Drew Dillman Rides to an Easy Win in the Men’s Collegiate D1 National Championship—Updated: Photo Gallery, Full Results and Video

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by Celeste Taylor

ASHEVILLE, North Carolina—Andrew Dillman (Marian University) earned his second Division 1 national title during Friday’s overcast race. After a drizzly morning, the course had only just begun to dry out by the start of the race but the slippery terrain didn’t seem to pose much of a challenge for Dillman, who claimed a handy victory over his competition.

The first half lap was a tight race between Dillman and Maxx Chance (University of Colorado Boulder) with Dillman choosing to ride Heckle Hill while Chance opted to run. Soon after, Dillman began to pull away from his competition and established a ten second gap to second place Ian McPherson (Fort Lewis College) who had made contact with Chance by the end of the first lap.

McPherson and Chance began the second lap neck and neck, with McPherson leading by only a second. Cody Cupp (Fort Lewis College) sat a mere ten seconds back from the second and third place riders but Kyle Trudeau (University of Arizona), Kacey Campbell (Colorado State University) and Ian McShane (Marian University) were locked in battle and hot on his trail.

Dillman continued to widen his lead on the rest of the field as McPherson and Chance traded attacks behind him. In fourth place, Cupp managed to maintain his lead but Campbell and Trudeau were steadily reeling him in. Halfway through the second lap Campbell had dropped Trudeau and was making significant progress towards catching Cupp.

On the second to last lap, Chance left McPherson with an attack that would stick for the remainder of the race. McPherson sat solidly in third as behind him and Campbell finally caught Cupp. Those two racers spent the remainder of the race battling for the final podium positions as Trudeau fought to regain his position and fend off any attacks from the strong field behind him.

Drew Dillman of Marian University defended his Collegiate D1 Men’s title. © Cyclocross Magazine

Campbell was finally able to break away from Cupp and create a ten second lead that Cupp wasn’t able to bridge for the remainder of the race. Dillman stayed steady in the front, looking relaxed while passing lapped riders.

Dillman crossed the line in 50:09, 40 seconds up on second place Chance. McPherson maintained his third place position by nearly a minute while Campbell managed to fend off Cupp to finish fourth.

Watch Drew Dillman discuss his victory and view full results and photos, below.

2016 USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships Men's Collegiate D1 Full Results

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2016 Men’s Collegiate D1 National Championship Photo Gallery