MESA, Colo. — The Montreat College cycling team battled weather and schedule adjustments last week at the 2026 USA Cycling Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships in Mesa, Colo. Despite the obstacles and hurdles thrown their way, the Cavaliers' three student-athletes competed at a high level and persevered to achieve the program's best finish at nationals.
 
Overall, the Cavs ended 12^th out of 18 squads in the team omnium varsity mountain bike standings. Montreat notched 213 points at Powderhorn Mountain Resort, 56 back of Utah State University Eastern and 89 points ahead of Belmont Abbey College. Colorado Mesa University won the collegiate mountain bike national title with 664 points.
 
Split up by gender, the Cavaliers placed 11^th on the men's side and 12^th on the women's side.
 
After Wednesday featured some practice and a walk around the course, the action truly got underway on Thursday with the dual slalom. Lucas Zeringue represented the Cavs on the men's side, while Clara Overholser competed for Montreat in the women's bracket. Overholser notched a qualifying time of 46.45 to make the round of 32. Her dual slalom journey ended there, but not before securing 27^th place out of 45 riders. Zeringue finished in the qualifying round, placing 37^th out of 53 participants with his 41.42 qualifying time.
 
Wesley Hane took center stage for the Cavaliers on Friday. The freshman began his nationals' debut with the men's cross country event. Riding in a field of 85 competitors, Hane wrapped up Friday's cross country race in 39^th. Hane returned to the course on Saturday, this time to participate in short track cross country. The Rock Hill, S.C., native turned in a 56^th-place performance among 77 student-athletes.
 
Originally scheduled for Sunday, weather forced Overholser and Zeringue into an earlier go at the downhill on Saturday. Adapting well, both Cavs improved on their placements from Thursday. Overholser rode her way into the top 20 with a 6:13.16 time. The sophomore concluded 16^th in a 36-rider women's field. Zeringue utilized his 5:38.32 time to finish 31^st out of 52 competitors in the men's downhill event.
 
"An amazing weekend in Colorado racing at collegiate nationals," said Head Coach Doug Cline. "Our three riders stayed positive fighting the weather and had a great showing in all their events. Sophomores Lucas and Clara raced the gravity events while adapting to changing weather. Freshman Wesley Hane raced the endurance events, with one of his high highest finishes of the year in cross country and fought the mud and rain in the short track to finish strong."
 
For a look at results from the 2026 USA Cycling Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships, click here.
 
With the official 2026 collegiate mountain bike season in the books, the Montreat College cycling team now sets its sights on continued growth and improvement in preparation for next year.