Myerson Has the Right Tempo in Masters 45-49

With the morning snow melting under the afternoon sun, Adam Myerson came into Friday’s Master’s 45-49 race with a plan to avoid traffic by jumping out to a fast start. He accomplished his goal by hitting the embankment run-up first and taking an early lead he would not relinquish for the full 45 minute race to take home his first National Championship since winning the 1997 Collegiate title.

A crash at the start causes a pile up. 2017 Cyclocross National Championships, Masters Men 45-49. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

“I just wanted to win the start,” said Myerson. “There’s plenty of guys in that race who I was afraid of, but I felt like if I could get to the run-up first, I could control the tempo. But apparently I gapped everybody there, unbeknownst to me. It was just like Tuesday, once I had the gap I wasn’t looking behind me.”

The first lap race to the off-camber run-up. 2017 Cyclocross National Championships, Masters Men 45-49. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine

One of the themes of Nationals Week has been the ever-changing conditions on the course. Thursday night, Riverside Park was covered by snow, leaving the ruts icy for the morning riders. As temperatures increased into the afternoon, the snow on the course melted and left conditions slick and muddy for the afternoon riders. Toward the tail end of the 45-49 race, some of the slick mud started to freeze again, creating new hazards every lap.

Changing conditions meant slick mud and icy ruts. 2017 Cyclocross National Championships, Masters Men 45-49. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Only Scott Daubert (Trek Cyclocross Collective) was able to mirror Myerson’s fast start, and the two staked themselves to a gap heading off the levee. As the first lap progressed Daubert faded and David Hildebrand (Aetna-Expo Wheelmen) worked his way up to join Myerson at the front after one lap. The two had a sizeable gap back to a chase of Matt Davies (Boulder Cycle-Sport / YogoGlo) and Vincent Bolt (Corner Cycle Cycling Club).

Hildebrand leads the group up the run-up on lap one. 2017 Cyclocross National Championships, Masters Men 45-49. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine

During the second lap, Myerson’s tempo proved to be too much for his riding mate to handle, and he broke out to a 20-second lead up after heading up the embankment and down the levee. Davies caught up with Hildebrand and opened up a gap for second when the local Connecticut rider struggled a bit through the woods.

The Masters 45-49 race was a crowded affair, with 114 starters. 2017 Cyclocross National Championships, Masters Men 45-49. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine

Laps 3 and 4 settled into a consistent pattern. Myerson held fast to a 15-20 second lead at the front, and Davies maintained an even larger gap back to third. One of the race favorites, Mark Savery (Trek Cyclocross Collective), eventually worked his way into third and firmly established himself in the bronze medal position.

Adamy Myerson leads Davi Hildebrand, lap two. 2017 Cyclocross National Championships, Masters Men 45-49. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine

With Myerson taking a 20 second lead into the last lap, things started to get interesting for the New England native. He took a spill that erased part of his lead and as he darted around the gazebo Davies’ orange Boulder Cycle-Sport / YogaGlo kit could be seen closing the gap.

David Hildebrand grabbed the lead up the first run-up and held on for fourth on his hometown course. 2017 Cyclocross National Championships, Masters Men 45-49. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine

Myerson’s pacing after his crash would be the right amount to bring him across the finish line to win the gold and take home the Stars-and-Stripes jersey. Davies finished second and Savery third.

Adam Myerson climbs up from the river one last time. 2017 Cyclocross National Championships, Masters Men 45-49. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine

After the race, Myerson said his pacing throughout the race helped him finish strong despite the crash, “Two things. When he really closed on me, I had crashed and so he got some time back on me. But I was also pacing myself well. I knew that I had a match left for the last lap. So changing tires and then going to the bank with what I had saved. And then being smooth smooth smooth.”

Adam Myerson wins his second Nationals, first since 1997. 2017 Cyclocross National Championships, Masters Men 45-49. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine

Despite his last lap run, Davies said he was satisfied with the silver medal. “I don’t know if I had any real change of approach,” Davies said about the last lap. “I just tried to stay consistent. I tried to work hard in the straights and be solid and methodical on the technical stuff. Use some good lines other people weren’t taking. I was pretty pleased.”

Adam Myerson hugs second place Matt Davies. 2017 Cyclocross National Championships, Masters Men 45-49. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine

Adam Myerson – Masters 45-49 Cyclocross National Championships

Matt Davies – Masters 45-49 Cyclocross National Championships

David Hildebrand – Masters 45-49 Cyclocross National Championships

2017 CX National Championships Hartford Day 4 Results Masters Men 45-49