08_CX_Worlds

WENDY SIMMS 7th AT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS-TOP FINISHING NORTH AMERICAN

Wendy Simms put an exclamation mark on her stellar cyclocross season with a 7th place finish at the Cyclocross World Championships in Trevisio, Italy. Simms had the finest season of her career. Over the past month of European competition she found herself routinely at the front of the race mixing it up with the best women cyclocross racers in the world. Again she was dueling with the eventual podium places and even leading the World Championship race for a lap.

“I certainly didn’t expect to find myself leading the race at the World Championships. It just kind of happened but I guess that’s the way it works when you’re at the front. I’ve been doing what I can to put myself in a position to finish well and hit the podium when things play out well,” remarked Simms. Simms was sitting in comfortably in 4th position when some of other riders were having problems in the slick corners. As usual Simms played to her strong suit and rode the technical slick sections with ease and went to the front of the race. She would get a gap in the muddy sections only to be reeled back in the steep 20% road climb.

“That’s pretty much the way the whole race went. I’d get some gaps and make up some times in the mud then get caught by one of the five world champions. But it was this one long hill after the start/finish where I was getting gapped. Basically the rest of the race it was the same on replay. A world champion would catch me and then I would stay with them for as long as my body could then I would blow and try to recover and get in my own pace. Repeat. Hanka. then Vos. then Leboucher. Salvetat. I am only upset about losing that 6th place on the last lap. I was just scribbled. But van den Brand was gunning for me hard and I managed to out sprint her so that was good.”

Simms is thankful for all the support along the way to her finest season. “Huge thanks to Kona Bicycles and Mark Peterson for believing in me and bringing me onto the team. I can’t imaging a better place to be. And the fans I’ve gained along has been a great experience. The Portland Cross Crusade crew (28 flew over to watch) were going nuts! Plus the Luxembourg fans adopted me because they stayed in our hotel and remembered me from the New Years race. They were pretty rabid. I’m glad I was able to give them something to cheer for,” said Simms.

Simms will now take some time to rest up from a long season. She’ll spend some time playing in the snow, resting and letting herself eat a bit of extra chocolate. But it never lasts too long for her and she will be on the out there going fast on mountain bike courses around the world soon enough.

Final Standings:
1 Hanka Kupfernagel (Germany) 45.15
2 Marianne Vos (Netherlands) 0.1
3 Laurence Leboucher (France) 0.17
4 Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (France) 0.26
5 Maryline Salvetat (France) 0.50
6 Mirja Melchers-Van Poppel (Netherlands) 0.58
7 Wendy Simms (Canada)-Kona 1.04
8 Daphny Van Den Brand (Netherlands) 1.09
9 Rachel Lloyd (United States Of America) 1.23
10 Caroline Mani (France) 1.42

Congratulations to Miss Simms from all us at Kona Bicycles. Well Done!

Till Next Time,

Marko

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JOE SALES.

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Our Equipment:

Kona stock Major Jake & Queen Ann Custom butted Scandium frame with forged bottom bracket yoke.
FSA K Force Light Handlebars, Stem, Seat post, Cranks, Orbit Xtreme Pro Headset-K Force Light 480 Carbon Tubular Wheels
Alpha Q CX20 Carbon Cross Fork
Shimano Dura Ace Shifters, Derailleurs and chain.
KORE KROSS Cantilever brakes
Swiss Stop Pads
WTB Saddles
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