WATERLOO, Wis. — Colorado Mesa University Cycling once again proved why it remains the premier collegiate cycling program in the nation, capturing the 2026 USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championship Varsity Team Omnium title this weekend at Trek Bicycle headquarters in Waterloo, Wisconsin.
The national title marks CMU Cycling's fifth consecutive Collegiate Road National Omnium Championship and helped secure the program's sixth straight overall season-long Omnium National Championship, awarded based on combined performances across all four collegiate national championship disciplines throughout the academic year.
Competing against the nation's top varsity programs, the Mavericks delivered standout performances across the Team Time Trial, Road Race, and Criterium events while showcasing the depth and consistency that has become synonymous with CMU Cycling.
Strong Start in Team Time Trial
The championship weekend opened with the 36.8-kilometer Team Time Trial, where both the Maverick women's and men's squads earned silver-medal finishes.
The Varsity Women's team of
Cassidy Hickey,
Ella Sabo, Stella Slingsby, and
Chloe Fraser posted a time of 53:37.76 to finish second overall. The Varsity Men's squad of
Vaughn Veenendaal,
Dylan Fluckiger,
Luke Elphingstone, and
Colin O'Neil followed with a tightly contested performance, clocking 47:10.33 and finishing just 11 seconds behind the national champions.
Ella Sabo Wins National Title in Road Race
Saturday's road race showcased the Mavericks' tactical strength and endurance on a demanding 14.5-mile circuit.
In the Varsity Women's race,
Ella Sabo emerged as the national champion after attacking with a decisive three-rider breakaway and winning a dramatic sprint finish to claim the Stars and Stripes jersey.
CMU's women added to the dominant team performance with
Cassidy Hickey finishing fourth,
Alexis Jaramillo ninth, and
Chloe Fraser twenty-first.
The Varsity Men's race featured challenging winds and aggressive racing throughout the day.
Luke Elphingstone led the Mavericks with a fifth-place finish, while
Aidan Lemorande and
Vaughn Veenendaal placed 15th and 18th respectively.
Heading into the final day of competition, CMU sat just six points behind Marian University in the overall team standings.
Mavericks Seal Championship in Madison Criterium
The championships concluded Sunday in downtown Madison with the high-speed criterium races, where the Mavericks delivered the performances needed to reclaim the top spot in the standings.
In the Varsity Women's criterium, CMU controlled much of the race pace before
Ella Sabo and defending national champion
Cassidy Hickey sprinted to second and third-place finishes.
Alexis Jaramillo and
Mia Deye added critical team points with 13th and 15th-place results.
The women's race performance pushed the Mavericks ahead of Marian University entering the final men's event.
In the Varsity Men's criterium, defending champion
Luke Elphingstone battled through a crowded sprint to finish third overall, while Nolan Chutch and
Dylan Fluckiger secured valuable points with 14th and 15th-place finishes.
CMU ultimately claimed the national championship with 438 total points, narrowly defeating Marian University's 430-point total.
Sixth Straight Overall Omnium National Championship
The Road Nationals victory also secured Colorado Mesa University's sixth consecutive overall Collegiate Omnium National Championship, recognizing season-long excellence across mountain biking, cyclocross, track, and road cycling national championships.
Final overall standings:
- Colorado Mesa University = 306 points
- Marian University = 286 points
- Milligan University = 251 points
- Fort Lewis College = 238 point
CMU claimed national titles this season in mountain biking, cyclocross, and road, while finishing third nationally in track cycling. The Mavericks cycling team now has a total of 9 overall omnium titles, 24 team discipline titles and 104 individual student-athlete titles.
National Championships Coming to Grand Junction
Following two successful years in Wisconsin, USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships will move to Grand Junction, Colorado, for the 2027 and 2028 seasons.
The Mavericks will have the opportunity to defend their national titles on home roads as collegiate cycling's biggest stage comes to western Colorado.
