HARTFORD, Conn. — The sun set behind Easthampton’s Stephen Hyde as he carried his bike across the finish line.
So, too, did it set on Jeremy Powers’ reign as three-time USA Cycling cyclocross national champion.
Hyde overcame an early fall to capture his first national title Sunday at Riverside Park. He finished in 1 hour, 5 minutes, 3 seconds, just two seconds ahead of runner-up Jamey Driscoll.
“(My) biggest victory ever,” Hyde said.
He came down the finishing chute to exploding confetti cannons and spectators pounding on the course barriers. He took a last look over his shoulder to see if Driscoll was in striking distance, then dismounted and walked across the line, bike aloft with a victory yell.
“It’s not about being cocky, it’s about being confident,” Hyde said. “It’s about trusting your equipment, trusting the people around you and knowing what you’re capable of.”
Hyde’s equipment gave him some trouble on the last lap. His right boot and pedal started to ice up, limiting how much power he could put out.
“I had problems. Every time I had to put my feet down I couldn’t get back into my pedal,” Hyde said. “You’ve just got to kick the crap out of it.”
That allowed Driscoll to close a 20-second gap at the end of the penultimate lap to two seconds at the end of the race. Hyde rode the middle section of the race far out front. His only obstacles were the barriers, ramps and hills placed on the course.
“That course was so grisly you kind of had to be on the ball the whole time,” Hyde said. “It was as New England as it gets. It was an epic course.”
Hyde’s only other major hiccup came shortly after the start of the race. He powered out of the starting gate, taking the “hole shot” to lead as the field approached its first climb — a tilted hillside traversal.
“I blew it. I was the first one up the hill and like the 30th off it. I had to collect myself and get my mojo back,” Hyde said. “I kept it together and I knew if I kept riding as well as I could, I could get those guys back. That’s what happened.”
Powers started the race on the front row with Hyde, aiming for a fourth straight national championship and fifth overall. He stayed with the pack through the starting chute but crashed in the woods on the first lap.
“I took a fall in the woods and hit my knee pretty good. That was for sure the bigger part of the problem,” he said. “I don’t think I was a contender on the course. I didn’t have the technical ability today.”
Powers finished 24th. He pointed out that the four titles that he’s won were contested on courses that benefited power output over technical skill.
“That was pretty apparent within 15 or 20 minutes,” he said. “It was pretty clear that this was going to be a strikeout for me.”
Powers will head to Europe and race the final sections of the World Cup circuit after working himself back into shape following early season injuries.
“Not all is lost. I’m going to work through the process of not being a national champ,” Powers said. “I look at the whole thing as a positive. I’m upset that I didn’t have a great day, but as a whole, the race was amazing.”
His influence still marked the higher end of the finishing list. Hyde is a product of Powers’ JAM Fund development program.
“We’re still very good friends now, and I’m happy to call him a colleague,” Hyde said.
The JAM Fund nearly found its way to the podium, too. Easthampton’s Jack Kisseberth, riding for JAM, took fourth at 1:05.59.
Westhampton’s Jeremy Durrin took 11th, and Scott Smith, from Feeding Hills and riding for the JAM Fund, was 13th.
“The state of the U.S. cross is amazing. The riders are as good as they’ve ever been. We have more younger riders than we’ve ever had, at least in a long time,” Hyde said. “The sport, from a riders perspective, is growing.”
With his first stars and stripes jersey, awarded for winning USA Cycling national titles, in tow, Hyde will return to Europe to race at World Cup events and build toward the World Championships.
“It’s a tick off in the progression that I want to be going toward. In the future I’ll be doing more European racing and hoping to prove myself as a national champion,” Hyde said. “I want to be consistent in the top 10. Right now I’m consistent in the top 20. We’re working on it, one step at a time.”
Kyle Grabowski can be reached at kgrabowski@gazettenet.com.