Maverick cycling displayed another outstanding performance at the Cyclocross National Championships from Dec. 6 – Dec. 11.
Maverick cycling competes in five disciplines each season. Previously this year, the team picked up eight national titles and a Team Omnium Championship during the Sept. Track National Championships. Colorado Mesa University (CMU) set three collegiate track records during the event, including a historic 4:18.896 men’s team pursuit time, which broke the old record set by the 1995 US Olympic Team at the Pan American Games.
The Mavericks then dominated the Mountain Bike National Championships, winning seven of the nine individual bouts and securing their third straight team title. Junior Madigan Munro, Sophomore Matt Sterling and senior Torbjorn Roed contributed the most, each claiming two first place finishes in Oct.
Most recently, the program competed in the Cyclocross National Championships in Hartford, Connecticut. “[Cyclocross] is a little mix of mountain bike and road cycling. They go on grass, jump over barriers and run upstairs, so it’s a little mix of everything in between,” Cycling head coach Pastric Rostel said. Cyclocross is one the most entertaining events for spectators. The participants must use modified bikes designed for the unique obstacles they face during the race. Riders dismount often and hurdle various barriers in a fast-paced environment.
True freshman Austin Beard won his first national title after finishing first during the Collegiate Varsity Event on Wednesday. Maverick teammates Munro and junior Katie Clouse finished first and second respectively for the women’s event. Munro earned her first career Cyclocross national championship after completing the race two minutes before any other rider.
The Maverick duo also helped to win the Collegiate Mixed Relay the day after. The squad sent all five men out to set an early lead, and then relied on Munro and Clouse to anchor home a close victory over Fort Lewis College (FLC) who employed the same strategy. The team secured the varsity team omnium score to 240 points, while FLC also performed well and put up 216 points.
This tallies cycling’s individual championships to 73 and team titles to 15.
