Brunner’s Road to Cyclocross Glory Fuels Project Echelon Racing Ambitions
Project Echelon Racing is poised for a landmark year, bolstered by the signing of cyclocross star Eric Brunner and the upcoming release of a documentary celebrating the team’s decade-long commitment to both athletic excellence and veteran support.Brunner,a three-time US cyclocross elite men’s champion,secured his latest title in mid-December,a victory he attributes to an unexpected shift in training focus – more time on the road.
The 27-year-old’s path to success wasn’t preordained.”I raced a lot more on the road this summer than I have in a few years,” Brunner explained, “And that wasn’t my original plan going into 2025, to be right for Project Echelon Racing in 2026. It realy kind of pulled me in this direction again.” He found that the endurance and consistent effort demanded by road racing provided an ideal foundation for the explosive demands of cyclocross. “I think racing on the road is the best training possible, especially being able to stack a lot of hard days back-to-back like you do in stage races,” he said. Despite initially planning a heavier mountain bike schedule, Brunner’s strong road performance led him to prioritize cyclocross, where he consistently delivers results. “Nationals is always a priority.”
Brunner’s extraordinary performance this season included podium finishes in 11 of 12 US cyclocross races, with seven victories overall.his dominance extends beyond the current season, having previously won the US cyclocross elite men’s title in 2023 and 2021, and achieving four consecutive wins in the elite men’s division of the Pan-American Championships across five appearances.
Now, Brunner joins Project Echelon Racing at the Continental level, where he’s been described as a “three-pronged danger man” and will serve as a key team leader in both domestic and international competitions. This year marks a notable milestone for the team – its 10th season overall and fourth at the pro level. A 37-minute feature film, “Outride the Darkness,” will premiere on December 25, 2025, chronicling the team’s journey and its unique mission. Brunner himself makes a cameo appearance in the film, captured during his first race with the team at the Maryland Cycling classic.
Brunner’s journey to Project Echelon wasn’t immediate. He began his road racing career in 2018 with stints at 303 Project and Aevolo before founding his own cyclocross team in 2021. This season saw a return to a robust road schedule with Competitive Edge Racing, yielding top-five finishes at events like the Tour de Murrieta and the Joe Martin stage Race.
“Outride the darkness” highlights this mission, showcasing how the team and organization have helped thousands of veterans overcome mental and physical challenges through physical activity and self-finding. “We’ve been working on the film for some time. It’s going to be a fantastic story of resilience,” Hill explained. “Our team and organization have helped thousands of veterans to outride their demons, outride their darkness, whether that be loneliness, depression, suicide, addiction, post-traumatic stress, things of that nature.”
Founded in 2017, project Echelon Racing has evolved from a domestic-elite club team to a Continental-level squad, expanding its reach to European events. The organization’s impact extends far beyond the racecourse, now supporting over 500 veteran families annually. Success stories abound, including Dennis connors, a US Marine who earned a Para-Cycling silver medal at the Paris paralympics, and Shawn Morelli, an Army veteran and three-time Paralympic gold medallist in Para-Cycling.
You can view the film “Outride the Darkness” on the Project Echelon racing YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ProjectEchelonRacing. With a renewed focus, a talented roster led by Eric Brunner, and a steadfast commitment to its core values, Project Echelon Racing is poised for continued success on and off the bike.
