Olympians Showcased in World Cup Series Event

Cyclists from around the world descend on Southern California today with more on their minds than a weekend ride along Venice Beach.

About 170 riders representing 32 countries, including 24 Olympic medalists, will race during the three-day 2004-05 UCI World Cup series at the ADT Event Center, the velodrome at the Home Depot Center in Carson.

This is the second of four World Cup series events, the first having been held in Moscow in November. Events are scheduled in Manchester, England, and Sydney, Australia, in January and February.

The top performers from the four events will qualify for the cycling world championships in March at the ADT Center. It will be the first such world event held at a U.S. indoor velodrome.

“It is a world-class facility, and our only world-class facility in the U.S.,” said Erin Mirabella of La Habra, a two-time Olympian and a bronze medalist in points racing at the Athens Games.

“It’s a huge advantage to have an indoor wooden track here, because [wood] is what we race on for the championships,” she said. “Before, we had to use outdoor cement tracks. Indoors, the temperature and humidity are controlled, and there is no wind that can bother you.”

Mirabella will compete in two events, the women’s points race today and the individual pursuit Sunday.

Other top Americans include multiple national champion and three-time world champion Marty Nothstein, who won a 1996 silver medal in Atlanta and 2000 gold in Sydney.

Among the international riders are Australians Ryan Bayley and Anna Meares. Both won gold medals in Athens.

Also expected to appear as “event guests” are three-time Tour de France winner and former world champion Greg LeMond, and five-time Olympic gold medalist speed skater Eric Heiden, a former rider and long-time cycling enthusiast.

LeMond will appear today, Heiden on Sunday.