ROANOKE, Virginia - August 14, 2023 - Jennifer Valente, who rides for Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY24, just became the most winning world championship track medalist in American history, surpassing Sarah Hammer’s 15 world championships medal count. Valente represented Team USA in the UCI Super Worlds event in Glasgow, Scotland, August 3-9, where she scored two World Titles and a bronze medal—bolstering her world championship medal count to 18 elite world championship medals. Valente had also earned one World Title and a bronze medal as a junior.
Valente’s first triumph in Scotland was in the stand-alone 40-lap Scratch Race, where her impeccable timing propelled her to the line in first place. This is her first World Title in this event. “It’s just the beginning of competition for me,” said Valente at the conclusion of the Scratch Race. “There’s a lot of racing to go, so while it’s really exciting, and I'm very happy to win my first Scratch Race World Championship Title, I’ll be trying to refocus for the rest of the events.” This win marked Valente’s second individual World Title and sixth gold medal throughout her Elite career.
Women’s Scratch Results
Next up for Valente was the Elimination Race, and after a thrilling and dynamic race, she finished with a bronze medal. Lotte Kopecky (BEL) took the title and Valentine Fortin (FRA) the silver honors.
Women’s Elimination Results
Photo Above: Casey
Valente first joined the team at the end of 2011 for her final year as a junior. She earned a Junior Scratch Race Championship World Title and a bronze in the Keiren in Moscow, Russia. Her next few years saw a combination of road and track racing with a primary focus on the track. As her focus shifted from a more sprint based track program to include more endurance her versatility quickie became apparent when she won multiple high profile criteriums and stage 1 of the inaugural Colorado Classic Stage Race
“We have worked with Jennifer for more than a decade, and I am so proud and excited for her,” VBR TWENTY24 team founder/general manager Nicola Cranmer. “It took a team of people to support her and I am so thrilled to see the years of work culminate in Olympic gold and three World Championship Titles in the past two years. It’s an honor to work with her and to be able to give her a lot of latitude to script her season and provide a space for Jennifer to be Jennifer. Our program continues to create a special environment for high-performing multi-discipline athletes. Our collaborative approach with USA Cycling is a critical component of her success. Constant communication with National team head coach Gary Sutton, and personal coach Benjamin Sharp, is an important part of the season's organization. Jennifer is capable of anything that she sets her mind to.”
