Compton, Hyde, White, Hecht Named to New 2018 USA Cycling National Team

Today USA Cycling announced the creation of a National Team for 2018. The team includes 51 athletes across all disciplines, including 4 cyclocross riders. Members of the Cyclocross team are Katie Compton, Stephen Hyde, Emma White and Gage Hecht. This press release has more information about the new National Team.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — USA Cycling announced the launch of a new National Team at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Fifty-one athletes across BMX, cyclocross, mountain bike, road, and track cycling were initially named to the 2018 National Team and identified as the top performing athletes in each discipline based on objective performance-based criteria.

Stephen Hyde is one of the four cyclocross riders on the new National Team. 2017 Flandriencross. © J. Curtes / Cyclocross Magazine

“USA Cycling has always developed America’s best cyclists and aided them in international success, but we have not had a formal National Team in nearly two decades,” stated CEO Derek Bouchard-Hall. “We are introducing the USA Cycling National Team now to help our Olympic and World Championship contenders achieve their absolute best, clarify for all elite athletes how to attain USA Cycling’s top level of support, and create a clear path and goals for developing athletes that aspire to Olympic and international success.”

The National Team will offer each athlete year-round support based on their level of accomplishment and be customized to their individual needs. While the performance standards are consistent across disciplines, there are unique criteria for each discipline and event that an athlete must achieve to be part of the National Team.

Katie Compton is a member of the team thanks to her win at the 2017 Pan-American Championships. © D. Perker / Cyclocross Magazine

Being a member of the National Team does not provide automatic access to World Championships teams or the Olympics, as those opportunities must be earned according to a clearly defined selection process open to all athletes. However, it does provide access to USA Cycling’s highest level of athlete support, which may include:

• Direct funding and health insurance
• Access to U.S. Olympic Training Centers
• Access to sport performance services: physiology, nutrition, sport psychology, strength and conditioning, technology and sports medicine
• Access to U.S. Olympic Committee national medical network
• Support from a USA Cycling Performance Director in partnership with the athlete’s personal coach, professional team and extended support network
• Travel support to attend National Team projects, qualifying events and camps
• High-performance clothing and equipment provided by USA Cycling partners

Gage Hecht is the Men’s U23 team member. 2017 Cincinnati Cyclocross, Day 2, Harbin Park. © Cyclocross Magazine

Scott Schnitzspahn, Vice President of Elite Athletics for said, “First and foremost, the National Team program will help us ensure that those who have clearly and recently demonstrated the ability to succeed at the highest international level are receiving the full complement of resources and tools they need to win medals at the World Championships and Olympic Games. Thanks to the generous support of the U.S. Olympic Committee, the USA Cycling Foundation, and USA Cycling’s corporate partners, we can provide outstanding high-performance resources to those fighting for major international success in the National Team jersey.”

Kristin Armstrong, three-time Olympic gold medalist and now Endurance Performance Director, highlighted the importance of having access to a wide array of athlete support resources. “I did not achieve my success alone, and I know others can’t either. I was excited to join the USA Cycling coaching team, and collectively we look forward to sharing our expertise and providing an exceptional level of support for athletes through the new National Team program.”

“This is a truly stellar group of athletes that have earned this honor,” said Jim Miller, Vice President of High Performance for USA Cycling. “We designed the National Team program to have a very high bar — all these athletes have achieved remarkable international success. I look forward to more athletes meeting those standards, and we have structured the program so that as new athletes meet the criteria, they too can join the National Team.”

Miller added, “This is a dynamic, performance-based process, and additional athletes can earn their way onto the National Team with their performance. Conversely, those athletes named today will have to keep earning the privilege to remain a member of this elite team.”

Emma White is the Women’s U23 National Team member. 2017 Pan-American Championships. © D. Perker / Cyclocross Magazine

In launching the program USA Cycling also outlined clear athlete development pathways for BMX, cyclocross, mountain bike, road and track cycling to help aspiring athletes of all abilities understand the process and expectations. All information is available at usacycling.org/team.

Jim Miller explained, “The National Team is only part of the story. We are equally excited about our refined development pathways for each discipline. We wanted to clarify for athletes what the path is from grassroots to Olympic Champion. Elite athletes don’t start out elite — they need to develop, and we want to help athletes understand what that process looks like as much as possible.”

USA Cycling 2018 National Team Roster