Three cycling industry giants-Cannondale, EF Pro Cycling, and USA Cycling-have joined forces to create a new three-year grant program for black and indigenous student athletes in the United States. The program, which begins this month and runs through spring 2022, is intended to strengthen the three schools' ability to recruit new students and encourage their participation in cycling, as well as develop leadership and collaboration skills across teams.

The program was created as a collaborative effort to grow the cycling community and establish a long-term source of opportunity for two historically excluded groups of the 215 club and college cycling programs currently in the United States. Following an application process for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) across the United States, the selection committee tasked with designating grant recipients included representatives from Cannondale and EF Pro Cycling, as well as USA Cycling's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force members included.

The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) and Navajo Technical University (NTU) will pave the way for college cycling in indigenous communities as the first two schools to offer programs at any TCU. [IAIA President Dr. Robert Martin (Cherokee Nation) said, "The benefits of this grant are far-reaching and will have a positive impact on the recruitment, health, and well-being of our students, who are primarily indigenous people in the United States and Canada. IAIA is one of 37 tribal colleges across the U.S. that did not have a cycling program." This opportunity will expand our athletics program while encouraging leadership and healthy lifestyles in our students.

In the spring of 2022, Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) will launch the first women's cycling team in the 154-year history of HBCUs.

"Having a cycling program is a great asset, not only giving students the opportunity to compete, but also keeping them on track physically healthy," says Sean Meacham, JCSU's director of compliance. "Additionally, it allows students to pursue the benefits of higher education while participating in the program and presents educational growth and leadership qualities for our scholars both on and off the course.

"The program is easily accessible to any woman who is a student and desires or is interested in being part of a cycling club. Cycling gives students the opportunity to consider and explore a career in professional cycling while at the same time becoming more involved in the community and the cycling world."

Each school belongs to a cycling club.

Each school receives various forms of support from each partner, including administrative support, equipment, financial support, mentoring, coaching, and technical guidance. University or intramural club programs focus on a variety of disciplines.

IAIA will host coed intramural gravel and mountain bike teams, JCSU will host women's intramural road, cyclocross and gravel teams, and NTU will host coed club and intramural mountain bike and gravel teams.

"This grant will allow us to begin to find ways to restore a sense of normalcy as the pandemic has been particularly challenging for the Navajo community," said NTU Provost Dr. Colleen Bowman. NTU's Colleen Bowman President said, "This new program will give students the opportunity to ride bikes with their peers and focus on building their physical wellness along with their emotional and psychological health. It will also provide an opportunity for students to transform themselves into indigenous community leaders and cycling advocates, while at the same time inspiring young people to dream big."