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Tall Tales with Ryan Trebon: Back in Belgium

By Ryan Trebon, Kona cyclo-cross team
Published: Nov. 16, 2005
Photo: AbbiOrca.com

Oh happy days again. I’m glad to be back in Belgium this winter racing `cross. I am actually stoked to be here, but I wasn't so hot on the ass kicking I received this weekend at the Pijnacker World Cup in The Netherlands. The legs just haven't really wanted to turn over lately, but that is bike racing and I am sure things will turn around shortly. That’s the hope anyhow.

Jeremy POOOWERS! (as the French like to say) and I decided we would head down to Chateau Bernard last Friday to do a C2 race there. It was kind of a long drive at 800km, but as they say, “When in France I guess you have to drive a long way to race your bike.” At least that’s what I think they say.

It was actually a pretty good time with a ridiculously hard course that just dropped straight down a rocky grass hill and then went straight back up this mother of a climb, 500 meters at 10 percent, every lap for nine laps!

It was a rough wake-up call for the legs but I had a decent race and finished sixth. One important lesson I learned is never to be late to the breakfast buffet when you are staying in a hotel with the Polish and Slovokian national teams, because those guys clean those platters of cheese and meat so fast that all you are left with is hard bread and yogurt.

I was really hoping for a good ride in Pijnacker and I figured the race in France would help open my legs up for Sunday. All that came crashing down quickly as I pulled my foot out of the pedal 20 meters after the start. All I could think is, “Boy I am gonna hear it from Noel [Dejonckheere] tonight when I get back."

After screwing the start up it was a pure clusterf*ck as everyone was literally fighting for position. I saw at least three crashes right next to me on the first lap. Little did I know it was going to be my turn to crash next. On the third lap, riding through the sand section, my handlebar got caught up in the metal fencing lining the course and I endo-ed so fast I didn't have time to take my hands off the bars and I landed head- and face-first in the sand, still clipped into my bike.

I picked myself up, took my helmet off (to clear all the sand that was packed in the vents) and tried to get rolling again. After a hard crash sometimes it takes a while to get rolling again, so I just perused the course and tried to salvage the race as best as I could. I ended up 36th, the worst World Cup result I have ever had and not the way I wanted to start my European campaign.

The beginning of this week has been spent riding in the cold rain, smelling the Belgian smells and trading stories with Jeremy. Hopefully this weekend’s race will be a little better or I might just have to continue sucking — at least until I don’t.Cyclo-Cross World Cup No. 3
Pijnacker, Netherlands, November 13Elite men

1. Sven Nys (B) Rabobank 1:02:33
2. Richard Groenendaal (Nl) Rabobank 0:04
3. Gerben De Knegt (Nl) AA drink-Bejan 0:16
4. Sven Vanthourenhout (B) Rabobank 1:05
5. Erwin Vervecken (B) Fidea Cycling Team
6. Tom Vannoppen (B) Palmans-Sapim-Collstrop
7. John Gadret (F) Chocolade Jacques
8. Bart Aernouts (B) Rabobank
9. Petr Dlask (Cz) Empella Czech Team
10. Enrico Franzoi (I) Lampre - Caffita 1:10
11. Bart Wellens (B) Fidea Cycling Team 1:20
12. Kamil Ausbuher (Cz) Cyklo Team Budvar Tábor 1:30
13. Davy Commeyne (B) Palmans-Sapim-Collstrop 1:33
14. Christian Heule (Swi) Stevens Racing Team 1:46
15. Radomir Simunek (Cz) 1:52
16. Jonathan Page (USA) Cervélo 1:56
17. Eddy Van Yzendoorn (Nl)
18. Zdenek Stybar (Cz) Fidea Cycling Team
19. Michael Baumgartner (Swi)
20. Tim Van Nuffel (B) AVB Asbestverwijdering 2:03
21. Wilant Van Gils (Nl) ZZPR:nl 2:31
22. Simon Zahner (Swi) 2:45
23. Thijs Al (Nl) B & E Cycling Team 2:53
24. David Derepas (F)
25. Malte Urban (G) Stevens Racing Team
26. Vladimir Kyzivat (Cz) 3:08
27. David Seco Amundarain (Spa) 3:13
28. Bart Dirkx (Nl) AA drink-Bejan
29. Ondrej Lukes (Cz) Johnson Controls
30. Jens Schwedler (G) Stevens Racing Team
31. Rafael Visinelli (I) V:C: Bologna
32. Thorsten Struch (G) 4:01
33. Peter Presslauer (Aut) Stevens Racing Team
34. Wim Jacobs (B) Fidea Cycling Team 4:12
35. Marco Fontana (I) 4:21
36. Ryan Trebon (USA) 4:26
37. Camiel Van Den Bergh (Nl) Stevens Racing Team 4:30
38. Tadeusz Korzeniewski (Pol) 4:33
39. Jean-Pierre Leyten (Nl) 4:35
40. Marco Bianco (I) 4:56
41. Jeremy Powers (USA) Jelly Belly - Pool Gel 5:19
42. Marek Cichosz (Pol)
43. Isaac Suarez Fernandez (Spa) 5:32
44. Stefano Toffoletti (I) 5:35
45. Fabian Brezinski (G)
46. Joachim Parbo (Den) Cycling Aarhus 5:40
47. Václav Metlicka (Svk) Team Kral R:C: Pfeil Hof E:V 5:56
48. Marco Aurelio Fontana (I) 6:56

Women
1. Daphny Van Den Brand (Nl) ZZPR.nl 39:07
2. Marianne Vos (Nl) 0:40
3. Maryline Salvetat (F) Lapierre International
4. Birgit Hollmann (G) 1:14
5. Helen Wyman (GBr) 1:21
6. Laurence Leboucher (F) Heijdens-Ten Tusscher 1:59
7. Reza Ravenstein (Nl) 2:11
8. Arenda Grimberg (Nl) Therme Skin Care 2:14
9. Daniela Bresciani (I) 2:37
10. Nicol Kampeter (G)
11. Anja Nobus (B) 2:52
12. Susanne Juranek (G)
13. Nadia Triquet (F) 2:54
14. Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (F) 3:11
15. Joyce Vanderbeken (B) 3:38
16. Nicole De Bie- Leyten (Nl) 3:54
17. Loes Gunnewijk (Nl) Vrienden Van Het Platteland 4:28
18. Loes Sels (B) Vlaanderen-Capri Sonne-T Interim 4:36
19. Annabella Stropparo (I) 4:39
20. Milena Cavani (I) 4:41
21. Katrien Pauwels (B) 5:08
22. Britt Jochems (Nl) 5:26
23. Anne Kathrin Nitzsche (G) 5:36
24. Isabella Hoffman (Lux) 5:58
25. Katrien Aerts (B) 6:17
26. Stefanie Gronow (G) 7:01
27. Caroline van Peteghem (B)
28. Mika Ogishima (Jpn)

Under 23
1. Niels Albert (B) Palmans-Sapim-Collstrop 53:07
2. Kevin Pauwels (B) 1:24
3. Rob Peeters (B) 1:26
4. Jan Soetens (B) 2:25
5. Finn Heitmann (G) Stevens Racing Team 2:53
6. Felix Gniot (G) 2:57
7. Daan De Jonge (Nl) 2:58
8. Rikke Dijkxhoorn (Nl)
9. Rik Van Yzendoorn (Nl)
10. Jan Van Dael (B) 3:00
11. Joerie Cauwenhoven (B)
12. Bart Verschueren (B)
13. Jerry Kallenfels (Nl)
14. Frank Van Grootel (Nl)
15. Guus Machielse (Nl)
16. David Claerebout (Lux) LG Alzingen
17. Lorene Plichak (Pol)
18. Joost Springintveld (Nl)
19. Jorn Van Veen (Nl)
20. Adam Bycka (Pol)
21. Konrad Opitz (G)
22. Frank Sikking (Nl)
23. Remco Kuijlenburg (Nl)
24. Pieter Homan (Nl)

Prix de l'armistice (C2) Chateaubernard, France. November 11
Senior Men
1. John Gadret (F) Jartazi Revor Team 1:00:42
2. Arnaud Labbe (F) Auber 93 0:39
3. David Pagnier (F) Charvieu-Chavagneu 1:00
4. Romain Villa (F) U:V Aube 1:15
5. Julien Belgy (F) Vendee U Pays De La Loire 1:20
6. Ryan Trebon (USA) Kona 1:36
7. Loïc Herbreteau (F) Cr4C Roanne 1:53
8. Guillaume Benoist (F) Vc Dinan 2:04
9. Francis Mourey (F) Francaise Des Jeux:Com 2:34
10. Stephane Belot (F) Athis-Team 61
11. Bjorn Rondelez (B) Chocolat Jacques 3:32
12. Tadeusz Korzeniewski (Pol) Paged Mbk Scout 4:04
13. Robert Glajza (Svk) Ck Zp Sport As Podbrezoda 4:57
14. Ronny Poelvoorde (B) Flanders 6:09
15. Jeremy Powers (USA) Jelly Belly 6:20
16. Cyrille Bonnand (F) Bleus De France Suresnes 6:46

One lap back
17. David Romanowski (Pol) Trasa Zienona Gora
18. Andrzej Kaiser (Pol) Ks Intel Action
19. Michal Lorenc (Pol) Ks Empella-IskraDid not finish
Robert Bachraty (Svk) Tj Slavia Ss Trencin
Stefan Gajdosik (Svk) Ck Zp Sport As Podbrezoda
Adam Bycka (Pol) Luks Bizon Viedanow