Three-time US Cyclocross National Champion Stephen Hyde has a new direction and color scheme. He will lead three riders in the new Steve Tilford Foundation Racing team. The team was announced this week as a U.S.-based, multi-surface professional cycling team with an emphasis on cyclocross and gravel racing.

Registered professional riders include team owner and cyclocross specialist Raylin Nath and former professional road cyclist Joseph Schmaltz. The team will operate as an extension of the Steve Tilford Foundation. The Steve Tilford Foundation is a non-profit organization established to help young people pursue their passions through the sport of cycling.

"Now, more than ever, I seek not only to race bicycles at the highest level, but also the ability to help others achieve their goals. Starting my coaching career alongside racing has pushed me in a direction of development," Hyde told Cycling News. [So when Steve Tilford Racing came to me and asked if I wanted to be a part of the growth and development of the racing team and foundation, I jumped at the chance. I know that if I can give something back, I can get more out of the sport, and that's what drives me to be better and faster."

A sixth season with the Cannondale-Cyclocross World Pro Team was not in the plans for 2020, so Hyde started his coaching business, Stephen Hyde Coaching, in late spring. He wanted to continue racing full time, so he didn't have to wait long for a new opportunity.

"It was time to explore new directions. I couldn't come back to a program that had given me so much and honestly, I was struggling to find my place in CX. The direction this team is headed gives me hope for the future of racing in this country. It shows me how many great brands are behind us and how much they care about our efforts. It feels like home to me and I couldn't be happier," Hyde said.

The Steve Tilford Foundation is the new title sponsor of Nuss' former team, which operated as the MAAP l Mini USA cyclocross program, and the returning brands of MAAP Cycling Apparel, MINI USA, and Muc-Off Specialized was added to the sponsorship lineup.

"With no races on the U.S. calendar and what seems like a dark year, we are fortunate to have built such a bright one. Not only do we have athletes competing at the highest level, but we are able to nurture and grow our cycling community through the passion we bring to it through mentoring."

At this time, there is no definite race calendar for the team, but Nuss hopes that she and Hyde will be able to return to competing in Europe in a few World Cup events pending the COVID-19 lockdown regulations.

In addition to the professional and junior teams, the Steve Tilford Foundation Racing Program includes a competitive masters team. All team members support the mission of giving opportunities to new and up-and-coming racers and helping young people find and pursue their passions through the sport of cycling.

"Steve was above all a bike racer. His influence extended far beyond racing, but it all started there: at the starting line, at the front of the pack, racing at the highest level. We are excited about the future, grateful for the goodwill ambassadors of these outstanding riders, and look forward to the World Championships in Fayetteville in 2022," said Eric Struckhoff, CEO of the Foundation, in a team press release.

Tilford is a versatile rider, an advocate of clean and fair competition, and has represented the U.S. at world championships as an amateur and professional cyclocross, mountain bike, and road rider. four U.S. titles and two world masters titles. He has won four U.S. titles and two World Masters titles. In mountain biking, he won the first NORBA Mountain Bike National Championship in 1983 and went on to win five Masters World titles. Tilford, a Mountain Bike Hall of Fame inductee (2000), died in 2017 at age 59, but his legacy lives on with the Steve Tilford Foundation.