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KONA-YOURKEY.COM FACTORY TEAM RIDER WENDY SIMMS HAS CAREER RIDE-5TH AT CYCLOCROSS WORLD CUP-CDM LIEVIN, FRANCE
Wendy Simms continued her successful European cyclocross season with an incredible ride to place 5th at the eighth stop on the 2008 World Cup circuit. Simms decided to spend some extra time in Europe getting ready to race the World Championships and so far it has been paying big dividends. With the exception of one race, Simms has been in the mix with the main players and has been steadily building confidence, fitness and European racing experience. She would need all of it on this day.
Prior to the race everything that could potentially go wrong did, starting the evening before. On the day before pre-ride of the course it was all Simms could do to stay upright falling into the course tape three times over the hour and a half pre-ride. “Not only could I not get around the course without falling off, I couldn’t even get out of my easiest gear,” said Simms. Then, on the way back to her accommodations she got amazingly lost pushing back her pre-race dinner routine and the mishaps were beginning to shake her confidence. Luckily for her sleep came easy this night and the morning was a new day.
But the new day didn’t start as planned either. Once again she fell off before even getting on the course for the pre-ride. “I totally ate it on this slippery bridge about an hour before the race and I was pretty much completely bummed. My handling skills are a big strength and if I couldn’t even keep the bike upright what chance would I have,” remarked Simms. “Then I rode the course again and still couldn’t get out of my easiest gear and was pretty much deflated. But I forced myself to get out and ride another lap or two and saw some other girls completely terrified of some of the descents and realized I wasn’t the worst rider out there by a long shot…then my legs started to feel pretty good and I thought hey maybe things would turn around.”
When the gun went off things turned around big time. Simms had one of the best starts of her life and it seemed almost effortless. Then a big crash took out many of the big guns and Simms was miraculously left upright and in the lead. “I looked around and couldn’t believe I was actually leading a World Cup race. It was a highlight of my career so far for sure. But I knew it was good fortune and the top names would rejoin me soon. When they did I just raced my guts out to keep with them and stay in the mix. I am super excited with the finish especially since the hilly course didn’t really play to my strengths.” When asked what where the difference came in. Simms remarked “I don’t know really, I cut out chocolate two days before the race and my husband Normon was on the finish line with baked goods as incentive for me. Whatever it was I’ll take it but I really hope it wasn’t the chocolate part!”.
On the other side of the coin and for the other Kona-yourkey.com rider Ryan Trebon things were bleak and not getting much better as he had to withdraw from the event. The injuries sustained in the disastrous head on collision at US nationals continue to plague his performance. “My back is totally locked up. It’s only getting worse and the hard racing isn’t helping any. It’s really frustrating and frankly pretty embarrassing to be riding around this slow, especially when I know how much faster I should be going,” said Trebon.
Unfortunately, this may be the last event for Trebon for the 2007-08 cyclocross season as he considers withdrawing from the World Championships because of the injury. “It’s a privilege and honor to race in the World Championships. Of course I want to ride them and the final World Cup. But it’s not fair to my sponsor and to the US Worlds team to participate if I can’t be somewhat competitive and it sets my recovery back further,” said Trebon. “There’s an off chance I will continue on but we’ll see. I need to talk with m coach and team manager to find out what they think is best. Right now it is not looking good. But Wendy is killing it right now… she may to have to carry the team now.”
Next up the final World Cup in Hoogerheide, NED January 20th, 2008.
Till next time,
Marko
Photos courtesy of John Gibson and Joe Sales
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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
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