Trebon recovers from 'Toona crash in time to launch Euro 'cross campaign

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By Steve Medcroft

2004 U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross winner Ryan Trebon (Kona Les Gets) says the cast is finally off the wrist he broke in a crash at the International Tour de Toona stage race (USA, July 25-31) and he plans to keep his promise of racing a full European cyclocross season.

The crash happened in the Hollidaysburg Circuit Race, July 18. "In the fourth stage," twenty four year old Trebon said Wednesday from his Corvalis, Oregon home, "the field slowed up real fast and I wasn't paying the right kind of attention. That was it. I hit the ground."

Trebon's wrist has been immobilized in a couple of different casts since that day. "At first, I was in a forearm cast up to my elbow," he said. "I took nine whole days off the bike. Then they put on a cast that went up over my elbow and it was too uncomfortable to ride at all."

The injury effectively ended his 2005 mountain-bike campaign but the expected healing time is keeping the door open for 'cross. "The cast finally came off on Wednesday," he said. "I've been riding as much as I can but it's not easy; I can't grip the bars all the way – my arm's weak from being in a cast for so long. I need to get used to riding again."

But Trebon says the slow re-start to his training doesn't change his belief that he'll be in Europe racing 'cross in November. In fact, he says the time off may be exactly what he needs to have a strong 'cross season and may even have an impact into his 2006 mountain bike campaign. "Because I've had the time off now, come February, I won't have to take that long break," he says. "It means I should be fit in February and hope to be good for the first NORBA races."

The Kona rider plans to test his recovery in three weeks. "I'm planning on racing Star Crossed (Seattle, Washington) October 1. What racing I do from there all depends on how well I recover. But," he adds, "I plan to be in Europe November 5."

After a quick trip home for U.S. Nationals in December, Trebon says he'll stay in Europe until February. "This is a different approach for me. I had a great time racing the USGP last year and I enjoy racing 'cross. It's something I've been wanting to focus more on." His goals: "I want to finish in the top ten in the big races. If I can get my fitness back, it's an attainable goal."