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KONA CYCLOCROSS STRONGER THAN EVER

Once again Kona Bicycles will roll out the top cyclocross team in North America. The entire Kona squad from the 2004-05 season will return again this year and there have been some strong additions to the team as well. Canadian Cyclocross National Champion Wendy Simms will join the Kona Factory Cyclocross Team and recent phenom in the NORBA National Series Georgia Gould will join the Kona Regional Cyclocross Team.

It’s hard to improve upon Ryan Trebon and Ann Knapp winning the overall Crank Brothers Grand Prix of Cyclocross Elite Men and Women’s Overall titles and both of them riding to a Silver and Bronze Medal respectively at the 2005 cyclocross National Championships. But the Kona squad has lofty goals and we expect to place more riders on the podium at more races than ever before.

Ladies first as they say and it certainly fits the bill for Ann Knapp to kick it off.

Ann Knapp-Elite Women
Des Moines, WA

Leading the Elite women for the Kona team in what will be her swan song season of elite racing is the Queen of Cross, Ann Knapp. Knapp has been the winningest rider in cyclocross history, notching overall wins in 2005 Grand Prixs, past SuperCups, winning a national championship in 2003 and riding to two top five finishes in Cyclocross World Championships. She rolled to victory in five out of six 2005 Grand Prix races and capped the season with a bronze medal at the National Championships. No one in North American cyclocross history has been so dominant and one can expect Ann to finish her career in fine form.

Photos courtesy of Michael Peterson Photography

Ann Knapp

Wendy Simms-Elite Women
Nainaimo, B. C.
Joining the Kona team this year is Canadian Cyclocross Champion Wendy “Sasquatch” Simms. Sasquatch not because she is extra hairy but because she stomps on the pedals and measures in at 5’ 10”. Another tall tree to add to the Kona forest of the team. Wendy has been dominant on the mountain bike scene winning four Canada Cups in 2005 and finishing a very stong 3rd overall at Sea Otter. She will build on her fitness and fine finishes during the mountain bike season and do the Kona team proud.

Wendy Simms, 2004 Canadian Champion

Georgia Gould-Elite Women
Ketchum, ID
Joining the regional team this year will be up and coming racer Georgia Gould. She currently holds three cyclocross state championship titles in ID, PD and MD. Her goal is to win the mid-Atlantic Series and test her mettle at the Grand Prix. She is fresh off a stellar mountain bike season posting 8th place finishes at Schweitzer and Snowmass and a 15th place finish at the world cup in Angel Fire, NM in the Elite Women class. Look for Georgia to be the surprise dark horse on the cross scene this year and in fine form in the Kona colors.

Ryan Trebon-Elite Men
Corvalis, OR
Leading the Elite Men for the Kona team will be the Ryan “Tree Farm” Trebon. Ryan won the overall Grand Prix and took home the silver medal at the 2005 Nationals Championships. He has his sights set on the winning the national championship title this year and competing at the top level in the Super Prestige and World Cups in Europe. He is fresh off a broken wrist and the forced rest and pent up energy will be unleashed on the rest of the field shortly.

Ryan Trebon and Barry Wicks #1 & 2 at the 1st USGP Race of 2005

Barry Wicks-Elite Men
Corvalis, OR
Barry “WickNasty” Wicks is ready to make some amends for an up and down MTB season. On one hand he had his best NORBA finish cracking the top five and finishing fourth at Snowshoe, West Virginia but on the other hand the legs weren’t there for the next race. He has enlisted cross coaching legend Geoff Proctor and all seems to be on schedule. Barry has been a very consistent top five finisher in the cross scene and that will continue. Expect to see the twin timbers (Barry and Ryan) sharing podium space on a regular basis.

Barry Wicks

Erik Tonkin-Elite Men
Portland, OR
Erik “Tonkinator” Tonkin rounds out the Elite Men’s squad and has taken over the blue collar workingman’s hero role from fellow Kona Rider Dale Knapp. Like many Kona team riders he has a “real” job and sometimes spends 60 hours a week at the shop he owns Sellwood Cycle Repair. Many nights prior to catching a cross country flight, he’ll be wrenching late night not on his own bikes but on a good customer’s bike so they can be ready for the next Cross Crusade. Few racers live for the race as much as Tonkin. No doubt he is the happiest when racing the bike. Fresh off a 10th place finish at the 2005 NORBA National Championships in Mammoth Mountain Erik will continue his ascension through the top ten to the podium spots he has been working towards.

Erik Tonkin

Dale Knapp-Masters Men
Des Moines, WA
After over 10 years of Elite Racing crowd favorite Dale “Heavy D” Knapp will joining the Masters ranks in search of the elusive National Title. Fearful of being called a sandbagger, even though he is 40 years old, Dale wanted a clean break from the Elite ranks and took a year off from racing. With no slight to his now fellow masters racers Dale is ready to join the ranks and duke it our for the top podium spot. Dale has been one of the most revered racers in cross history with a long and storied career that spans many cyclocross eras. His participation in 10 straight World Championship Teams is one that may never be matched. He was a pioneer in cross before many even knew what it was. For years we he was slugging it out in Europe as the lone unfunded American. It will be good to see him back full force in the Kona colors.

Dale Knapp

The Kona Factory Cyclocross Team team rides the same stock Jake the Snake frame you can buy at your local Kona dealer. The Easton Ultralite Bioval aluminum frame is the foundation of Ryan Trebon’s 63cm 17.6lb race machine. The team uses Easton EC-90 Carbon Equipe bars, EC-90X Carbon Cross Forks, EC-70 Carbon Stems and EC-90 Carbon Seat Posts. Dugast Tires glued onto Mavic Kyserium SLs get us rolling. Spooky Carbon 2000 brakes slow us down (but only slightly). Shimano DuraAce shifters, chains, cassettes, cranks, bottom brakets and 959 Pedals help us apply the power. Full Speed Ahead carbon chain guides and chainrings get us the right gears and the FSA Orbit Extreme headsets keep our lines precise. WTB Rocket V and Shadow saddles give us a place to sit.

The Kona Cyclocross Team is Proud to be sponsored by:
Kona Bicycles
Jake & Dan
Easton Sports
Honey Stinger
Shimano
Verge Clothing
Mavic USA
WTB Saddles
Bell Helmets
Eurocycling Imports for Dugast Tires and Spooky Brakes
FSA headsets, Chainrings and Carbon Chainguards
Rudy Project Eyewear