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KONA-YOURKEY.COM FACTORY TEAM 2007-08 HOLIDAY CYCLOCROSS EUROPEAN STYLE There were no big holiday dinners filled with chocolates, truffles and the rest of the holiday trimmings for the stalwart Kona cyclocross racers Wendy Simms and Ryan Trebon. Instead they feasted on a steady diet of the best cyclocross racing the world has to offer. During the Christmas holiday season the Benelux region plays host to slew of races over two weeks and they draw the strongest competitors from around the globe. A few years ago the Kona Factory Cyclocross team worked this stretch of racing into their training schedule to help better their fitness and placings at World Championships. It’s been two different scenarios for the two riders. Wendy Simms has enjoyed her best European cyclocross season to date with four top five finishes and her first ever European Podium appearance at the Grand-Prix Hotel Threeland, Luxemburg. The race has been held every year since 1948 and Simms was able to take 2nd place and stood on the podium next to current World Champion Maryline Salvetat. Simms has been having a great run in Europe and is confident in her chances at the World Championships. “Racing is Europe is so much harder, tactical and aggressive. You have to fight for every single place and position on the course. The European gals are nice but once on the course I have to remember how to race with my elbows. Luckily for me I have a bit of an edge when it comes to handling skills and I’ve managed to stay out of trouble and in the races. The only times I have fallen off have been of my own fault and one cost me the podium. But I’m really happy with the way I’ve raced so far with the exception of the 18th Place I got at the World Cup,” said Simms. “So far too I’ve been able to avoid the sickness that has plagued what seems to be the entire cyclocross field too.” The same cannot be said for Ryan Trebon. The string of bad luck for him has continued and the injuries sustained from his unfortunate head on collision at US Cyclocross Nationals in December were not as minor as he once thought. “I really thought I was going to walk away from that nightmare pretty ok. After three days I was still super sore and my neck was all jacked up but it seemed to be coming round. But within a few more days things got worse, my injury from prior in the season was aggravated and I’ve been playing catch up ever since.” Trebon then succumbed to the illness that has grabbed hold of many of the riders. The combined effect put him out of contention in many of the races. “Even though I was sick I wanted to have at least one decent result and I like the St. Niklaas (Belgium) race so I went for it. I managed a 12th place. It was good to get a little confidence back. But it also lets me know how much work I need to do to be on form.” The European Holiday cyclocross schedule is certainly not for the week of spirit, mind or body. But it is a huge advantage for going well for the final World Cups and World Championships at the end of the month. Then only way to get better and be be ready for that level of competition is to race with the best. Simms has been keeping her blog up to date that chronicles her travels. Inside information and fun insights can be gained here http://wendysimms.blogspot.com/ Finish Recap: Wendy Simms: Ryan Trebon: Next Up for the Kona-yourkey.com Factory Cyclocross team The Levien, France World Cup on January 13th. Simms and Trebon will both compete in the event.
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