It’s been a newsworthy week in the world of gravel and cyclocross with major gravel races contested and a major cyclocross series announced, but that doesn’t mean cyclocross racers have kept quiet. Excelling across disciplines has been all the rage this #crossiscoming season for the stars of cyclocross, and some big-name U.S. ’crossers have made some news to fill the latest Rumors and Rumblings update.
Jeremy Powers’ Team Expands
Jeremy Powers has had a quiet offseason, but for good reason. For the second year in a row, after signing Ellen Noble last year, he’s making room for another team member:
Powers is sure to have his hands full this season when he’s not racing, but his competitors might have even more to deal with, as Powers will be riding with additional motivation and inspiration knowing there’s a hungry little one at home.
We wish Powers and his wife all the best in this queen stage of life.
Best Worst Retirement Ever?
Speaking of new dads, never one to be outdone, cyclocross legend Adam Myerson took his post-retirement show down south to U.S. Amateur Road Nationals in Augusta, GA and brought home his second national championship of 2017 in the road race on Saturday. The following day, he added another medal with a silver in Sunday’s criterium.
After a long career as both a professional cyclocross and road pro, Myerson has been competing with Phil Gaimon for the “worst retirement ever” of his own. Last we saw Myerson, he was winning the Masters 45-49 cyclocross national championship in Hartford. The victory was Myerson’s first Stars and Stripes jersey since his collegiate days and the first Nationals of his post-professional career.
Cyclocross Magazine got the opportunity to talk to Myerson shortly after his National Championship ride in Hartford:
This past weekend, Myerson took to skinniest of tires in Augusta, GA for his first post-professional U.S. Road Nationals. As it was in Hartford, Myerson’s performance was again masterful. In Saturday’s road race, Myerson outsprinted two other riders to grab the gold in the Masters 45-49 category.
Road racing concluded today at Masters #RoadNats! Crits tomorrow! https://t.co/wJssLmKGXs. @AdamMyerson pic.twitter.com/CondopRM0j
— USA Cycling (@usacycling) June 4, 2017
He followed up his win on Saturday with a second-place finish in the Masters 45-49 criterium after a dicey last lap.
When you're 5th wheel with 1/2 lap to go and 2nd and 3rd wheel crash each other out (and nearly me), what can you do but shake your head?
— Adam Myerson (@AdamMyerson) June 4, 2017
Myerson, of course, captured the experience in a way we have come to expect from the multi-discipline legend:
There's no way to complain about getting 2nd at nationals without sounding like an asshole.
— Adam Myerson (@AdamMyerson) June 4, 2017
Myerson’s success on the bike speaks for itself, and off the bike, Myerson has always been one to embrace his opinionated, outspoken reputation. He drew some fire in the cycling community last winter for choosing to race Cyclocross Nationals in his Masters age group and not the Elite race on Sunday.
As expected, Myerson had a new thought on Masters eligibility after his Amateur Road Nationals weekend to provide grist for the cycling commentariat:
What if masters eligibility was based on how many years you had a license instead of how old you were? That would be interesting.
— Adam Myerson (@AdamMyerson) June 3, 2017
Myerson’s Masters racing career is off to an impressive start, but he’s got a long way to catch legends like 84-year-old Fred Schmid, who also came away from Masters Road Nationals with another title. Schmid won the Masters 80+ criterium, adding to his pile of stars and stripes jersey which includes multiple cyclocross titles.
Top Cyclocrossers Get Tough in Tulsa
Tulsa Tough attracts top talent, including some accomplished cyclocross and gravel racers, both young and experienced.
On the women’s side, 2017 Cyclocross World Championships U23 Women’s silver medalist Ellen Noble has clearly been honing her sprinting legs, nabbing a fifth on Friday and sixth on Saturday in the first two criteriums. Masters Women 40-44 2017 Cyclocross National Champion Christina Gokey-Smith wasn’t far behind, finishing seventh and ninth. Laurel Rathbun was also in the mix on Friday, finishing 11th.
On the men’s side, 2016 Cyclocross Nationals Singlespeed winner Tristan Uhl used a few more gears to finish 13th on Friday, while 2017 Dirty Kanza winner Mat Stephens shaved almost 10 hours off last weekend’s race time in finishing Friday’s hour-long criterium in 20th.
Stay tuned to Cyclocross Magazine this #crossiscoming season for more Rumors & Rumblings about what the stars of cyclocross season are up to away from the mud and ruts. Have a lead on a topic or result that you think should be included? Drop a comment below.
