Page 10
Sports
The Clarion \ February 26, 2020
Nation's first coiiegiate
gravel racing team
By Phillip de Montmollin
Contributor
BREVARD, N.C. — Brevard College has
become the first collegiate cycling program
in the United States to launch the discipline
of Gravel Racing to its offerings for student-
athletes. Gravel Racing, widely regarded as
the fastest growing cycling niche in the U.S.,
will be added immediately to 10-time USA
Cycling collegiate national champion Brevard
College’s current disciplines of Mountain
Biking, Cyclocross and Road Cycling.
“Brevard College has always been one of
the top cycling programs in the country,” said
Brevard College President David C. Joyce. “By
enhancing the student-athlete experience with
new opportunities in the fast growing sport of
gravel racing, Brevard College once again is
leading the way.”
Gravel Racing is a relatively new cycling
discipline that combines riding on surfaces
such as asphalt, gravel, dirt, single-track and
maintenance roads. The distances of the races
typically range between 50 and 150 miles, yet
can be even longer.
The Brevard College Tornados Cycling
program, under the direction of Head Coach
Brad Perley and Assistant Coach Cypress Gorry,
will begin competing in the gravel discipline
immediately. The team will train in nearby
Pisgah National Forest and DuPont State Forest,
two of the premier gravel racing locations in
the nation.
“The addition of gravel as an officially
recognized discipline here at BC Cycling is
an exciting move for us,” said Coach Perley.
“We have the knowledge, ability and local
resources in Brevard to excel in these events
while providing team race support. Our primary
focus has and always will be our students. This
addition provides them with even more unique
opportunities to progress in their training, racing
careers and student experience.”
Sixteen student-athletes will make up the
nation’s first collegiate gravel team, including
several Brevard College cyclists - Hannah
Arensman, Carson Beckett, Tyler Clark, Tyler
Orschel and Rachel Pageau - that have competed
at the UCI World Championships level in other
disciplines.
“I believe this new gravel addition is going to
be a great resource for the school and for a lot of
the classes that are going to be up and coming,”
said Beckett. “It is only a matter of time
before the sport of gravel becomes nationally
recognized, so this will be unique to be a leader
of that movement. “
“Gravel racing is going to be a really fun
addition,” added Arensman. “I think it is going
to bring the team even closer together. They are
long, hard races but at the end everyone comes
back and feels great. It will be great for team
building among other benefits.”
The Gravel Racing schedule will be spread
across the academic calendar with the inaugural
race for Brevard College taking place on
Saturday, March 7 at the Southern Cross in
Dahlonega, Georgia. The Tornados will also
race this Spring at the Love Valley Roubaix
Gravel Grinder Classic, March 21-22 in Love
Valley, North Carolina. The 2020 Fall schedule
will include local Western North Carolina events
such as the Pisgah Monster-Cross Challenge in
Pisgah National Forest and the Dirt Diggler in
DuPont State Forest.
“I applaud Head Coach Brad Perley and
Assistant Coach Cypress Gorry for developing
this game changing concept of adding the first-
ever collegiate gravel racing team,” said Brevard
College Director of Athletics Myranda Nash.
“We are excited to support this new endeavor
which will provide exciting new experiences for
our student-athletes.”
To follow the latest news and updates
surrounding Brevard College Athletics, follow
the Tornados on Twitter and Instagram @
bctomados, like ‘Brevard College Athletics’ on
Facebook, and subscribe to ‘Brevard College
Tornados’ on YouTube and SoundCloud. Also,
follow ‘brevardcollege’ on Flickr for the latest
photos from all Brevard College events.
Courtesy of Brevard.edu
Brevard College Cycling team practices together on gravel road.