Brevard College Launches Nation's First Collegiate Gravel Racing Team
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 Asheville Off-Road Series at the Biltmore Estate, 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 @bctornados, 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.
*Brevard College is an authorized Special Use Permit Holder by the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests
Brevard College Gravel Racing Roster (Spring 2020)
Hannah Arensman - Senior/Valdese, N.C.
Carson Beckett – Senior/Benton, Ky.
Tyler Clark – Sophomore/King City, Ontario
Tim Coffey – Sophomore/Cadillac, Mich.
Dalton Collins – Sophomore/Washburn, Wis.
Hannah Dickson – Sophomore/Brevard, N.C.
Michaela Gray – Freshman/Ocala, Fla.
Ryan Johnson – Sophomore/Brookville, Pa.
Jason Marquardt – Sophomore/Mokena, Ill.
Tyler Miranda - Freshman/Valley City, Ohio
Tyler Orschel – Junior/Uxbridge, Ontario
Rachel Pageau – Freshman/Chicoutimi, Quebec
Nicole Rusden – Junior/Glenmoore, Pa.
Emma Schwab – Freshman/Traverse City, Mich.
Carter Simmons – Freshman/Chattanooga, Tenn.
Aliza Tobias – Freshman/Fleetwood, Pa.
Head Coach: Brad Perley
Assistant Coach: Cypress Gorry
Brevard College Upcoming Gravel Racing Schedule
Saturday, March 7: Southern Cross; Dahlonega, Ga.
Saturday – Sunday, March 21-22: Love Valley Roubaix; Love Valley, N.C.
Saturday, September 12: Pisgah Monster-Cross Challenge; Pisgah Forest, N.C.
Saturday, September 19: Dirt Diggler; DuPont State Forest, N.C.
Sunday, September 20: Asheville Off-Road Series; Biltmore Estate, Ashevile, N.C.
What They Are Saying About Brevard College Gravel Racing
"This news is amazing! The gravel discipline allows for the perfect mix of road and mountain bike techniques to evolve for these young athletes. All levels of "the engine" will need to be firing to be on top of the gravel game.
It's growing extremely fast. In fact our event, Dirt Diggler has had 100% growth over the last two years. A college program will introduce cyclists that may not enjoy the road riding scene a new perspective on gaining miles for training and recovery rides. Next thing you know, you are hooked and racing.
The college's direct location to the forest as well as the connectivity of gravel roads along with ability to connect one forest to another or connect to another state is not found in many parts of the United States. Flat, hilly or moderate terrain is at your fingertips."
- Todd Branham, Race Director, Blue Ridge Adventures
"I am excited to see Brevard College is starting to apply focus on gravel events. It will get the cycling team to engage in events that are open to the larger cycling community. The community will be able to see the great program that BC has built.
I see this helping Brevard College be able to recruit a new wave of riders that look for events that requires grit and determination. All in all, this sounds like a perfect fit for Brevard College. Brevard College is located where mountain bike trails are world class and the road riding is arguably just as good. The network of forest service roads and unimproved roads make Brevard a great training ground for anyone looking to improve gravel riding/racing."
- Wes Dickson, Owner, Sycamore Cycles
"Gravel racing is going to be a really fun addition. The gravel scene is a lot like the cyclocross scene that I came out of as a kid before going into the other forms of cycling. I have been branching out into gravel racing lately and have had a lot of fun there. 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 feel great. It will be great for team building among other benefits.
Gravel has been growing big time – it is a great transition into road cycling and I have also seen a lot of mountain bikers use it to ramp up their training to get some long, harder miles in."
- Brevard College senior student-athlete Hannah Arensman
"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. 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. I think it will bring about some great variation and some new students. We have an extensive network of gravel here in Western North Carolina, so it's pretty much all you can ask for here in this location."
- Brevard College senior student-athlete Carson Beckett
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Photo Credit: Victoria Brayman '21
Photo Credit: Victoria Brayman '21
Photo Credit: Victoria Brayman '21
Photo Credit: Thom Kennedy '21
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