CX Season Preview: The United State Of Cross

CX Season Preview: The United State Of Cross

The UCI season kicked off in China at the Qiansen Trophy UCI C1 race over Labor Day weekend. And this coming weekend marks the season opener for American racing at the Rochester Cyclocross in New York, which will stream live on FloCycling.tv.

Sep 6, 2017 by Ian Dille
CX Season Preview: The United State Of Cross
By Molly Hurford

The cyclocross season is upon us.

The UCI season kicked off in China at the Qiansen Trophy UCI C1 race over Labor Day weekend. And this coming weekend marks the season opener for American racing at the Rochester Cyclocross in New York, which will stream live on FloCycling.tv.

null

For hardened cyclocross fans, a sense of anticipation lingers as we wait to see how the first major race of the fall shakes out. 

How will the story of the 2017 cyclocross season unfold? Which rivalries will be revived? Which young racers will become the sport's next stars? 

Will Rochester see the same scorching weather of the last two years, when temperatures topped 100 degrees in 2015 and 2016? Which Belgians will swagger into Iowa City for the first World Cup?

Weather so often shapes the narrative of a cyclocross season, and in 2016 we enjoyed plenty of sun and warmth, with minimal mud. This year, predictions of a brutal winter in North America abound. Muddier, muckier racing has the potential to upset the current hierarchy. 

Riders like Jamey Driscoll do well in muddy and adverse conditions, while many young racers have yet to encounter the craziest of mud-caked UCI cyclocross courses. 

In mid-September, two World Cup races on American soil -- Jingle Cross and the Trek CX Cup -- will give cyclocross fans an idea of how the best American racers are going. The most talented riders in the U.S. will arrive at these events in top form for the potential points grab that can come with two World Cup races against a diluted European field. 

Rochester and CrossVegas -- along with the UCI C1 race days on both Saturdays of the World Cup weekends -- will serve as important "test" races for some. These events will provide racers that didn't qualify for the World Cup races with an opportunity to make a showing on a large stage, and give other top American racers a chance to scoop up early season UCI points.

In the U.S., the series to watch will be the U.S. Cup, put together by former racer Ryan Trebon and Scott Tedro, a longtime supporter of domestic racing. The four-race series is comprised of the KMC CrossFest in Thompson, Connecticut, CharmCity Cross in Baltimore, the Cincy CX Festival in Cincinnati, and the Derby City Cup in Louisville. The races conclude with an overall $10,000 prize for both the top male and female racers, and will undoubtedly draw top talent. 

So who are the men and women to watch in the season's first few races? Let's take a look.

Elite Men: The Powers and Hyde Show


Stephen Hyde | 31 | Cannondale-CyclocrossWorld 
Last season, Hyde unseated his former mentor Jeremy Powers at both the U.S. national championships and the Pan-American Continental Championships. He seemed nearly unstoppable on American soil over the course of the season, but can he hold onto that level of dominance coming into 2017? 

The Florida native got his start on the BMX courses and flat roads of the south, but upon moving to Massachusetts a few years ago he set his sights on dominating the cyclocross scene. In 2015, he became Powers' main rival, and in 2016, he only lost to Powers a smattering of times. Hyde possesses an impressive engine and deft technical skill, as well as ample ambition in the sport. 

[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BXq4oA8lX_Z/?hl=en&taken-by=stephenhyde" hide_caption="1"]
Jeremy Powers | 33 | Aspire Racing
At 33 years old, Powers isn't ready to hang up his racing shoes just yet -- he's the four-time national champion and has nearly 100 UCI wins to his credit. During the 2017 offseason, he finally took time to sort out the malingering back issues that plagued him throughout last year. Will the new dad be back on the top of the podium the season? He has high hopes--as do his legion of fans: 28.8K on Instagram alone. 

Jamey Driscoll | 32 | Donnelly Sports
Early last year wasn't the best for the Utah-based rider, but he put in a good charge later in the season and landed on the second step of the podium at the national championships. Look for Driscoll to carry that form into this fall. 

Kerry Werner | 27 | Kona Factory CX Team
For years, Werner has steadily moved up the rankings in both cyclocross and on the mountain bike, from a talented collegiate rider to a full-blown professional. He took third at nationals and made his way into plenty of top five finishes. While he's rarely on the top step, the man is seriously consistent.

Jack Kissenberth | 25 | JAM Fund
The young JAM Fund rider has flown under the radar for most cyclocross fans as he's risen higher up in the rankings over the past year. However, after a fourth place at nationals last winter, he's certainly become one of the riders to beat.

Young Guns
The Elite men need to watch their backs with a strong under-23 field coming up right behind them, and often snaking their podium spots. Keep an eye on both Curtis White (Cannondale-CyclocrossWorld) and Spencer Petrov (Aspire Racing). 

Elite Women: Compton Versus the World


Katie Compton | 38 | Trek
Plenty of fans wondered if the 2017 nationals would be the year Compton finally lost the National Champ designation, but she managed to hang on to the title -- for the 13th time. Compton often has a slow build into the season so don't be surprised if her early results aren't podium-topping. However, she'll enter the 2017 season with the goal of reclaiming her crown as the World Cup overall winner, so she might have switched up her training to come into the first two World Cups with flying form. 

Ellen Noble | 22 | Aspire Racing
Noble became one of the few U.S. racers to medal at the world championships last year with a second place in the under-23 women's race. She also took home fifth overall in the World Cup series. In 2017, she'll no longer be amongst the under-23 ranks, and will go head-to-head with Compton more frequently. 

[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BYrjJiKFM5-/?hl=en&taken-by=ellenlikesbikes" hide_caption="1"]
Emma White | 21 | Donnelly Sports
Another young racer, Emma White has been one of Noble's biggest rivals, racking up plenty of UCI podium finishes herself, including a win at CycleSmart International. After a strong road season, she'll be a force to contend with in cyclocross.

Emily Kachorek | 38 | Squid Bikes
The Squid Bikes founder and racer seems stronger than ever, and scored a third place in China.

Maghalie Rochette | 25 | Clif Pro Team
The Quebec-based racer has been a devoted CX racer (and fan) for years, and is the defending Canadian national cyclocross champion. Coming off a strong mountain bike season with Clif Pro Team, she is poised to do well at cross.

Caroline Mani | 30 | Van Dessel/Atom Composites
The French racer, who is based in the U.S., had some trouble finding a solid team for 2017, but she seems to have found a program for the season and will be back to racing. After a bronze medal finish at the world championships in 2016, she's been fighting to make her way onto more podiums, and largely been successful. A powerhouse to watch, she is one of the few women who has regularly beat Compton.

Young Guns
In addition to White and Noble, the big one to watch will be multi-time national champion Katie Clouse (Alpha Bicycle Co.-Vista Subaru), who hasn't been able to race in UCI fields until this season. Watching her go up against the elite field may prove highly interesting. 


Join The Conversation On Social

Follow us on Twitter: @FloCyclingtv
Follow us on Instagram: @flocycling
Follow us on Facebook: @FloCyclingtv
Follow us on YouTube

FloCycling's hottest content, delivered to your inbox

Don't miss breaking news, feature stories, event updates, and more. Sign up for the FloCycling mailing list today.