Logan Owen will return to his cyclocross roots this weekend in Arkansas, racing in the FayetteCross, a USA Cycling Pro CX event at the venue that will be used for the 2022 UCI Cyclocross World Championships.

The EF Education First rider has not raced cross in three years and is focused on his road career. But the 10-time national cyclocross champion in the junior and U23 ranks is itching to see what he can do against the top national field as the US National Championships approach at the Pacific Northwest venue where he cut his racing teeth in December.

Owen's last 'cross race came in the U23 division at the 2016 World Championships, where he finished 13th. Prior to that, he placed 8th at the Hoogerheide World Cup U23 and 3rd at the US Elite men's National Championships.

"I'm really excited and motivated to see how I can run. I think I'm a little fitter now than I was when I was racing cross, so I'm interested to see how it goes," Owen told Cycling News on Thursday afternoon.

"I've literally only been on a cross bike once, I just got my bike two weeks ago. I just got the bike two weeks ago, but right now I've been focusing on riding on the road."

Owen is one of the most successful male cyclocross racers in the U.S., having won national championships 10 years in a row from junior to U23. He won his last U23 title in 2015 and entered the elite category a year early in 2016.

"It's been a while, that's for sure," said Owen when asked by Cycling News about his last race, struggling a bit to recall.

Owen stepped away from cyclocross in 2017 to focus on road racing, earning a spot on the World Tour in his final year with Axel-Mex's Hagens Berman Axeon development team. It paid off and he signed a contract with EF Education First through next season.

In his last two seasons on the road, he rode 53 and 51 days, respectively, and closed out his 2019 road campaign with his first Grand Tour appearance at the Vuelta a España in September.

"It was tough to keep training," Owen said of trying to maintain his post-Vuelta form after returning to Washington state." It was tough to keep pushing, but I feel great after the Vuelta."

For Owen, who has traveled a long way, competing on the World Tour with EF Education First, the draw to continue training is the USA Cyclocross National Championships on December 12 at Fort Stuyracum in Lakewood, Washington.

"That's where I won my first UCI elite race, and I raced on that course. It looks like they've changed it up a bit, so it won't have the napped run ups that it used to have. It will be a good course. They'll do a good job."

There was no way he could pass up the chance to run his first love race again, and on his home course. Owen planned to race from the back row at the Nationals. He was going to race from the back row at Nationals because he had not earned any UCI points, which would determine his call-up at the start of the race.

"I was going to come to the Nationals anyway, whether the dates would work out or not. But if I get points at Arkansas, I won't have to start from last place at All-Japan and I'll have a chance to win.

"So that's kind of my goal for this weekend. Of course I want to win, but who knows how good I am anymore."

Owen said his only ride on his new Cannondale cross bike went well.

"It was good when I got out on the trails. I was able to ride just as hard as before. The bike position is a little different, so it wasn't very comfortable, but we're going to change that for the race. But I felt good

"It's going to be different now that I'm on Vittoria tires. So I'm interested to see how the Vittoria feels. It's supposed to rain this weekend, so I'm looking forward to that too."

Owen's 'cross rivals will also be curious to see how the 24-year-old is doing after two years away from the road circuit. Meanwhile, Owen said that if all goes well, he will consider competing in the 2022 Cyclocross World Championships in Fayetteville.

"I'd be happy to race, but it's a ways off," he said. 'At the moment I'm concentrating on my road career, but if my road career continues to pick up and follow that trajectory, then so be it.'

"But if time permits, and if the team is cool about it, I wouldn't mind trying out for the Arkansas World Championship," he said.