Don't tell Jeremy Powers he's the best American cyclo-cross racer. If he succeeds in winning his fourth USA Cycling National Championship title in Asheville, North Carolina on Sunday, he has earned that bragging right for a day, but that all gets eclipsed when he steps onto the world stage and meets the giants of 'cross - the Europeans.
The point was hammered home after the Zolder World Cup in December, where Powers placed 16th and his compatriot and training partner Stephen Hyde was 23rd. One news outlet noted that Powers was the top American in the race, but was promptly scolded for it - in Powers' typically polite but firm way.
Speaking to Cyclingnews ahead of Sunday's title defence, Powers explained why he's so opposed to the designation. "In the past, the 'best American' thing has always gotten the better of whoever it is that was competing with each other overseas, whether it was Jonathan Page and I racing and having our mechanic call out 'you're ten seconds up on him'. I think that creates a bad environment for growth. We should maybe step away from that a little. It's about doing well, especially in Europe. People can deduce for themselves who is the first American. If we're both 30th and 32nd, there's not much to say there. If you're first American and you're fourth and he's seventh, everyone did great. Overall, it doesn't create a lot of camaraderie."
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When the National Championships start at the Biltmore Estate on Sunday, however, Powers will absolutely be fighting to win the best American designation, and his main competition has to be his protege Stephen Hyde - the only rider to top Powers on home soil this year.
"We've been racing head to head since Providence, so I expect it. I've had a good run, and on the right course Stephen can definitely best me. It's not out of the question. But I feel pretty confident on what I've been able to bring and what I'm good at, and I've been able to focus on an event I've wanted to do well in. I try not to focus on who I'm racing. I'll certainly be paying attention to what Stephen is doing in the race, I won't let him go away, but I'm also focusing on my own stuff and will ride my own race. There's going to be a lot of pedalling and that's what will be key to doing well on this course.
"I think Logan [Owen] is someone who will have a chance. To not talk about Jonathan Page would be silly. He's always been able to show up at Nationals. Last year I duelled with him for the win. I wouldn't write him off. [Ryan] Trebon is always capable. No one's seen Ryan race for a month. I have no idea where he's coming in at or what he's been doing."
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