Trebon struggles with back injury

By Steve Medcroft

After pulling out midway through the Grand Prix Lille Métropole in Roubaix, France, on Saturday, former USA MTB and cyclo-cross national champion Ryan Trebon (Kona/Yourkey.com) revealed that a lingering back injury suffered in a head-on crash with another rider during USA cyclo-cross nationals in December is thwarting his efforts in the European cyclo-cross scene. "My back is still just generally bad from crashing at Nationals," Trebon reported by e-mail on Sunday. "It's very sore and stiff to move. I feel like an 80-year old man when I wake up in the morning."

Trebon says that he has tried to work through the pain but accepts that proper recovery is the only path to his former fitness level. "For the past six weeks, I just have been pretty much stressing my back to the max trying to train and race with it. But I think the only thing that is gonna cure my back is a little bit of time off to recoup."

Trebon says the injury has sidelined his ambitions for the remainder of the 'cross season. "It is very frustrating to have physical problems keeping you from achieving what is possible. Honestly, I don't have many expectations for the rest of the year. With all the problems I have had in the past six weeks, it is very hard to honestly say I expect to compete and do well in the remaining races. You just try and look past it and focus on improving the problem."

Although he doesn't expect to recover up to and beyond 'cross Worlds, the American says that the injury is not expected to sideline him into the 2008 road and mountain-bike seasons. As he did in 2007, Trebon is "continuing to race with Kona bicycles for the MTB and 'cross seasons next year; with the occasional road race thrown in. But I'm definitely going to take a break after the 'cross season though; the most important thing is getting better so that I can properly prepare for the upcoming season."