Easthampton’s Stephen Hyde must like the way he looks in red, white and blue. He won his third straight USA Cycling cyclocross men’s elite national championship Sunday in Louisville, Kentucky to retain the stars and stripes jersey presented to the winner.
Hyde crossed the line in 1 hour, seven minutes, nine seconds, 27 seconds clear of second-place Curtis White. Both Hyde and White ride for Cannondale and traded the lead throughout the race. The course featured heavy, thick mud and multiple elevation changes. Riders spent about half of the race running with their bikes on their shoulders instead of in the saddle.
Hyde completed his first of six laps in 10:43, then remained consistent at 11:10, 11:16, 11:15 and 11:18 before turning in an 11:29 on the final time around the Joe Creason Park course.
“It feels like I left my back out there on the course and maybe some of my legs,” Hyde told Velonews.com. “It feels fantastic. It’s been a hell of a season, not a hell of a season like in years past.”
Hyde struggled with injuries this season and missed a chunk of the race schedule recovering, but he rounded into form over the past few weeks.
Southampton’s Jeremy Powers, who won three straight championships before Hyde dethroned him in 2017, placed fifth. Powers has four titles overall. The Fuji/Pactimo/SRAM rider took 1:09:57 for his six laps.
“The running has always been my kryptonite. It takes a special rider to do that,” Powers said. “I’m happy with fifth. My body held up well, and it felt like I was riding at my maximum the entire time.”
Jack Kisseberth, also from Westhampton, was eighth (1:13:19).
Westhampton’s Ellen Noble found her way to the women’s elite podium, placing third in 55:01. Katie Compton won her 15th straight title in the discipline, crossing the line in 52:23. Noble was 26 seconds behind Sunny Gilbert, who placed second.
“I am happy to finish third after completing possibly one of the toughest races I’ve ever done,” Noble said. “The course was very running-heavy and favored someone who was able to overcome the inevitable mistakes but keep moving forward.”
Noble was second last year.
Many of the to riders will return to Europe for World Cup races. The UCI Cyclocross World Championships are Feb. 2 and 3 in Bogense, Denmark.