December 10th, 2004 (Carson, Calif.) — Erin Mirabella (Racine, Wis.) took one of the biggest wins of her career on Friday evening capturing the points race at the Los Angeles World Cup. The 2004 Olympic bronze medalist and La Habra, Calif. resident rode to victory in front of an adoptive hometown crowd ahead of Alexis Rhodes (AUS) and Adrie Visser (NED) as the three-day event kicked off at the ADT Event Center velodrome. Mirabella’s scintillating performance was the highlight of an otherwise modest performance by a young American team amongst a world-class field that included teams from 32 nations.

In the 20km points race, an event that tests both endurance and sprinting capabilities, Mirabella scored 12 points throughout the eight intermediate and final sprints to narrowly edge Rhodes and Visser who scored 11 and 10 respectively.

The sprint that provided the winning points for Mirabella came with 20 laps to go in the race as she outsprinted Lyudmyla Vypyraylo (UKR) in a small breakaway. “What I thought was the winning move went and I chased hard to bridge up to them but when I got there, they sat up,” Mirabella explained. “Just before the group rejoined us I won the sprint which gave me enough points to win.”

“It’s great to win in front of so many friends and family and co-workers and neighbors…people that have supported me throughout my career,” she commented.

Early on, both Mirabella and her teammate Becky Quinn (Quakertown, Pa.) were on pace for podium finishes, however Quinn eventually settled for a seventh place effort. Jennie Reed (Kirkland, Wash.), also a member of the U.S. Olympic Team in Athens, placed tenth in the day’s deepest event. After qualifying ninth with a time of 11.870 seconds over 200 meters, Reed was matched up against Victoria Pendleton (GBR) in the ensuing 1/8 finals. The head-to-head race between the two went to Pendleton and because of a new UCI rule this season that eliminates the repechage rounds, Reed was finished for the day. Natalia Tsylinskaya (BLR) took two straight heats >from Athens silver medalist Tamilia Abassova (RUS) to win the event while Elisa Frisoni (ITA) ousted Anna Mears (AUS) for third.

Christian Stahl (Bethany, Conn.), racing in his first-ever international-level keirin, placed 11th amongst a field that included several of the world’s best sprinters. In the opening heat, Stahl was overmatched by several top riders including Josiah Ng (MAS), Barry Forde (BAR) and eventual winner Teun Mulder (NED). In the following repechage, Stahl bounced back to place second behind Ng to advance to the second round. Needing a top-three finish in his second round heat to advance to the 1-6 final, Stahl placed last, instead sending him to the 7-12 final. In that consolation heat Stahl placed fifth – ahead of 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist Ryan Bayley (AUS) – to close out his first major keirin race with a respectable finish. In the 1-6 final Mulder edged double Olympic medalist Arnaud Tournant (FRA) and Jose Antonio Villanueva (ESP) to take the win.

Eighteen-year-old Aaron Kacala (Racine, Wis.), who was riding in the junior ranks last season, made his world cup debut in the kilometer time trial also placing 11th with a time of 1:07.059. Theo Bos (NED) took the win ahead of 2000 Olympic gold medalist Jason Queally (GBR) with a time of 1:01.768. Australia’s Ben Kersten took the bronze.

Josh Kerkof (Fort Worth, Texas) also riding in his first-ever world cup, found the pace of the men’s 15km scratch race a bit too much, dropping out of the competition before the final sprint that was taken by Alex Rasmussen (DEN). Siarhei Dubniuk (BLR) and Jose Medina (CHI) took second and third respectively.

In the day’s only other final, 2000 Olympic gold medalist Robert Bartko (GER) won the men’s individual pursuit ahead of Mikhail Ignatyev (RUS) and reigning world champion Sergi Escobar (ESP) with a time of 4:32.382.

On Saturday, Stahl and Giddeon Massie (Colorado Springs, Colo.) will compete in the men’s sprint and Colby Pearce (Boulder, Colo.) will contest the men’s points race amongst a field that includes all three medalists from the Athens Olympics. Also, Mirabella will contest the women’s individual pursuit amongst a field that includes Athens silver medalist and former world record holder Katie Mactier (AUS).

For complete results from the opening day of the Los Angeles World Cup, visit www.veloresults.com. <http://www.veloresults.com>

About the ADT Event Center
The 100,000 square foot, $15 million ADT Event Center is located on the 125-acre Home Depot Center campus in Carson, California. It is the first and only permanent indoor track of international standard in North America. The ADT Event Center hosts training and competition under the guidance of USA Cycling, including the 2004 Junior Track National Championships, 2004 World Junior Track Cycling Championships and the 2005 World Track Cycling Championships. The ADT Event Center will also host other major competitions, events and cycling clinics.

About USA Cycling
Recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee and the Union Cycliste Internationale, USA Cycling promotes American cycling through its 45,000 members and 2,000 annual events. USA Cycling associations include the BMX Association (BMX), National Off-Road Bicycle Association (mountain bike), U.S. Cycling Federation (road/track) and the U.S. Professional Racing Organization (professional men’s road). For more information contact, USA Cycling Communications Manager, Andy Lee at 719-866-4867.

Event Tickets
Individual tickets start at only $15 and all event packages are also available starting at only $60. For more information or to order tickets, call 866-LAGROUP or order tickets online at www.aeggrouptickets.com.