Jonas Carney’s 2009 Kelly Benefit Strategies squad heads to the Redlands Classic this weekend with one of it’s strongest line ups ever. The team moves west with an A-list roster that includes former Redlands Overall winner Andrew Bajadali, KOM jersey winner and new addition Jake Erker plus 2007 rainmaker Alex Candelario, pivotal in Bajadali’s win two years ago.

Second year pro David Veilleux, 20, showed the seasoned riders of the peloton exactly why they can get used to chasing his back wheel after snatching a double victory at the Nature Valley Grand Prix in Minnesota. Veilleux (CAN), one of the youngest members of the Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast pro cycling team, took the Nature Valley Grand Prix’s Best! Young Rider Jersey at the Minneapolis Downtown Classic and then the stage six win in Stillwater Sunday. Stillwater is arguably the most brutal stage of any race in North America today.

Veilleux came from behind with a surprise sprint to pass Rory Sutherland (Healthnet-Maxxis), the overall winner, and Ricardo Escuela (Successful Living) after consistent attempts by Veilleux, Dan Bowman and Andrew Bajadali (including a solo attack 300 meters out) failed to deliver the winning breakaway.

Not even 150 plus miles in brutal heat and a crash that put down three athletes, could prevent the Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast squad from taking the front with four miles to go in Philly yesterday. And the squad could not have picked a better time to return to top form with the entire team arriving in the Twin Cit! ies to r ace home ground at the Nature Valley Grand Prix this week.

Bajadali secured his KOM jersey at Mt. Hood this weekend after driving the in stage two, where he scored points on every KOM line other than the final ascent to the finish. He finished in 8th place overall after six days of racing, helped along the way most notably by Dan Bowman who helped to drive another long breakaway in stage four, the. The Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast team closed the race with three athletes in the top 20: Bajadali (8), Justin Spinelli (14) and Reid Mumford (16).

In Wilmington, Delaware, at the Bank of America Wilmington Grand Prix, Canadian David Veilleux almost won his first NRC race at the age of 20. Jonny Sundt and Veilluex rode out a 40 mile 12 man break and came close to setting up Veilluex for the win in front of title sponsor John Kelly and representatives from Kelly Benefit Strategies, one of the nation’s largest group insurance brokers and consultants.

Jonas Carney’s second year Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast team continued their return to form with the momentum of a runaway train this past weekend, snatching podiums and jerseys at the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic in Portland, Oregon and the Bank of America Wilmington Grand Prix, Delaware.

Bajadali secured his KOM jersey at Mt. Hood this weekend after driving the in stage two, where he scored points on every KOM line other than the final ascent to the finish. He finished in 8th place overall after six days of racing, helped along the way most notably by Dan Bowman who helped to drive another long breakaway in stage four, the. The Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast team closed the race with three athletes in the top 20: Bajadali (8), Justin Spinelli (14) and Reid Mumford (16).

In Wilmington, Delaware, at the Bank of America Wilmington Grand Prix, Canadian David Veilleux almost won his first NRC race at the age of 20. Jonny Sundt and Veilluex rode out a 40 mile 12 man break and came close to setting up Veilluex for the win in front of title sponsor John Kelly and representatives from Kelly Benefit Strategies, one of the nation’s largest group insurance brokers and consultants.

One of the greatest episodes of the TV show Cheers involves Woody’s

attempt to give a gift to his rich socialite girlfriend Kelly.  Rather

than give material goods, he writes her a touching balled with the

simple words, “Kelly, Kelly, Kelly, Kelly, Kelly, Kelly.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hJjx7jTHA8   So here goes my touching

tribute.

The Wilmington Grand Prix pro bicycle race is in town Friday and

Saturday.  It promises to be quite an event.  Kelly Benefit Strategies

is the sponsor of one of the teams (and a good team too, with some

recent wins under their belt in US pro races).

As team sponsor, Kelly put on a “Ride with the Pros” yesterday

afternoon.  I was lucky enough to be able to join in, along with some

others on this list (Jason D. of Kelly as organizer, Kirsten M., Steve

W., Eric S.), and about 50 others.  We gathered near the Delaware

Historical Society on 5th and Market for a scheduled 2:00 p.m. push off.

I rolled up early on my old 1993 Cannondale, music blaring.  The Pros

were introduced, each with an interesting story.  These guys were

clearly in energy conservation mode, out for an easy spin.  Which was

good.

Even better, Trek was there, with a handful of loaner bikes.

Opportunity.  I was able to snag the one 60 inch frame from the van,

have my pedals on the Cannondale spun off and put on a Madone 5.2 carbon

fiber.  OMG.  Compared by my old Cannondale, I had to sit on it to make

sure it didn’t blow away in the wind.

As if this wasn’t enough enough to get you juiced, we were going to have

a Wilmington Police motorcycle escort the entire way, with all roads

blocked off.  We even had a couple of Wilmington’s finest riding along,

including Sergeant Robert C., fellow member of Claymont High School

class of ‘81 (who is also sporting braces these days).   We pushed off

up Market Street, motorcycles sirens blaring, waved to the people on the

side, and then headed straight up 12th Street, Pennsylvania Ave., and

Rt. 52.   A couple of the riders were from ING, and many of their

co-workers were on the sidewalk waving and cheering us on as we passed

their tower.    As we rode up Rt. 52 through the city to Greenville, the

motorcycles did a rolling roadblock of every intersection, and we rode

as a group without stopping, and without cars, all the way out.  We even

had to ourselves all of Rt. 52 out to Hillendale, where we continued the

full escort to Rt. 82, Snuff Mill, Rt. 52 back into the city, Greenhill

Ave, Kentmere, and Lovering.  

During the entire ride the speed was under control to keep the group

together, as the roads couldn’t be closed for a strung out group.  But

when the group hit Park Drive, all bets were off and the speed kicked up

into the 30+ mph range.  What fun to have a closed Park Drive, with

motorcycles roaring and blaring, to hang the right up King Street, and

sprint up King Street all the way to 5th Street, without worry of cars

or traffic lights.   Everybody on the sidewalks watched (or even

clapped) as the spectacle unfold.   30 miles total.

Jason Danner 

Kelly Benefit Strategies