past two days, but I saw an opportunity to go for it and I did just that,” said Newell. “Once you're in the race, sometimes your legs forget what you've done before. Thanks to USA Cycling for the continued support and to all my training partners at the Hellyer Velodrome for preparing me for my first world cup success."

Competing in her first UCI Track World Cup, Newell also finished 12th in the omnium, her top result being third in the points race portion. The women’s omnium was won by Laura Trott (GBR). Earlier this year, Newell won a gold and two bronze medals at the Pan-Am Continental Track Championships in Mexico.

Day 1 of Competition

Friday marked the first day of racing, with Kimberly Geist (Emmaus, Pa. / Chester County Cycling Foundation/Team Alliance Environmental), Cari Higgins (Boulder, Colo. / ExergyTWENTY16), Jade Wilcoxson (Talent, Ore. / Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) and Ruth Winder (Lafayette, Calif. / Vanderkitten) teaming up to represent the U.S. in the women’s team pursuit, finishing fifth. Their time of 4:33.667 was barely three-tenths of a second off of qualifying them for the medal round, which was won by Great Britain, who set a world record in both qualifying and then further lowered it in the finals. It was the first women’s team pursuit at a world cup to feature teams of four women riding four kilometers.

Jake Duehring (Irvine, Calif. / GS Ciao/Horizon Organic/Panache Elite Cycling) also began his first world cup on Friday by competing in the men’s omnium. His best result was seventh in the points race, and he finished 12th overall behind winner Jasper de Buyst of Belgium.

Wilcoxson Gains Experience

The second day of racing saw Newell and Duehring continue in their omniums, as well as Wilcoxson take to the track in the women’s individual pursuit. The reigning pro road race national champion was competing for only the second time in that event after winning it at the elite time track national championships in August. She rode to an eighth-place finish on Saturday with a time of 3:44.661. The winning time of 3:34.904 was set by Joanna Rowsell (GBR).

The next UCI Track World Cup will take place in Aguascalientes, Mexico, on December 5 through 7.

2013 UCI Track World Cup
November 1-3, 2013
Manchester, United Kingdom

FULL RESULTS │ PHOTO GALLERY

DAY 1

Women’s Team Pursuit
1. Great Britain – 4:19.604
2. Canada – 4:27.083
3. Australia – 4:30.831
5. United States – 4:33.667
Kimberly Geist (Emmaus, Pa. / Chester County Cycling Foundation/Team Alliance Environmental)
Cari Higgins (Boulder, Colo. / ExergyTWENTY16)
Jade Wilcoxson (Talent, Ore. / Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies)
Ruth Winder (Lafayette, Calif. / Vanderkitten)

Women’s Scratch Race
1. Malgorzata Wojtyra (POL)
2. Kate Archibald (Scottish Cycling/Braveheart.com)
3. Tetyana Klimchenko (UKR)
15. Beth Newell (Oakland, Calif. / NOW and Novartis for MS) -1 lap down

DAY 2

Women’s Individual Pursuit
1. Joanna Rowsell (GBR) 3:34.904
2. Rebecca Wiasak (AUS) 3:36.830
3. Kate Archibald (Scottish Cycling/Braveheart.com) 3:37.093
8. Jade Wilcoxson (Talent, Ore. / Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) 3:44.661

DAY 3

Beth Newell rides in the women's points race. Photo: Guy Swarbrick

Women’s Points Race
1. Laura Brown (CAN) 29 points
2. Beth Newell (Oakland, Calif. / NOW and Novartis for MS) 26 points
3. Wan Yiu Jamie Wong (HKG) 26 points

Men’s Omnium
1. Jasper de Buyst (BEL)
2. Tim Veldt (NED)
3. Luke Davison (AUS)
12. Jake Duehring (Irvine, Calif. / GS Ciao/Horizon Organic/Panache Elite Cycling)
    Flying Lap – 13th place (13.788)
    Points Race – 7th place (8 total points)
    Elimination Race – 16th place
    Individual Pursuit – 12th place (4:40.233)
    Scratch Race – 15th place
    1 kilometer Time Trial – 13th place (1:06.662)

Women’s Omnium
1. Laura Trott (GBR) 19 points
2. Gillian Carleton (CAN) 24 points
3.  Laurie Berthon (FRA) 26 points
12. Beth Newell (Oakland, Calif. / NOW and Novartis for MS) 63 points
    Flying Lap – 9th place (14.949)
    Points Race – 3rd place (20 total points)
    Elimination – 15th place
    Individual Pursuit – 9th place (3:45.205)
    Scratch Race – 15th place
    500-meter Time Trial – 12th place (38.017)