US cyclist Valente wins second straight women’s omnium gold

AFP | London

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

American defending champion Jennifer Valente overpowered the field to defend her women’s omnium title in the final velodrome race of the Paris Olympics yesterday.

Valente finished 13 points ahead of Poland’s Daria Pikulik, with New Zealand’s Ally Wollaston taking bronze, six points further back.

The omnium is one of track cycling’s most unpredictable events, featuring four separate races –- the scratch, tempo, elimination and points -- with riders collecting points in each.

Valente timed the opening 30-lap scratch race to perfection, pulling clear on the final stretch to take the maximum 40 points ahead of Canada’s Maggie Coles-Lyster.