Photo gallery: 2016 US national cyclocross championships

As expected, the battle for the U.S. national cyclocross crown amounted to one between master and apprentice — between Powers and his protégé.

And on Sunday, in Asheville, North Carolina, it was Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus) in command, deftly warding off his friend and former apprentice, Stephen Hyde (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com), to take a fourth career title.

In the women’s race, Katie Compton overcame the most difficult off-season of her career to win a twelfth straight national cyclocross championship Sunday in Asheville, North Carolina — but it was her hardest-fought title yet, battling against Georgia Gould well into the last of five laps.

: Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus) celebrated his fourth career national cyclocross title in five years.

: Satisfaction: The 2016 title was the closest of the four battles Powers has won to take the stars and stripes jersey.

: Ellen Noble (JAM Fund) rode a flawless race to win the U23 women’s championship.

: Curtis White (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) struggled with crashes while Tobin Ortenblad (California Giant) rode a smooth race to take the national U23 men’s title.

: Courtney McFadden (American Classic) led the women’s elite field onto the dirt.

: Kaitlin Antonneau (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) and Elle Anderson (SRAM-Strava) could not match the early acceleration by Georgia Gould (Luna) and Katie Compton (Trek-Factory Racing).

: Georgia Gould (Luna) moved past Katie Compton (Trek Factory Racing) shortly before the first run-up on the second lap.

: Compton celebrated a 12th consecutive national title.

: An even dozen! Katie Compton takes championship number 12.

: Covered in mud, Meredith Miller (Noosa) finished 8th.

: At the start of the elite men’s race, Logan Owen (Cal Giant) and Dan Timmerman (Stan’s NoTubes) led the field.

: Early into the first lap, three men slipped away, and were gone for the rest of the race. From left: Logan Owen (Cal Giant), Stephen Hyde (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com), and Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus).

: Kerry Werner (Raleigh-Clement) chased hard to reach the leaders, and finished fifth.

: Logan Owen chased for second place as snow began to fall on the final lap at 2016 U.S. national cyclocross championships. He finished third. Photo by Wil Matthews.