As Black Key Bulls paraded around the track of Bill Armstrong Stadium for the third consecutive year, CUTTERS’ cyclists stood on the edge of the infield, forced to watch BKB celebrate yet another title.
Senior rider Judah Thompson, who won the 2026 individual time trials, lay face-up on the grass, staring up at the sky. His chest, now covered in multiple bright red gashes from a late-race crash, rose and fell rapidly as he sobbed. Jim Kirkham, CUTTERS’ longtime head coach, held both hands atop his head. Around them, barely a whisper arose from the rest of the team.
2026 was supposed to be Thompson’s year. After helping CUTTERS to their 15th title in 2023 as a freshman, 2024 and 2025 ended in disappointment. But after qualifying in pole position, CUTTERS entered 2026 as one of the favorites to claim victory.
For much of the race, CUTTERS remained near the front of an extremely close pack of riders. First place flipped regularly between several different teams up until lap 199.
Chi Alpha, which first competed in the men’s race in 2018, held a small lead entering lap 199 due to a large burn. The team exchanged riders, allowing the rest of the pack to close Chi Alpha down. Sophomore rider Ryan Amidei took off following the exchange.
Leading the rest of the pack was CUTTERS. Thompson hugged the inside of the track as he tried to claw his way back into first. Amidei, attempting to keep his team in first place, cut back toward the inside to get ahead of everyone else.
Then, it happened. On the first turn of lap 199 as Thompson started to blow past Amidei into first, the side of Amidei’s bike clipped the back wheel of Thompson’s bike, causing a crash on the second-to-last lap. It was a moment so shocking the announcers on YouTube peaked their microphones.
Thompson skidded over his handlebars as a massive pile up ensued on turn one. Alongside CUTTERS and Chi Alpha, fellow contenders such as Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Fiji all had their championship hopes dashed then and there.
The main team not affected by the crash was BKB, which finished the race under a yellow flag, with Cinzano and Bears close behind. Chi Alpha finished fourth, while CUTTERS ended up outside the top five.
Chris Anderson, coach of Chi Alpha, admitted his team was at fault for the crash.
“We will completely own that one,” Anderson said postrace. “We wanted to get Ryan Amidei on the bike after the field caught us, after attacking, and he just came in a bit too early.”
Kirkham, CUTTERS’ coach, was blunter in his assessment. In his eyes, the crash was the only reason CUTTERS didn’t win.
“As far as I know, Chi Alpha’s rider took out our rider,” Kirkham said.
Amidei did indeed cut back toward the inside in an attempt to remain in first place. Caught up in the moment with only two laps remaining, Amidei said his only concern was pushing for the victory.
“I was going for it,” Amidei said.
The opportunity to bring home Chi Alpha’s first ever title was there, but the crash dashed in those dreams. Amidei said he’ll look to the future.
“I’m gonna take some time, and just pray and rest,” Amidei said. “Rest in the grace that God has for me. I’m just gonna think about what happened and move forward.”
Thompson, a senior, doesn’t have another shot at a win. It showed through the pain in his face after the race, surrounded by his teammates and close friends as they attempted to console him.
“We gave it our best,” Thompson said, his eyes brimming with tears. “At least I got a ring, you know?”
Thompson chose CUTTERS as a freshman, the legendary 15-time Little 500 champions of “Breaking Away” fame. In the film, CUTTERS, depicted as a major underdog, made a furious comeback late to win the race over rival teams.
Thompson was on the verge of his own late comeback, but unlike in “Breaking Away,” the rivals ended up taking the victory.
“Sometimes you get the sad ending, you know?” Thompson said, attempting a smile.
