The Easton/Kona cyclocross program has annpounceed its national team line up for the upcoming 2005/06 cyclocross season. The team is entering its fourth year and the upcoming season promises to be one of its best. "Graduates" of the Easton/Kona program include 2004 USGP Elite men's champion, Ryan Trebon, and 2005 UCI US World Championship team members Troy Wells (U23) and Josie Beggs (Elite women).
Headlining the team in the elite men's category is Tyler Johnson (Chester, Conn). Tyler's resume includes a silver medal at the 2002 ITU U23 World Duathlon Championships, a UCI elite victory at the Biowheels UCI race in Cincinnati and several years experience on the well established, Richard Sachs cyclocross team. Tyler's plans for 2005 fit perfectly with Easton/Kona program. After a fall of competition on the US circuit, including the Crank Brothers USGP series, Tyler plans to head for Europe after the US National Championships. Keep your eyes out for Tyler this season, we assure you he definitely one to watch!
Joining Tyler in the elite men's category is returning 2004 Easton/Kona rider, and reigning 2004 Collegiate USCF National Champion Matt Shriver (Durango, CO). Matt is foregoing his usual collegiate mountain bike program for the fall to focus solely on cyclocross. Matt will build on his success and experience from 2004 and should surprise many of the established US favourites in the battle for those podium positions.
New to the Easton/Kona program for 2005, but certainly not new to cyclocross, is Brent Bookwalter (Comstock Park, MI) in the U23 category. Brent was a member of the 2002 UCI cyclocross and mountain bike World Championship teams. 2004 saw Brent capture the Collegiate National Mountain Bike Championship in both XC and the Omnium. Brent races road on the Advantage Benefits-Endeavour Cycling Team and has just capped of an outstanding 2005 road season with a stint on the US National Team and a selection to compete in the Tour de l'Avenir in France. Brent is focused on cyclocross once again for 2005.
Rounding out the team for 2005 is one of the top Masters riders in the US, Andy Applegate (Asheville, NC). Andy had a frustrating season in 2004 but put it all together at the sixth stop of the Crank Brothers USGP in Highland, New Jersey to take a much-deserved victory. Andy finished the USGP series ranked third in the highly competitive 35+ category. Andy competes in both the 35+ and elite men's category, often doing both races in the same day!
