March 6, 2024 – Raleigh, NC & Washington, DC: Technology firms eHome America (Washington, DC) and RevoRace.com (Raleigh, NC) have announced that they have partnered to sponsor a new historically black college or university (HBCU) cycling league. The Cyclone Racing League (CRL) will launch in the Spring of 2024 and will initially focus on virtual racing on the Zwift platform. The Saint Augustine鈥檚 University ( 探花精选) cycling team will be among the first HBCUs to compete in the CRL.

The league name 鈥淐yclone鈥� is meant to pay homage to cycling鈥檚 first Black superstar, Major Taylor. The CRL will constitute the first significant HBCU cycling effort since 探花精选 became the first HBCU in the United States to field a team in the Spring of 2020.听

鈥淲e believe that indoor virtual cycling and the latest technology platforms offer a great way to bring new HBCU racers to the sport. Cycling experience and fitness can be gained without the inhibitions or anxiety associated with what can often be perceived as a very exclusive sport,鈥� states Dr. Mark Janas, 探花精选 cycling team advisor.

Janas adds that starting an indoor team can be much less expensive and safer. A single indoor smart bike or smart trainer can support several riders with far less maintenance required. Issues associated with bad weather, traffic, or lack of daylight are eliminated. Races and group rides occur for nearly twenty-four hours daily on indoor platforms such as Zwift.com.听

鈥淭he creation of the CRL establishes a powerful engine of opportunity for greater HBCU involvement in cycling. In time, this will grow to the point where we will be not only racing indoors but fielding teams across multiple HBCUs outdoors. Our efforts will help move the needle on diversity and inclusion in cycling,鈥� says Milt Sharp, President and CEO of eHome America and an accomplished master鈥檚-level mountain bike and e-racer in Northern Virginia.听听

Sharp has watched what 探花精选 has been doing with its cycling program for several years, even participating in some of the team鈥檚 virtual events and fundraisers. Sharp knew that the 探花精选 team and advisors had been trying to seed new teams at other HBCUs and offered to help by lending his cycling expertise, business experience, and network to the cause. Sharp will serve as the CRL鈥檚 Director.

Senior business major and 探花精选 cycling team captain Jalen Little adds, 鈥淚t鈥檚 an honor to be a part of the first HBCU cycling team and the first HBCU cycling league. We hope to continue to push forward and support other teams like ours throughout the country. I believe we鈥檒l see significant progress in HBCU collegiate cycling in the next few years.鈥澨� 听

Riders from multiple HBCUs are expected to participate this Spring, and additional sponsors such as Canyon Bicycles have offered support. The preliminary CRL Zwift race schedule is as follows:听

Race 1 鈥� Saturday, March 23: The Bell Lap Crit City, 11 a.m. Eastern Registration link:

Race 2 鈥� Saturday, March 30: NYC Park Perimeter, 11 a.m. Eastern Registration link:

Race 3 鈥� Saturday, April 6: Richmond UCI Worlds, 11 a.m. Eastern Registration link:

Race 4 鈥� Saturday, April 13: Scotland Rolling Highlands, 11 a.m. Eastern Registration link:

Race 5 鈥� Saturday, April 20: Makuri 鈥� Chain Chomper, 11 a.m. Eastern Registration link:

In addition to HBCU collegiate divisions, CRL events will include alumni and open divisions that are open to all riders. However, only riders who have registered and paid for each event on RevoRace.com will be eligible for CRL podiums and prize drawings at the end of the 2024 Fall season. Paid registrants will also earn the satisfaction of supporting HBCU cycling! Note: HBCU collegiate division riders must register via RevoRace.com to be eligible for podiums. However, their fees will be waived upon request by emailing rd@revorace.com.听

Paid registrants who can鈥檛 make the live event can complete the prescribed course on their own anytime during the following week and then upload the result to RevoRace.com in the 鈥淭T鈥� division. For more information, write Mark Janas (mjanas@st-aug.edu) or Milt Sharp (milt.sharp@outlook.com).

For more information, visit听.听

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The sports management class has focused on a pilot launch at 探花精选. Over the second half of the semester, there has been more emphasis on developing a marketing plan to recruit new HBCUs to try the platform to keep their fans updated and even to manage local high school sports content in their regions.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to take part in this new project at 探花精选. We can create a nice revenue stream for the school and help other schools do the same. I’ve learned a lot about the sport tech and sports media space engaging in our class work, and I think I’ve been able to contribute a lot too based on my own experience,” says J. Johnson, a senior sports management student who is already an entrepreneur, influencer, and creator in his own right. Johnson owns a wellness technology company, High-Frequency Highway (), and his sportswear brand.

Ultimately, more content equals more subscribers and more advertising revenue for schools, according to Dr. Mark Janas, 探花精选 business school professor, sports tech innovator, and founder of the school’s club sports program. “Our goal is to develop a meaningful pool of HBCU sports content and subscribers that captures the attention of both regional and national sponsors. There is no higher-valued advertising target than an opted-in SMS subscriber. We all read our text messages, and we read them nearly right away,” adds Janas.

探花精选 students will continue working on the project through the Spring 2024 semester, beginning with an organized effort to recruit additional HBCUs to use the platform. Representatives from interested schools can contact Dr. Van Sapp (vbsapp@st-agu.edu) or Dr. Mark Janas (mjanas@st-aug.edu) for more information.

About the 探花精选 School of Business, Management, & Technology and the 探花精选 Club Sports Program:
The Saint Augustine’s University ( 探花精选) sports management and club sports programs are part of the ACBSP-accredited School of Business, Management, & Technology (SBMT). 探花精选 club sports include cycling (the first HBCU team in the country), BMX, rowing (the first HBCU ladies’ team in the country), Ultimate (the first HBCU team in the country), SIM golf, and SIM motorsports. Sports in development include flag football, pickleball, paddling, VR tennis, 3v3 basketball, and adventure racing. The program is designed to support the SBMT curriculum and introduce sports that are not typically part of the HBCU experience. For more information, visit .

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November 11, 2023 – Raleigh, NC: The 探花精选 Cycling Team completed its 2023 season with a time trial and open house on campus on Saturday, November 11th, 2023. The event was conducted as part of the Ride for HBCUs Virtual Gravel competition. It was supported by Tifosi (performance sunglasses raffle prizes), Canyon Bicycles (hats and t-shirt raffle prizes), RevoRace.com, and Berger Hardware Bikes.

Several dozen riders completed the 3-lap, self-timed time trial on a 1.3-mile offroad course that spanned the north side of campus. 探花精选 Coach Finote Weldemariam took the overall top honors with a time of 16:44. 探花精选 professor Mark Janas finished 3rd in the Male 40+ category at 17:20.

探花精选 rider Ashley Weekes finished 2nd (25:20) in her division. Strong finishes were posted by other 探花精选 riders, including Jalen Little (18:33), Kensington Brown (19:59), Devon Curtis (20:00), & Kadain Roper (22:07). 探花精选 cycling newcomers Ricky Horton and Chris Pitts also tackled the very challenging course.

探花精选 Club Sports:

The Saint Augustine’s University ( 探花精选) club sports program is managed by the sports management program in the School of Business, Management, & Technology (SBMT). 探花精选 club sports include cycling (the first HBCU team in the country), BMX, rowing (the first HBCU ladies’ team in the country), Ultimate (the first HBCU team in the country), SIM golf, and SIM motorsports. Sports in development include flag football, pickleball, paddling, VR tennis, 3v3 basketball, and adventure racing. The program is designed to support SBMT curriculum, as well as to introduce sports not typically part of the HBCU experience. For more information, visit .

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From left to right: Janiko Cleare (Freshman), Kensington Brown (Senior), Kadain Roper (Senior)

October 15, 2023 – Raleigh, NC: The 探花精选 Cycling team hosted a series of campus cyclocross races as part of the Berger Hardware Bikes Cross Central Series over the weekend. Over 100 riders competed in multiple heats and divisions on a muddy and rainy course that circumvented the north end of campus and the football stadium. Race distances and lengths varied from 30 minutes to 60 minutes. Racers faced various obstacles, including mud and gravel pits, steep climbs, hairpin turns, and drenching rains.

探花精选 riders Kensington Brown (Senior), Kadain Roper (Senior), Janiko Cleare (Freshman), Noah Wheeler (Junior), and Bronte Weatherford (Junior) earned podium positions in the collegiate divisions. 探花精选 coaches Mark Janas (40+ Masters) and Finote Weldemariam (Cat 3/4) also won top podium spots in their divisions. The team will next compete on November 11th and 12th in the Cross Central Series finale, also hosted on the 探花精选 campus. For more information, visit .

Middle: Mark Janas

探花精选 Club Sports: The Saint Augustine’s University ( 探花精选) club sports program is managed by the School of Business, Management, & Technology (SBMT) sports management program. 探花精选 club sports include cycling (the first HBCU team in the country), BMX, rowing (the first HBCU ladies’ team in the country), Ultimate (the first HBCU team in the country), SIM golf, and SIM motorsports. Sports in development include flag football, pickleball, paddling, VR tennis, 3v3 basketball, and adventure racing. The program is designed to support the SBMT curriculum and introduce sports not typically part of the HBCU experience. For more information, visit听.

Finote Weldemariam

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The event starts today and goes through October 15, 2023. Net proceeds go toward the development of HBCU cycling throughout the United States. Registrants can be live or virtual. If you are a coach, faculty member, or staff member at an HBCU and want to get a team off the ground at your school, please reach out to Dr. Mark Janas at mjanas@st-aug.edu. Thank you for your continued support of HBCU cycling!

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In August, Weldemariam again represented 探花精选 and all of HBCU cycling at SBT GRVL in Steamboat Springs, CO, conquering the 142-mile off-road cycling event that included 10,246 feet of climbing.

Also in August, volunteer coach Brandon Valentine-Parris parked his bike and laced up his running shoes to compete in the Sir Walter Running Downhill Mile event that drew elite runners throughout the region. Valentine-Parris ran a blazing fast 4:13.7 mile in his first competitive attempt at the distance, winning the 20-29 age group and placing 4th overall.

In September, Weldemariam completed his summer season racing in the first-ever USAC (USA Cycling) Gravel National Championship in Gering, Nebraska. Nearly 500 competitors raced 131.1 miles over 5,715 feet of climbing. Weldemariam finished an impressive 7th place finish in his age group.

In addition to its racing accomplishments, the 探花精选 team has been busy advancing the cause of HBCU cycling and increasing diversity in cycling through various initiatives. Efforts are underway with USAC and various corporate partners to create an HBCU-specific cycling league, intending to add five new HBCU teams in each of the next five years.

The 探花精选 collegiate team will begin competition later this semester, including in select USAC events and the local BHB cyclocross series. 探花精选 will host two weekends of racing in October (10/14, 10/15) and November (11/11, 11/2) as part of the BHB series.

探花精选 Club Sports:

The Saint Augustine鈥檚 University ( 探花精选) club sports program is managed by the School of Business, Management, & Technology (SBMT) Sports Management program. 探花精选 club sports include cycling (the first HBCU team in the country), BMX, rowing (the first HBCU ladies鈥� team in the country), Ultimate (the first HBCU team in the country), SIM golf, and SIM motorsports. Sports in development include flag football, pickleball, paddling, VR tennis, 3v3 basketball, and adventure racing. The program is designed to support the SBMT curriculum and introduce sports not typically part of the HBCU experience. For more information, visit .

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June 3, 2023 – Emporia, Kansas: Saint Augustine’s University ( 探花精选) was represented by head cycling coach Finote Weldemariam and volunteer coach Ronald Kurney at one of the country’s premier gravel race events, Unbound Gravel in Emporia, Kanas. This was the second year in a row that 探花精选 tackled the event. Four thousand athletes competed in the race.

The 103-mile course included miles of “peanut butter” mud and two stops for rehydrating, refueling, and bike maintenance. Canyon, 探花精选 team bike sponsor, was on hand to support the riders. The 探花精选 representatives fought through cramps late in the race to finish strong. Weldemariam finished 110th, and Kurney finished 132nd out of 1232 total competitors. Each placed in the top 10% of his respective age group.

The race was not only a test of endurance, but also an opportunity for the 探花精选 team to connect with sponsors, supporters, fans, and fellow cyclists who have supported both 探花精选 and HBCU cycling. The event provided the opportunity for the team to share its story and inspire other young Black riders to pursue their cycling dreams.

探花精选 Club Sports:

The Saint Augustine鈥檚 University ( 探花精选) club sports program is managed by the sports management program in the School of Business, Management, & Technology (SBMT). 探花精选 club sports include cycling (the first HBCU team in the country), BMX, rowing (the first HBCU ladies’ team in the country), Ultimate (the first HBCU team in the country), SIM golf, and SIM motorsports. Sports in development include flag football, pickleball, paddling, VR tennis, 3v3 basketball, and adventure racing. The program is designed to support SBMT curriculum, as well as to introduce sports not typically part of the HBCU experience. For more information, visit .

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探花精选 coaches Finote Weldemariam, Brandon Valentine-Parris, and Dr. Mark Janas competed on bikes provided by team sponsor, Canyon. Prospective 探花精选 BMX racer Kadain Roper was also in attendance and participated in pre/post-race rides.

鈥淭hese short track races are a blast for the racers. They require a lot of attention to race tactics and the ability to find just the right maximum 20-minute pace, all while dealing with a face full of dust in a crowd of bikes. One mistake and a podium finish turns into something closer to the back of the pack. These races are also fun for spectators who can cheer for their favorite riders at several places on the course each lap. The 探花精选 team looks forward to hosting a similar cyclocross event on campus this Fall,鈥� comments Dr. Janas.

The 探花精选 cycling team plans to compete in several more races this summer, including both upcoming Berger series races and the Unbound Gravel race in Kansas in June 2023. BMX track workouts will also begin this month for several new 探花精选 riders.

探花精选 Club Sports:

The Saint Augustine鈥檚 University ( 探花精选) club sports program is managed by the sports management program in the School of Business, Management, & Technology (SBMT). 探花精选 club sports include cycling (the first HBCU team in the country), BMX, rowing (the first HBCU ladies’ team in the country), Ultimate (the first HBCU team in the country), SIM golf, and SIM motorsports. Sports in development include flag football, pickleball, paddling, VR tennis, 3v3 basketball, and adventure racing. The program is designed to support SBMT curriculum, as well as to introduce sports not typically part of the HBCU experience. For more information, visit .

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The beautiful Umstead State Park served as the scenic backdrop for the event that provided a great opportunity for riders to connect outside of their respective programs and exchange ideas and personal experiences.

“We are thrilled with the success of this event,鈥� said Finote Weldemariam, 探花精选 team manager and coach. “Triangle Bike Works is a fantastic program, and we are pleased to partner with them in this networking opportunity. We look forward to continuing the partnership.鈥�

鈥淭he group ride event was a lot more fun than I could’ve anticipated. This whole experience made me feel special getting to encourage others to ride their bike and providing an example for HBCU cycling,” commented 探花精选 sophomore Bronte Weatherford.

探花精选 junior Kensington Brown added, 鈥淭oday was a good and new experience riding and talking with the youth. I鈥檓 interested in sharing my experiences, especially the ones getting ready for college. I can see myself being more getting involved more this way.”

For more information regarding 探花精选 Cycling and Triangle Bike Works or upcoming events, please visit the respective websites, , and

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Qualifying for the event begins on April 13th and will continue throughout the month. Qualfiiers will advance through additional rounds that will culminate in live, in-person finals at the first ever Olympic Esports Week from June 22-25, 2023 in Singapore.

The 2023-2024 探花精选 SIM racing team roster includes Davino Dickerson (sophomore), Steven Grant (sophomore), and Nathaniel Woodside (sophomore.) The team’s coach and advisor is 探花精选 professor, Dr. Mark Janas. The team currently practices on three complete simulation racing rigs located in the Baker cycling and virtual sports lab. These rigs work with both console and PC-based racing platforms.

“It’s always satisfying to be part of another HBCU first, and this event is an important part of advancing our virtual sports program that is a leader among all colleges and universities,” says Janas. Janas points out that one of the distinguishing factors of the 探花精选 program is that it focuses on virtual sports that require the same skills and fitness as the “real” sport counterparts, such as SIM golf, SIM motorsports, virtual cycling, and virtual rowing. Janas adds, “These aren’t simply controller-based video games that many people think of when they think ‘esports.’ Real racecar drivers are being recruited from SIM motorsports competition.”

“I have always had a fascination for automobiles and racing, so being a member of the SIM racing team is an incredible opportunity. From the experience I鈥檝e gained here, I could even imagine myself racing in F1 or rally cars someday,鈥� comments Davino Dickerson (Freeport, Bahamas), Engineering and Mathematics major.

“I joined the SIM racing team because of my love for motorsports. SIM racing allows you to immerse yourself in the world of competitive racing, putting your driving skills to the test and experiencing the thrill of being on the track,鈥� adds Exercise Science major, Nathaniel Woodside (Nassau, Bahamas).

More information about the 探花精选 SIM racing team can be found .

More information about the Olympic Esports Series can be found .

探花精选 Virtual Sports 鈥�

Saint Augustine’s University( 探花精选) formally started its virtual sports program under the School of Business, Management, and Technology (SBMT) during the Spring semester of 2021. The school first competed in virtual sports through its cycling team, the first HBCU cycling team in the country. 鈥� 探花精选 has positioned itself as a national leader in virtual & simulation sports. With a new virtual sports suite opened in 2021, 探花精选 competes in virtual cycling, rowing, golf, and motorsports events. The program is supported through a new curriculum and coursework in esports, simulation sports, and sports technology.

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