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Rewinding the highlight reel to the first week of January 2017, Stephen Hyde took his first of three consecutive US cyclocross national titles in Hartford, Connecticut, running, not riding, across the snow-packed final turns after breaking a derailleur. His victory across the icy circuit amid fresh snow broke a string of four wins in five years by perennial elite men’s champion Jeremy Powers.
2022 brings a new generation to the fore at the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships, a week of racing at Riverside Park in Hartford culminating on Sunday, December 11 with elite, U23 and junior 17-18 events for men and women.
Just a handful of elite men make a return to Hartford this time and there is a complete new make up for the off-road duels for the elite women. The Powers vs Hyde battle is no more, as both have retired. Powers rode to fifth place in his final nationals in Louisville in 2018. Fifteen-time elite women’s champion Katie Compton departed for good in 2020 after a four-year suspension from the US Anti-Doping Agency for a positive out-of-competition test.
However, Hyde is back but this time on the other side of the tape as the Cyclocross National Team coach for USA Cycling. The New England resident offered his perspective on riders to watch this time around.
“I am very excited that Nats are back in Hartford. It’s close to me and that means I can share resources and be more available for athletes. Plus it’s always nice to have them back here in New England,” Hyde told Cyclingnews from his home base in Easthampton, Massachusetts, located less than an hour away from Hartford.
“However, it’s a bit bittersweet for me. I would have loved to race another Nats here before retiring. I think it will be a good show to watch!“
Hyde retired from elite competition just last year after a 10-year career. He competed in his final two seasons with the Steve Tilford Foundation and finished ninth in his final CX Nationals in DuPage County, Illinois.
“Nationals sometimes has a special way of throwing curveballs at racers. So I will never place too high of bets,” Hyde responded when asked if there were distinct favourites for the final races on Sunday in Hartford.
Eric Brunner (Blue Competition Cycles p/b Build) is a favourite to defend as elite men’s champion, but he’ll have to deal with three-time nationals runner-up Curtis White (Steve Tilford Foundation) and Blue Competition teammate Scott Funston, who moves up to the elite race after…
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