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Cyclocross news & racing round-up for November 4, 2005Edited by Steve Medcroft Welcome to our regular round-up of what's happening in cyclocross. Feel free to send feedback, news and gossip to mtb@cyclingnews.com Trebon heads for EuropeBy Steve Medcroft
Ryan Trebon (Kona) will be joining Americans Jonathan Page and Jeremy Powers on the European cyclocross circuit starting in mid November. “I'm leaving right after the Highland Park race next week (Highland Park, New Jersey, November 6 th ),” Trebon said after racing the two US Gran prix of Cyclocross series races in Gloucester, Massachusetts this past weekend. “I leave Monday morning, come back the Tuesday before nationals, and then go back the Monday right after.” Trebon says he has been working on arrangements for the trip all year. “We have a good manager who set up a bunch of start contracts. I'm doing something like thirty races. It's quite a bit of racing but they're spread out quite a bit. Except during the holiday season; you can race twelve times in fourteen days (in the Christmas and New Year's weeks). I'm not going to do every race available to me - I've been trying to pick races that suit me, races at which I feel I can do well but also get enough rest before the next one.” Trebon says he feels his form is returning after taking six weeks off late in the MTB season due to a broken wrist sustained in a crash at the International Tour de ‘Toona. And his results in the USGP series show it (two wins and currently leading the series on points). The fact that he pulled out of Saturday's race and took a DNF rather than finish shouldn't be taken as a sign of weakness, he says. “On Saturday I was frustrated because I was caught behind a bunch of crashes and I just wasn't feeling it. I was getting frustrated on the course and it was really cold and I just felt like it wasn't worth me getting sick before I go to Europe . It's important for me to race well out here because I really like racing in the NorthEast but it was just too much to ask of my body right now.” Asked what race on the European calendar is he most excited about, Trebon, who'll be staying at Belgium-based Noel Dejonckheere's U.S. Development team house said “I'm actually looking forward to all of them but the one I've seen a lot of video of is (Vlaamse Duinenveldrit) Koksijde, Belgium (November 26 th ). It's a ridiculously hard course; all sand. Well, it's not all sand but it's probably the sandiest course you'd find and I've never raced anything like it. There have been World Cups, GVA and Superprestige races there.” Nys in control of World CupBy Steve Medcroft
Can Sven Nys (Rabobank) repeat his success from last season; when he won the Superprestige series, the World Cup series, the World Championships and the Belgian National Championships? If last Saturday's win at the World Cup stop in Tabor, Czeck Replublic is any indication, the answer looks like yes. The win was Nys second World Cup victory of the season. He earned the first in Kalmthout, Belgium. Nys followed Saturday's win up with a victory in the following day's Superprestige (Sint-Michielsgestel, Netherlands, October 30). Couple that with his loss in the first Superprestige (Ruddervoorde, Belgium October 16th) to perennial 'cross threat Bart Wellens (Fidea Cycling Team) and Nys has four wins in the books so far this season. Nys next faces a World Cup field in Pijnacker, Netherlands November 13th and the Superprestige field November 20th in Asper-Gavere, Belgium. USGP Gloucester wrap-upBy Steve Medcroft
The Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross made two stops at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester, Massachusetts last weekend and racers were treated to two completely different sets of conditions. Heavy, wet snow chilled racers to the bone on Saturday while for Sunday's race, the sky cleared, the snow all melted, and the temperatures were moderate enough for shorts and sleeveless jerseys. Saturday's blizzard turned what could have been a nice ride into a death march. Riders in shorts and thin gloves became sodden and frozen in the slushy downpour. The usually fast power course at Gloucester 's Stage Fort Park became a rutted, muddy and chaotic test of technical handling and will to survive. The only riders with any advantage in the race were the pair of solo winners; who were able to sit off the front and out of danger for most of their individual races. Those riders? Husband and wife Louis Garneau/cyclocrossworld.com teammates Lyne Bessette and Tim Johnson. The turn in the weather for Sunday's race wasn't only a chance for Gloucester to redeem itself in the eyes of the field, but for Kona teammates Barry Wicks and Ryan Trebon to avenge the drubbing Johnson dished out twenty-four hours earlier. Trebon and Wicks took the hole shot and while Trebon motored off the front, Wicks dropped his tempo just enough to disrupt the rhythm of Johnson, Jesse Anthony (Team Clif Bar) and yesterday's second-place finisher Adam Craig (Giant). A frustrated Johnson tried to attack but was marked every time and Trebon stayed away to the finish. In the women's race, Lyne Bessette simply did what she's been doing every race she's entered this year; taking the lead in the first lap and building a gap no-one can bridge. Bessette powered away from a field including the Kona trio of Georgia Gould, Canadian National Cyclocross Champion Wendy Simms and Ann Knapp and rode a time trial to the finish. For complete race reports, results and photos:
U.S. Gran Prix standings after GloucesterElite Women's leader Lyne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau) remains undefeated thus far in U.S. Gran Prix races, but Barbara Howe (Velo Bella), Wendy Simms (Kona), Melissa Thomas (Tokyo Joe's), and Ann Knapp (Kona) remain within striking distance for the series championship. Should Bessette falter in either of the final weekend's California races, Howe and Knapp are well situated to make a last-minute charge at the leader's jersey. Parity rules the Elite Men's ranks, with three different winners in the first four races, Ryan Trebon (Kona) and Tim Johnson (Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau) are tied for points, though Trebon took the leader's jersey off Johnson's back by virtue of having won more events than Johnson, two to one. Trebon will miss the final two races in the series due to his European racing schedule, throwing the doors open for an even greater battle for the overall title. Johnson figures to face serious challenges from Adam Craig (Giant), Mark McCormack (Team Clif Bar), and Barry Wicks (Kona) in the California races. Defending National Champion Jesse Anthony (Team Clif Bar) maintains a solid lead in the Under-23 men's title race, though Troy Wells (TIAA-CREF/Clif Bar) took second in the Elite race in Gloucester and could yet spring a surprise on Anthony in California. A picture of consistency, Dale Knapp (Kona) has finished on the podium at every U.S. Gran Prix race so far, giving him the leader's jersey in the process. Bjorn Selander (Alan Factory) and Danny Summerhill (TIAA-CREF/Clif Bar) have entertained fans on both coasts with their ding-dong battle so far in 2005. Selander holds the series lead in the Junior Men going into the final races, but Summerhill has proven capable of beating the reigning Junior National Champion. The Junior title promises to go down to the final minutes of the final race in San Francisco. Overall Series leaders Trebon, Bessette, and Selander also lead the FOCUS First Lap Competition season tally in their respective categories. Chris D'Alusio (Morgan Stanley-Specialized) leads the Masters Men's FOCUS First Lap Competition through four races. The FOCUS First Lap Competition rewards the fastest rider through the first lap with cash prizes and points towards the season competition. Season-long winners will receive FOCUS cyclocross frames after the final U.S. Gran Prix race in San Francisco. The 2005 Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross continues November 19 in Watsonville, California with the Surf City Cyclocross. 2005 Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross Series Points Standings after 4 of 6 Series Events Elite Men Elite Women Under -23 Men Junior Men Masters Men Global 'Cross racing round-up
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