Ryan Racing to a new European contract?
Tired of reports on one road racer’s twitter stream? Wondering what your favorite mudders have been up to? Doing your homework so you can win Cyclocross Magazine’s fantasy cyclocross league next season? We’ve got you covered with our new, weekly report on your favorite top ‘crossers. Each week Jake Sisson will bring you the latest news, gossip, and maybe even a tweet or two on the pro scene. This is installment #2. Installment #1 is here. Got something worth reporting? Let us know.
American Champ to AA Drinks? Wicks Less than Happy
The smashing success of Ryan Trebon over the last year has turned some heads, not just this side of the Atlantic Ocean. The Dutch AA Drinks Cycling Team, managed by Richard Groenendaal, has taken a large interest in the lanky rider, and are in contract negotiations at the time. Presumably, this would make Trebon the second major name to spend his full season away from home, following Planet Bike’s Jonathan Page. While details are not yet confirmed, sources close to the deal indicate that it is signed, sealed and delivered. Trebon would most likely race a full Euro schedule, and is expected to fill third roster spot on the AA Drinks team, behind Dutch star Thijs Al and new teammate Eddy Van IJzendoorn, who just signed a tidy professional contract. Clearly, AA Drinks is both trying to build a solid team to fight it out with the Fideas and Rabobanks of the world, plus increase their global marketability.
Stateside, the reactions close to home have been mixed for Trebon. While most are happy that Trebon has gotten this chance, some have indicated that it may not be best for him. Teammate Barry Wicks was taken by surprise by the news, as he and Trebon had just come off teaming up at the 24 Hours of Pueblo, and had no idea that any agreements were in the works. “If that’s what he’s into, then that’s fine, but where does that leave me? The Twin Towers sounds so much cooler than just The Tower and The Caveman. I don’t think I can find anyone tall enough to compliment me, at least in the cross world!”
Boom Unhappy in the Shadow, Will Make Move to the Track
Lars Boom is quite unhappy playing second fiddle to many of his cyclocross counterparts, bestsport.be reports. His move to the road was met with much resistance from the cyclocross world, but it is now becoming clear that Boom decided to take that path because he wanted more of the spotlight. But now Boom is coming to realize that there are even more riders to compete with for media attention on on the road, including a number of cyclocross stars. As a result, Boom has made the decision to move to the track, where he can be a bigger star of the show (like Taylor Phinney). Rabobank, Boom’s employer, is clearly very happy with the decision, as they now have two of the hottest commodities in the track world, the other being Teun Mulder.
Boom will focus on the individual pursuit, points and scratch races, and if the right teammate comes along, he will take a stab at the Madison as well. The Dutch cycling federation is also extremely happy with the idea, and have had plans for Madison domination on the shelf for some time now but were waiting for the right motor to come along, following in the mold of the British team of Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish.
Women’s Elite Cyclocross Team Forming in the United States?
The complete dominance of the Belgian team at this year’s World Championships have gotten the powers that be in the United states thinking. Would it be possible for American Women to display the same dominant tactics in next year’s World Championships in Tabor if they were to ride as a team year ’round? Well a new upstart team is willing to find out. Rumor has it a number of as-yet-unnamed sponsors have stepped up to bankroll an elite women’s cyclocross team, with a focus on racing later in the season, ultimately targeting the Elite Women’s World Championships in Tabor, Czech Republic. Targets of the team include Katie Compton, Georgia Gould, Wendy Simms, Katerina Nash, Sue Butler, Diedre Winfield and Amy Dombroski. One drawback of the team includes a decrease in competition in the United States, but given the history of competition that these women have amongst themselves, team tactics may go out of the window at least in domestic races, and certainly at the Winter Olympics, as already hinted at by Georgia Gould.
