By Mabry Norris

The University of Montevallo Athletics will add a Cycling team to its roster of 21 athletic teams.

In an Interview with Eric Maas the Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations he elaborated on what the Cycling team will do for the University.

Maas stated “Starting a cycling team will help with enrollment in the University.” When asked where the idea for a cycling team originated he said “Having our golf course unused we had an opportunity to still use the land and have been told it would be a great Mountain bike course so thats kindle where the idea was born.”

The head coach of the University’s Cycling Team will be Dr. Shawn Mitchell a professor in the Exercise Science and Nutrition program.

Although Mountain Biking does have a huge following University’s in the south usually do not have Cycling teams.

When asked who the team will compete against Maas said “Because its not an NCAA sanctioned sport it will be harder to find teams to compete against but there are a lot of club teams at different schools in the southeast that includes D1 and D2 schools. We will most likely compete against a lot of NAIA schools in the south east.”

The Cycling Team has already peaked interest across campus and will most likely continue to gather support until their first competition in Fall 2022.