Cycling programs at Cumberland and Vanderbilt University will team up this spring to host the Southeastern Collegiate Cycling Conference (SECCC) Championships, CU Cycling Team Director Tim Hall recently announced.

Although CU's cycling program is only in its third year, Hall noted the April 21-22 event will mark the second time Cumberland University has been involved in hosting the SECCC Championships. And, as CU partnered with Vanderbilt's cycling program to host a "very successful regular season event" last year, Hall said the two programs were awarded the opportunity to host this year's championship.

"With us working together, it encourages teams to come to Nashville to compete at least once during the year," Hall said. "The conference championship ... is great preparation for the Collegiate National Championships which take place in Lawrence, Kansas just two weeks after our event."

During the SECCC Championships, Vanderbilt University will host the road race and team time trial in Liepers Fork, and Cumberland University will host the criterium at LP Field, home of the Tennessee Titans, Hall added.

"Nearly every rider in the conference will attend this event in order to earn eligibility points toward the National Championship," he concluded. "We're likely to see riders from across the southeast, including Auburn, the University of Georgia, the University of Florida, Georgia Tech, Florida State and Clemson."