Top 10 College Cycling Teams in the USA
Among various college sports, cycling tends to stand out. It is an inclusive and inexpensive way of giving everyone the opportunity to find out about cycling and succeed in it. Aside from competition, this promotes community development, friendship, and character development, which entails competent guiding principles and team backing. For any individual who would like to participate or back up a great college or university cycling team, these are the best 10 USA schools with numerous national championships among them – for individuals and teams.
What is Collegiate Cycling?
Collegiate cycling is a competitive team sport classified into five national disciplines:
- track;
- cyclocross;
- MTB;
- BMX;
- road cycling.
Each has its own season and national championship. MTB runs between August and October, while cyclocross begins in November ending in January, track goes from July to September and road from February through May. Cyclists compete individually but their position counts towards team score – all riders even last finishers are important for overall success.
Cyclists are grouped according to their experience levels as well as performance. In road racing, beginners begin at category 5, advancing based on races completed and placing. They participate in competitions by categories such as:
- A-Pro and categories 1, 2, 3
- B-Categories 3, 4
- C-Category 4
- D-Category 5 or lower
The team’s final score is made up of points from all levels of cyclists. This way, final score makes athletes in a team equal and supportive for each other.
Before applying to any colleges mentioned below, remember that besides your athletic achievements, colleges are looking for your academic knowledge. Try to improve your grades and writing skills. The last one you can develop, just typing ‘write my paper’ to a writing company. You will receive great examples and support from writers with extensive experience. Such help will always come in handy before and even during college.
Club vs. Varsity Cycling Teams
Cycling programs are split into two types: club teams and varsity teams. Club teams are organized by students themselves, who can participate in training and racing without any discrimination on the basis of their full-time student status. Club racers may have coach or experienced riders as mentors.
Varsity teams have extra assistance, such as counselor support and scholarships, to guide them through their cycling career. A team must be supported by an institutional budget and have at least one paid certified coach on a full-time engagement to achieve its varsity status. They must also compete in at least one national championship per year, for that matter. Such teams are split into Division I and Division II. The first group has more than 15 thousand students, and the second group usually has much fewer students. Conference races are competed between the two divisions but not national championship races.
Collegiate Cycling Conferences
Collegiate cycling is governed by USA Cycling, which breaks down existing teams into 11 different national conferences. Strong individual riders race against each other within their conference championships so they qualify for nationals even if their team does not qualify. Cyclists from every conference compete at nationals.
What are the Top 10 College & University Cycling Teams?
The USA Cycling has been annually publishing National Collegiate Varsity Team Rankings. Our top ten list is based on each team’s performance over the past five years. These varsity teams offer scholarships to student cyclists who maintain high academic standards and receive robust support from their institutions.
1. Marian University
- Mascot: Knights
- Conference: Midwest
- 2022 National Ranking: 2
Marian University has been ranked number one in college cycling in the USA multiple times and garnered many collegiate varsity club accolades. It provides riders with year-round coaching services, cycling gears, travel allowances and extensive cycling infrastructure. The teams have strenuous training programs and committed support staff that ensures continuous athletic and academic development. Similarly, Marian stresses on maintaining a high GPA to ensure that players perform well academically while having a balanced social life in college.
2. Colorado Mesa University
- Mascot: Mavericks
- Conference: Rocky Mountain
- 2022 National Ranking: 1
Colorado Mesa has recently overtaken Marian University in national ranking in the 2021 and 2022 championships. Colorado Mesa has a strong focus on developing both athletic and personal skills. The university encourages its cyclists to partake in different outreach community programs. The support that comes from the institution tends to foster a sense of belonging and responsibility, which in turn contributes to strong team cohesion, enabling them to perform well in competitions across all disciplines.
3. Fort Lewis College
- Mascot: Skyhawks
- Conference: Rocky Mountain
- 2022 National Ranking: 6
Fort Lewis mainly focuses on road, cyclocross, and MTB disciplines; thus, it holds the Durango Fall Blaze event yearly. This program even helped many young athletes become Olympians. Being reputed for scenic and formidable terrain, it is ideal for training of cyclists. By providing high-quality coaching staff along with though-through facilities, this college has made athletes who have participated at the highest levels including international competitions making it the number one college for cyclist’s dreams.
4. Lindenwood University
- Mascot: Lions
- Conference: Midwest
- 2022 National Ranking: 5
Lindenwood’s fully funded and scholarship based program has excelled in all 5 disciplines since its establishment in 2007 due to being located near local cycling installations. The strategic location of this university enables athletes to ride on various terrains, improving their adaptability as well as performance. Lindenwood’s emphasis on both academic and athletic excellence ensures that students receive a comprehensive education while pursuing their passion for cycling. In addition, they have a dedicated coaching team and robust training resources.
5. SCAD Atlanta
- Mascot: Bees
- Conference: South East
- 2022 National Ranking: 4
SCAD Atlanta’s unique athletes have won numerous national championships since 2016, competing in various disciplines. They already have won 13 national championships.
6. Milligan University
- Mascot: Buffaloes
- Conference: South East
- 2022 National Ranking: 7
Milligan boasts a strong women’s team. Olympian Megan Jastrab has studied in this university before winning a bronze medal in Tokyo Olympics.
7. Lindsey Wilson College
- Mascot: Blue Raiders
- Conference: South East
- 2022 National Ranking: 3
Lindsey Wilson excels in BMX and mountain biking and prioritizes academics. In addition, college hosts an annual mountain bike event, known as Lindsey Wilson Mountain Bike Showdown.
8. Brevard College
- Mascot: Tornadoes
- Conference: South East
- 2022 National Ranking: 10
Brevard is known for its mountain biking prowess and academic excellence, pioneering gravel racing as a discipline.
9. Lees-McRae College
- Mascot: Bobcats
- Conference: South East
- 2022 National Ranking: 9
Lees-McRae has invested heavily in improving cycling infrastructure and created a minor in Cycling Studies to save cycling through design, development and advocacy.
10. SCAD Savannah
- Mascot: Bees
- Conference: South East
- 2022 National Ranking: 8
SCAD Savannah has introduced a bike share program and no-car policy on campus, fostering cycling as a primary mode of transportation.
What about Cycling Scholarships?
NCAA and NAIA do not have a cycling sport at the official level, which allows flexibility in athletic scholarships. As a result, there is an upward increase in the number of universities offering cycling programs and scholarships. USA Cycling has sanctioned 15 varsity cycling teams. While many more clubs compete as varsity events, creating opportunities for student-athletes to combine education with high-level cycling.
Students who are interested in getting scholarships should aim at participating in major sports competitions and using their academic records to qualify for financial aid. It is important to start preparing early; numerous resources, such as guides on how to find and apply for scholarships, exist to assist students join strong cycling teams without incurring huge costs.
Photo by Maico Amorim on Unsplash
