Kerry Werner was able to get the better of Saturday's C1 winner, Gage Hecht, with a well-timed bike throw in the finishing sprint of the CincyCX C2 race at Kingswood Park, Mason, Ohio, on Sunday.
Werner (Kona Maxxis Shimano), Hecht (Alpha Bicycle Co./Groove Subaru) and Cannondale p/b CyclocrossWorld.com's Stephen Hyde dominated the wet and windy race from the third lap, but US champion Hyde had to eventually let the duo go to duke it out between them.
"I tried to stay with them, I tried to be smooth, but honestly I was in over my head at that point, fitness-wise, and I just started making mistakes," Hyde admitted. "I was, like, 'All right – if I'm going to make it to the end of this, I've got third and that's great.'"
Race winner Werner was happy to have turned his third place in Saturday's race into a top-of-the-podium finish – even if he had to do it the hard way in a sprint.
"I knew all I needed was a little bit, and, man, I was a little nervous, as Gage was coming up on me and I was putting it all in," said Werner. "It came down to a bike throw, and it was probably half a wheel.
"I think of myself as more of a punchy rider than Gage is," he continued. "Maybe that was good, as otherwise I may have hesitated a split second."
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Cyclingnews is the world's leader in English-language coverage of professional cycling. Started in 1995 by University of Newcastle professor Bill Mitchell, the site was one of the first to provide breaking news and results over the internet in English. The site was purchased by Knapp Communications in 1999, and owner Gerard Knapp built it into the definitive voice of pro cycling. Since then, major publishing house Future PLC has owned the site and expanded it to include top features, news, results, photos and tech reporting. The site continues to be the most comprehensive and authoritative English voice in professional cycling.
