After a Learning Lap, Drew Dillman Dominates Course in Division 1 Men’s Race at the 2015 National Championships – Updated: Photo Gallery

Patrick Dust (Lindsey Wilson College. © Brian Nelson

Austin, TX- In the last race of a day where the conditions were the toughest all week, Drew Dillman (Marian) showed Austin what he learned over in Europe as he took a great victory with a lead over a deep chasing group. Not only has Dillman achieved success abroad, but he has also been learning a few tricks from the Elite racers at home.

His accolades include several top tens in the UCI Men’s Elite category, including a big seventh place in the final day of Jingle Cross and two top ten finishes in North Carolina. After the original publication of this article, he went on to become the leading American in the 2015 World Cup in Hoogerheide.

Dillman stormed onto the racing scene in 2010 with a podium finish during the Men’s 17-18 Race at the Cyclocross National Championship. Since then, he has gone on to race in Europe for several back-to-back seasons, and was able to place a respectable 14th in the U19 2012 World Championship Race. He aged up to the U23 by the time Worlds came to Louisville, taking 25th place.

Andrew Dillman (Marian University) takes the D1 Title. © Brian Nelson

Dillman, however, didn’t capture the race straight from the whistle. Brandon Feehery (Lindenwood) took the holeshot with a full body effort off the starting grid. The deep field of 91 intense riders made a heavy tailwind as captured by our staff:

Not long after, Maxx Chance (University of Colorado Boulder) struck forward, creating a small gap but still leading ten riders through the first lap. After the race, Dillman would admit that his first lap was his worst, where he made several mistakes and bobbled in the mud until he got his bearings.

Asked about the team tactics, Chance replied bluntly, “that’s racing.” He didn’t think it impacted the result, especially because of the tough, slippery conditions on the course.

Maxx Chance (University of Colorado Boulder) takes the silver in the D1 after a grueling race. © Brian Nelson

Once he got the course dialed in, however, he began taking over the race. He grabbed stakes and fences, moved his upper body to adjust to the ever changing terrain, and seemed to know the exact time to dismount and when to keep riding. In short, his experiences in Europe were working well into his favor.

Joshua Johnson (Marian) kept pace with Dillman during the early stages of the second lap, but one Dillman took off, Johnson was fending off riders in the chasing group, which included W Grant Ellwood (University of Colorado Boulder), Chance, and Gunnar Bergey (Lees-McRae College).

Gunar Bergey (Lees McRae) taking the final podium spot. © Brian Nelson

Dillman was able to do more than enough, and by the time he finished with the course, he had a near one minute gap on second place Maxx Chance. When asked about the Marian team working together, Chance said that most of the course was too technical for any team to do much working together.

Dillman had a great ride with the Marian team to take first. © Cyclocross Magazine

“Drew was gone once he got to the front,” he concluded.  He was also excited about his second place result, and his goal for tomorrow is a another podium finish in the U23 race. This goal was barely missed. After the delay of the final day of Nationals being pushed to Monday, Dillman would go on to take a strong fourth place finish in a deep field.

Collegiate Men – 2015 Cyclocross National Championships Photo Gallery:

• Dillman is familiar with these conditions as he took to the course in Austin. © Cyclocross Magazine

  https://www.cxmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/dillman-collegiate-d1-men-cxmagazine-ayee-d2-img_0760-e_1.jpg
  

• Dillman had a great ride with the Marian team to take first. © Cyclocross Magazine

  https://www.cxmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/dillman-collegiate-d1-men-cxmagazine-ayee-d2-dillman-collegiate-d1-men-cxmagazine-ayee-d2-img_1060-e-e_1.jpg
  

• Maxx Chance (University of Colorado Boulder) takes the silver in the D1 after a grueling race. © Brian Nelson

  https://www.cxmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/150110-5421_1.jpg

  Maxx Chance (University of Colorado Boulder) takes the silver in the D1 after a grueling race. © Brian Nelson

  

• Andrew Dillman (Marian University) takes the D1 Title. © Brian Nelson

  https://www.cxmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/150110-5417_1.jpg
  

• Gunar Bergey (Lees McRae) taking the final podium spot. © Brian Nelson

  https://www.cxmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/150110-5430_1.jpg
  

• No-one finished clean. © Brian Nelson

  https://www.cxmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/150110-5443_1.jpg
  

• Kolben Preble (Fort Lewis College) gets congratulations from a teamate. © Brian Nelson

  https://www.cxmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/150110-5442_1.jpg
  

• Showing a little leg in the D1 race. © Brian Nelson

  https://www.cxmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/150110-5388_1.jpg
  

• Patrick Dust (Lindsey Wilson College). © Brian Nelson

  https://www.cxmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/150110-5392_1.jpg
  

• Denying the photographers a chance at a crash photo. © Brian Nelson

  https://www.cxmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/150110-5401_1.jpg
  

2015 Collegiate Men D1 Results