‘When you’re making history, you’re often unaware at the time …’
For two riders on the St. Augustine’s University Cycling Team — the first official cycling team at a historically Black college or university (HBCU) — their career and possibly life highlight came on a beautiful day in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
St. Augustine University students Brandon Valentine-Parris and Finote Weldemariam competed in their first statewide, UCI-sanctioned race in June 2021. “It was only a 50-minute, 20-lap event. But the moment felt bigger somehow,” teased Canyon in advance of the film.
“Eight months ago, I barely knew how to pedal a bike and now I’m competing in races,” said Valentine-Parris. “I made a conscious decision to see how far I can take cycling, how competitive I can be in this sport.”
This episode is part 4 in the “Chasing History” series. Watch the full series.
