Princeton University Athletics
Tyler Wren Wins National Collegiate Cycling Association Championship
May 24, 2001 | General
May 24, 2001
Colorado Springs, Colo. - Princeton's Tyler Wren (So., Ardmore, Pa.) won the National Collegiate Cycling Association men's cycling championship on Sunday, May 20 at the Air Force Academy road course in Colorado Springs, Colo., 75 cyclists started the grueling 63-mile race on the hilly Air Force Academy road course, but only 42 were able to finish, as Wren won the race in 3:03:48, averaging a time of 20.66 mph. With 250 meters to go in the race, Wren was in the lead pack with two other cyclists, and he decided to sprint all the way in. He was beneficiary of some good fortune as both of his competitors crashed while trying ride in his draft. Wren won the right to wear the official Stars and Stripes racing jersey for one year by winning the NCCA title. The NCCA is a part of the United States Cycling Federation, and cycling is a club sport at Princeton.
While Princeton graduates Derek Bouchard-Hall '92 and John Kelly '99 have enjoyed success in the professional and amateur ranks respectively since graduation, neither were able to equal Wren's accomplishment as collegiate cyclists.
"We have never had national cycling champion at Princeton, so this was a huge win for our program," said Wren.
"I went into the race with a goal of finishing in the top 10, and thought that I could possibly break into the top five with a great race," added Wren.
Also, senior Pat Zahn (Riverside, Calif.) finished 31st in the race.