The Brevard College cycling team earned a pair of national titles at the 2026 USA Cycling Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships, held at Powderhorn Mountain Resort from Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 8-10.
2026 BREVARD COLLEGE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Lily-Rose Marois: Women’s Varsity Individual Omnium
Émilien Belzile, Ned Broersma, Ayana Gagne, and Lily-Rose Marois: Varsity Team Relay
BC’s relay team of Émilien Belzile, Ned Broersma, Ayana Gagne, and Lily-Rose Marois claimed a thrilling Varsity Team Relay National Championship on Friday, while Marois earned her first career Individual Omnium National Championship as the best overall female rider, as the Tornados earned a clean 1-2-3 sweep of the Female Individual Omnium podium with Marois, Elli Clark, and Lacey Dennis.
Thursday featured the Men’s and Women’s Varsity Dual Slalom, where the Tornados kicked off their three-day run at the national championships. On the women’s side, Marois secured BC’s first podium of the weekend, finishing fourth. Four Tornados placed inside the top-20 on the women’s side, as Marois was joined by Matilda Gentry (11th), Lacey Dennis (15th), and Elli Clark (20th). Matt Mitchko earned a top-10 finish on the men’s side, placing ninth, while Eason Vaughn slotted in 22nd.
A busy Friday of action ensued, beginning with the Men’s and Women’s Varsity Cross Country events. Two Tornados, Marois (3rd) and Gagne (4th), secured podium spots, with Clark finishing sixth for a top-10 placement. Madeleine Pollock (16th) and Dennis (20th) rounded out BC on the women’s side, while three Tornados placed inside the top 20 in the men’s race – Ethan Wood (9th), Asher Boegner (13th), and Owen Jones (16th). The Tornados secured the thrilling Team Relay National Championship to cap off the busy day of race action.
The final day of competition began with the Men’s and Women’s Varsity Downhill races. Matilda Gentry secured a third-place finish in the women’s race, while Dennis (12th) and Pollock (18th) capped off the field. Max Canterbury (16th) and Mitchko (20th) each finished inside the top-20 on the men’s side.
The final event of the national championships was the men’s and women’s short-track cross-country events. Wood (11th), Belzile (14th), and Boegner (18th) placed top-20 in the men’s event, while the Tornados dominated on the women’s side as Marois (2nd) and Clark (3rd) earned podiums, and Gagne (8th) and Dennis (12th) were inside the top-15.
The Tornados secured third place in the Overall Team Omnium standings, once again securing a top finish amongst schools in the eastern half of the United States.
For full results for the 2026 Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships, go to www.usacycling.org.
The ten-time national champion Brevard College Cycling program features varsity programs in the disciplines of Mountain Bike, Cyclocross, and Gravel Racing. For the latest news and updates surrounding Brevard College Cycling, follow @brevardcycling on Instagram and ‘Brevard College Cycling’ on Facebook.
Tornados at the 2026 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships
Men’s Cross Country and Short Track competitors:
Ned Broersma
Émilien Belzile
Ethan Wood
Owen Jones
Asher Boegner
Grayson Franks
Women’s Cross Country and Short Track Competitors:
Lily-Rose Marois
Ayana Gagne
Elli Clark
Madeleine Pollock
Lacey Dennis
Cecilia Link
Men’s Downhill competitors:
Matt Mitchko
Max Canterbury
Eason Vaughn
Eli Houle
Walker Cottingham
Wilsen DeGarmo
Men’s Dual Slalom competitors:
Matt Mitchko
Émilien Belzile
Max Canterbury
Eli Houle
Walker Cottingham
Eason Vaughn
Women’s Downhill competitors:
Matilda Gentry
Elli Clark
Madeleine Pollock
Lacey Dennis
Women’s Dual Slalom competitors:
Lily-Rose Marois
Matilda Gentry
Elli Clark
Madeleine Pollock
Lacey Dennis
Brevard College All-Time Collegiate Team National Championships (10)
Mountain Bike – 6 USA Cycling Collegiate National Championships
2016 – 1st (DI) Snowshoe Mountain, W. Va.
2014 – 1st (DII) Beech Mountain, N.C.
2013 – 1st (DII) Beech Mountain, N.C.
2012 – 1st (DII) Angel Fire, N.M.
2010 – 1st (DII) Truckee, Calif.
2009 – 1st (DII) Truckee, Calif.
Cyclocross – 4 USA Cycling Collegiate National Championships
2017 – 1st (DI) Hartford, Conn.
2015 – 1st (DII) Austin, Texas
2014 – 1st (DII) Boulder, Colo
2013 – 1st (DII) Verona, Wis.