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NEWS LINKS
WENDY SIMMS 7TH AT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS-TOP FINISHING NORTH AMERICAN
KONA FACTORY RIDER WENDY SIMMS 5TH AT HOOGERHEIDE WORLD CUP
KONA FACTORY TEAM RIDER WENDY SIMMS HAS CAREER RIDE-5TH AT CYCLOCROSS WORLD CUP-CDM LIEVIN, FRANCE
KONA FACTORY TEAM 2007-08 HOLIDAY CYCLOCROSS EUROPEAN STYLE
2007 US CYCLOCROSS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS WICKS 4TH PLACE, TONKIN 9TH PLACE, TREBON HIT HARD WITH BAD LUCK
KONA FACTORY TEAM WINS US GRAN PRIX OF CYCLOCROSS FOR THE 4TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR
ANOTHER KONA BABY--THIS ONE SWEETENED WITH VANILLA
ANN AND DALE KNAPP ARE THE PROUD NEW PARENTS OF A BABY GIRL
TREBON WINS US GRAN PRIX #3 & 4-TAKES US GRAN PRIX OVERALL LEAD
BARRY WICKS WINS OFFICIAL-UNOFFICIAL SINGLE SPEED CYCLOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS-SIMMS GETS TWO VICTORIES IN TORONTO
RYAN TREBON WINS IN BOULDER, BARRY WICKS 2ND PLACE
RYAN TREBON 2ND-BARRY WICKS 3RD AT US GRAN PRIX, KENTUCKY
WENDY SIMMS WINS CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP & BC PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP
BARRY WICKS DOUBLES UP THE WINS IN OHIO-RYAN TREBON 7th AT BELGIUM GVA
RYAN TREBON WINS INAUGURAL CROSS VEGAS AT INTERBIKE
KONA RIDERS GO 2ND AND 3RD AT STAR CROSSED AND RAD GP
THE KONA FACTORY CYCLOCROSS TEAM
Defending US National and US Gran Gran Prix Champion Ryan Trebon will headline the team which has dominated the North American Cross Scene for the past three years. Returning teammates looking to put the screws to the rest of the field are former US Gran Prix Winner Barry Wicks, former US Canadian National Champion Wendy Simms, Former US Masters National Champion Dale Knapp and fan favorite Erik Tonkin.
USA Elite Men’s National Cyclocross Champion Ryan Trebon will be spending his cross season on both sides of the Atlantic. Due to a favorable domestic schedule, Trebon decided to stay stateside and defend his US Gran Prix title along with teammate Barry Wicks. “I though it would be pretty cool to go for four US Gran Prix Titles in a row for the Kona team. Since the schedule looks like it will work I’m ready to make a good run at it,” said Trebon. The rest of the season Trebon will be Belgian based racing with the best crossers in the world. Trebon notched a 10th place finish in a Super Prestige Race last year and he has set a tough goal ofcracking the top five at either a World Cup or Super Prestige.
Fellow Twin Timber and 2005 US Gran Prix Overall Champion Barry Wicks is set to do battle on the North American Cross scene. Wicks had one of the most amazing rides of his cross career at the US Gran Prix in Boulder, Colorado in 2006 and showed he still has the cross legs to pull out the big win. “I’m really stoked for this season and my legs feel great, except for the hole in my right one from mountain bike World Champs in Fort Bill. But since I’m going to back off on the European cross scene this year I’m as fired up about racing cross this season as I have been in a long time,” remarked Wicks.
Wendy Simms is ready to unleash new power this year. Freed up from the full time job that limited her cross training last year to about 4 hours per week, she is feeling good about her chances at some great finishes Frustration boiled over during this years mountain bike season as she got sick early in the season and could never quite recover. So she took some time off, had some fun doing some grassroots events then went on to dominate the mixed open class in the Trans Rockies with her husband Normon Thibault. “I’m fired up for cross big time. Seeing photos of my new team rig all built up and weighing in at 16.3 lbs gets me even more jazzed,” Simms wrote in an email from the final mountain bike World Cup in Slovenia. “I felt last year like I could hang with the top girls for ¾ of the race but would just fade in the end. This year it’s going to be different.”
Erik Tonkin will continue as the fan favorite of the workingman (and woman). Now that his wife and former cross supers star, Rhonda Mazza, is pregnant with their first child he has the work of two to keep up the family name. “My new motto is finishing ahead of full time pro’s to make them feel bad about themselves,” said Tonkin in somewhatjest. He’s a favorite among fellow riders as well fans. The inside joke amongst full time pros is that if Tonkin, who often works 60 hours a week at his bike shop Sellwood Cycle Repair--then races, finishes ahead of you it’s time to retire or get a new career. Look for a few full time pros to be mulling over retirement this year as result of him. Tonkin is also always willing to share his secrets and teach skills. He will continue to run his Portland area Wednesday night cross clinics. One recent clinic had a record turnout of 150 crossers.
Last and certainly not least is the original powerhouse of the Kona Cyclocross teams, Dale Knapp (and Ann Knapp). He too has the family name to uphold as his wife “the Queen of Cross” Ann Knapp is also pregnant with their firstchild. “It’s tough for Ann to see me out there racing with her on the sidelines because she loves racing and the sport so much. So if I’m going to be out there I better go fast or I’m going to hear it from her,” said Knapp. Knapp will attending as many US Gran Prix and regional races as his schedule can allow. He will also continue as the main coach and trainer for the Kona Sponsored RAD Racing Program. Ann will be cheering fro the team as an honorary member from the other side of the race tape, or has so often been the case as a helper in the pits.
2008 Kona Factory Cyclocross Team Bike
Wendy Simms’ Queen Ann
The Kona team rides on Kona Major Jake Frames. The lucky ladies of Kona and our affiliate teams ride the same frame but with the Queen Ann moniker as a tribute to Ann and her enduring contributions to the team and the port of cyclocross.
Our Sponsors:
Stvenstad Dental, Big Agnes
Our Equipment:
Kona Custom butted Scandium frame with forged 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, Cassette, pedals and chain.
KORE KROSS Cantilever brakes
Swiss Stop Brake Pads
WTB Silverado Saddle
VERGE Clothing keeps us looking good
Honey Stinger provides fuel
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