Powers wins KMC Cyclo-cross Festival Day 1

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US champion Jeremy Powers (Rapha Focus) won the opening day of racing at the KMC Cyclo-cross Festival at the Roger Williams Park in Providence on Saturday. He won the race solo ahead of Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com teammates Stephen Hyde and Curtis White.

White led the race from the gun, with Powers on his wheel. A large group of riders stuck together early on, all fighting the winds on course, with Daniel Summerhill (Maxxis-Shimano Pro Cyclocross) moving to the front in the early laps.

Powers and Hyde managed to clear the field, putting pressure on the group behind. Powers led an aggressive charge, with Hyde responding, until Powers began to open up a gap and really drive the pace.

Hyde remained within 16 seconds of Powers, and came in close behind after Powers took the win. The battle for third was tight as well, coming down to a sprint between White and Summerhill. Despite an earlier incident with a crash and breaking his shoe, having to do a shoe swap in the pit, White took the final podium spot.

White, who is having a phenomenal week, stated it was a week of firsts for him, with a first ever shoe change in the pits but also a first C1 podium.

“The course layout made the race very hard today,” White said. “And then there was the wind. But it was probably the most difficult course I have ever seen here in Providence. It was unfortunate about the crash and the shoe, but it was a great course that led to a harder style of racing. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.”

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