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KONA-YOURKEY.COM FACTORY RIDER SIMMS 5TH AT HOOGERHEIDE, NETHERLANDS WORLD CUP

Kona-yourkey.com Factory Team rider Wendy Simms continued her impressive string of performances with a 5th place finish at the Hoogerhiede World Cup January 20th, 2008. Simms proved that her European foray has been anything but a fluke and notched a 5th place finish at a World Cup for the 2nd week in a row. But while the placing was the same the race was vastly different.

This course played more to Simms’ strength with some very technical sections and less climbing. All her tactics and experience would be needed on this day. Unlike the prior world cup where Simms found herself out in front and alone due to a crash by the lead group, here she was in 17th position off the start and she had to fight for each and every position. Along the way she used a lot of energy getting back to the front of the race.

Once she was able to make contact with the lead riders her experience kicked in. “I used up a lot of matches in that first lap to move into 7th and fought hard to stay in the vicinity for the rest of the race,” said Simms. From there everything was hard, right down to the finish line. “For much of the race I was locked in a dog fight with Czech National Champion but on the last lap she faded and I was able to get in a group and start saving some energy for the sprint. But the sprint turned out to be more of a drag race and I was able to come around the Belgian national Champion but didn’t quite have enough gas to catch 4th.”

“I’m happy with my finish. But even happier to have beat all but one of the French girls that were making fun of my favorite calf high Kona socks in the start box. They must have forgot that many Canadians speak French and their little comments, which I clearly understood, gave me all that much more motivation,” remarked Simms.

Simms is now if full preparation mode for the World Championships next weekend. She will be the sole Kona Factory rider at the World Championships this year representing the Canadian National Team. Ryan Trebon had to withdraw from World Championships due to injuries sustained in his crash at US National Championships. “I’m really disappointed not to be able to represent Kona and the USA at Worlds, but my back injury will only get better with rest. So along with my team manager we decided it was best for me to come home and get healthy,” said Trebon.

Till Next Time,

Marko

Our Sponsors:

Your Key Mortgage, Stvenstad Dental, Big Agnes

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
VERGE Clothing keeps us looking good
Honey Stinger provides fuel

Photos courtesy of Normon Thibault

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