BRISTOL, Va. - Virginia Intermont College has added cycling as a varsity sport for both men and women for the 2012-2013 school year.  While many colleges and universities have cycling clubs, VI plans to be among a handful of colleges recognized by USA Cycling (USAC) as a cycling team.

"Many college-aged students are interested in cycling and some have been competing in the sport prior to starting college," Chris Holt, VI's director of athletics, said.  "Adding it to our program of varsity sports makes sense given VI's location and the popularity of the sport."  
 
Currently there are only nine varsity teams registered with USAC.  To be recognized as a varsity team, the sport must receive support from the college, have a coach, offer scholarships, and have some or all expenses covered by the institution.  In addition, varsity teams must be recognized by USAC and listed on the USAC website as such.  Club teams, on the other hand, are generally student organized and run with little or no support from the institution.  
 
For the 2011-2012 season, Virginia Intermont will be organized as a club team while working to meet the criteria to be recognized as a varsity team by the USAC.  The club team will be under the direction of a coach.  
 
"This will be the start of new tradition for VI," Holt added.  "Our students are excited about it, and we look forward to competing in this sport."
Dwayne Letterman, a level-B USA Cycling official who has more than 20 years' experience in the sport, will serve as cycling coach.  He has also managed and organized more than 100 races, including the only Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) cyclo-cross race in Tennessee.  It is only one of three in the southeast.  Letterman also serves on the board of directors for the Tennessee Bike Racing Association (TBRA) and is the director of cyclo-cross racing for TBRA.
 
"The area provides the right terrain for a cycling team whether its road, mountain or cyclo-cross," said Letterman.  
 
"Cycling is an everyman sport," said Letterman. "Being a non-traditional sport, cycling many times attracts people who have never been an athlete, or have never had an interest in main stream sports."

According to Letterman, "varsity teams are traditionally more successful than club teams because they have the ability to offer scholarships and attract riders who are already accomplished racers and students."  He added that the presence of a coach provides leadership, structure, training, and direction for the team. This allows students time to focus on their studies and athletics without the added burden of managing a club.   Letterman noted that the top three positions in Division I rankings are held by varsity teams. 
 
Letterman commented that while VI will be organized as a club team its first year, he intends to manage the team with the goal of attaining varsity designation.