Factory Team Riders Reach Podium In Arizona and Venezuela
Making their mark both stateside and in South America last weekend, Kona Factory Team riders proudly stood atop the podium in Fountain Hills, Arizona and the Pan-Am Mountain Bike Championships in Venezuela.Competing in three races last weekend at the McDowell Mountain Park in the second NMBS event, team riders Barry Wicks, Ryan Trebon and Wendy Simms all secured top-three finishes in at least one race. Kris Sneddon also competed and finished in the top-15 in all of his races.
In the first race of the weekend, the Super D time trial, riders attacked the seven-mile course that consisted entirely of sandy fire roads, loose washes and three significant climbs. Simms took third in the pro women’s category with a time of 18 minutes, 27 seconds. Trebon led the men, finishing third with a time of 16:20 – only 25 seconds behind the winner – while Wicks took 12th and Sneddon grabbed 15th.
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On Saturday, Wicks and Trebon tag-teamed the technical short track course which featured “The Hill” – a steep, loose sandy climb that only a few riders were able to muscle up on their bikes. Battling with Geoff Kabush to the finish, Wicks missed first place by one second, while Trebon captured third a mere 25 seconds back of Wicks. In the women’s race, Simms (who is the current Canadian National Cyclocross Champion) rode in the lead pack for most of the race until a crash cost her valuable time. After an intense and exciting sprint to the finish versus Australian National Champion Dellys Starr, Simms took fourth; 33 seconds behind winner Katerina Nash.
“I looked over my shoulder to see where Georgia [Gould] was and I buzzed Katerina’s rear tire,” said Simms of her crash. “It was my own fault.”
In the final race of the weekend, the three-lap Elite XC, Wicks and Trebon started strong but didn’t have the gas to hang in the lead pack to the finish. Wicks took fourth place with a time of 1 hour, 28 minutes, 49 seconds, while Trebon finished the race with a flat tire. Sneddon held on for 11th place.
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South of the border in Venezuela, Factory Team rider Neal Kindree represented Team Canada at the Pan-Am Mountain Bike Championships. Racing in a field of 30 elite riders on Sunday in the U-23 category, Kindree started off the hot race by getting trapped behind a pile-up crash within the first 300 feet. Not to be conquered, he spent the ensuing seven laps climbing his way up to the lead pack on a long, non-technical and dusty course. Kindree finished in third-place taking the bronze medal. He also automatically qualified for the World Championships in Italy in late-June.
“It was really cool to see all the competition and what was going on in the mountain biking world outside Canada and the U.S.,” Kindree said. “It was a unique experience for sure.”
In the first race of the weekend, the Super D time trial, riders attacked the seven-mile course that consisted entirely of sandy fire roads, loose washes and three significant climbs. Simms took third in the pro women’s category with a time of 18 minutes, 27 seconds. Trebon led the men, finishing third with a time of 16:20 – only 25 seconds behind the winner – while Wicks took 12th and Sneddon grabbed 15th.
On Saturday, Wicks and Trebon tag-teamed the technical short track course which featured “The Hill” – a steep, loose sandy climb that only a few riders were able to muscle up on their bikes. Battling with Geoff Kabush to the finish, Wicks missed first place by one second, while Trebon captured third a mere 25 seconds back of Wicks. In the women’s race, Simms (who is the current Canadian National Cyclocross Champion) rode in the lead pack for most of the race until a crash cost her valuable time. After an intense and exciting sprint to the finish versus Australian National Champion Dellys Starr, Simms took fourth; 33 seconds behind winner Katerina Nash.
“I looked over my shoulder to see where Georgia [Gould] was and I buzzed Katerina’s rear tire,” said Simms of her crash. “It was my own fault.”
In the final race of the weekend, the three-lap Elite XC, Wicks and Trebon started strong but didn’t have the gas to hang in the lead pack to the finish. Wicks took fourth place with a time of 1 hour, 28 minutes, 49 seconds, while Trebon finished the race with a flat tire. Sneddon held on for 11th place.
South of the border in Venezuela, Factory Team rider Neal Kindree represented Team Canada at the Pan-Am Mountain Bike Championships. Racing in a field of 30 elite riders on Sunday in the U-23 category, Kindree started off the hot race by getting trapped behind a pile-up crash within the first 300 feet. Not to be conquered, he spent the ensuing seven laps climbing his way up to the lead pack on a long, non-technical and dusty course. Kindree finished in third-place taking the bronze medal. He also automatically qualified for the World Championships in Italy in late-June.
“It was really cool to see all the competition and what was going on in the mountain biking world outside Canada and the U.S.,” Kindree said. “It was a unique experience for sure.”
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