The second round of the Track World Cup is in progress this weekend at the ADT Center in Carson, California, in a brand new velodrome facility. Round One was in Moscow at the beginning of November, Round 3 of the World Cup takes place in Manchester, England, 7-9 January 2005, and the final round in Sydney, Australia, 18-20 February.

We took in Friday's second session, which included these events: Men's 15k Scratch, Men's Sprint (which continues Saturday), Men's Keirin, Men's Individual Pursuit, Men's Kilometer, Women's Sprint and Women's 20k Points Race. We also spent time around the velodrome and in the "pit" (the infield) watching the athletes.

Here's a nice shot of the track and the infield taken between Turn 3 and 4. Click for larger image. (c) Daily Peloton.

Looking towards Turn 1 from the infield. Click for larger image. (c) Daily Peloton.

Men's 15k Scratch Final Results

1 Rasmussen Alex Den
2 Daubniuk Siarhei Blr
3 Medina Andrade José Alfredo Chi
4 Cheung King Wai Hkg
5 Stroetinga Wim Ned
6 Gibb Tony Gbr
7 Henderson Gregory Nzl
8 Donadio Sebastian Arg
9 Blaha Martin Cze
10 Polatayko Lyubomyr Ukr

(c) Daily Peloton.

Joshua Kerhoff of the US, and Mohamed Zahit Mohamed Sayuti of Malaysia waiting for the start of the scratch. Kerhoff did not complete the race. Click for larger image.

More of the scratch riders ready to go. (c) Daily Peloton.

(c) Daily Peloton.

Three riders, Tony Gibb (GBR), Siarhei Daubniuk (BLR) and José Alfredo Medina Andrade (CHI), played with a break through the early part of the race; at 38 laps to go they allowed themselves to be caught, which made the pack ease off, then the they took off again. Here they are, with a nice view of the velodrome. Click for larger image.

In the end, Denmark's Rasmussen lapped the field and won solo. Click for larger image. (c) Daily Peloton.

Second-placed finisher Siarhei Daubniuk (Belarus), who was part of the original break. (c) Daily Peloton.

Rasmussen and his teammate. (c) Daily Peloton.

Next was Greg Lemond signing autographs for the crowd. The crowd lined up...

(c) Daily Peloton.

Just adjacent was Laguna Cyclery (one of the sponsors of Team Monex) which had this awesome carbon bike with carbon wheels on display (around $3400.00, Patrick Fetzer told us).

There's Patrick right there. Click for larger image. (c) Daily Peloton.

Another shot of it. Click for larger image. (c) Daily Peloton.

Here's Lemond, ready to go. (c) Daily Peloton.

(c) Daily Peloton.

(c) Daily Peloton.

(c) Daily Peloton.

Here were the Netherlands men, getting a bird's eye view. (c) Daily Peloton.

Very handsome... click for larger image. (c) Daily Peloton.

More to come...