Meet U.S. cyclists looking to take track cycling to new heights in the United States
Jennifer Valente began track cycling as a teenager in San Diego, California. Her early adoption of the sport built up a strong strategic backbone, which she has used to great effect in her international career. She won her first Olympic medal as a member of the team pursuit at Rio 2016, but her crowning achievement came five years later at Tokyo 2020 when she became the first U.S. rider to claim victory in the women’s omnium.
Raced over four separate distances, with four unique formats, the omnium tests a rider’s strategic ability, endurance, and speed. Valente has routinely proven that she has the right combination of all three, winning back-to-back world titles in 2022 and 2023. The 29-year-old will enter Paris 2024 as the experienced backbone of the U.S. track cycling team, chasing medals in three events at the Games.
Valente told USA Cycling, “I’m excited to officially be named to my third Olympic team.The Olympic Games have always been special to me, and this time around is just as captivating. The journey to Paris has been its own unique process with new challenges in this shortened quad. I’m thrilled to be lining up alongside long-standing teammates and some fresh faces.”
One of those long-standing teammates is her partner in the madison, Lily Williams. Williams was part of the team pursuit squad that won a bronze medal at Tokyo 2020. She adopted cycling much later than Valente, but quickly rose through the professional ranks and found a home on the wooden boards of the velodrome. Paris 2024 will mark her second appearance at the Olympic Games.
She told USA Cycling, “I’m thrilled to be selected for my second Olympics in Paris. Tokyo was an experience of mixed emotions for me, and I channeled all of that into a ton of work, devoting my career to the sport and seeing what I could do.”
“I’m thankful for everyone in my corner, especially my partner Gavin, coaching staff, and my road team Human Powered Health, for supporting me and helping me always be honest with myself about my progression. It’s thanks to all of this that I will now be racing two events in Paris: The team pursuit, and new to me, the madison, which I’ve studied and worked on relentlessly since Tokyo, and it feels so good to see that hard work pay off. I’m so excited to see what we can do in Paris.”
Another rider bringing prior Olympic experience to the Paris 2024 line-up is Chloé Dygert. The two-time Olympic medalist in the women’s team pursuit will once again race around the boards in an attempt to beat the clock and her rivals.
The 27-year-old from Brownsburg, Indiana has a knack for beating the clock when it matters. She holds the world record in track cycling’s individual pursuit, and is the current world champion of the individual time trial in road cycling. A double threat on two wheels, Dygert is expected to race in both disciplines at Paris 2024.
She told USA Cycling, “It’s truly a blessing. I am truly blessed to be selected for my third Olympic Games in USA colors. Thankful for those who go above and beyond behind the scenes to make sure I’m the best I can be on and off the bike. We will see you in Paris.”