Click on the image to see more pixs of the Tour of Missouri

Photo: Jim McCarty

The Jelly Belly Cycling Team’s Tour of Missouri was a fantastic way for the majority of our team to end their respective seasons. We were all surprised by the amount of fans pouring out to support this new race. Each day, thousands of people filled the starts, finishes, and climbs to cheer us on.

Our tour started off on a strong note with Aussie rider James Meadley getting into the move of the day and picking up a time bonus. This 3 second bonus put him in the Build-a-Bear Best Young Rider jersey for two days. While he lost the jersey in the ITT, he still rode a very respectable top-25 that netted him 2nd in the competition at the end of the week.

With none of our sprinters, we were forced to make sure we had a rider in every breakaway. Our other Aussie, Matty Rice did just this on stage 2, getting in the decisive GC break and gaining nearly 15 minutes on the field. Along with some other very impressive finishes in the bunch kicks, Matty was able to hold on to 10th place in GC.

The rest of the team was aggressive all week, with local Missouri rider Brian “Dweeza” Dziewa searching for that hometown breakaway, Jeremy Powers stepping up as our new sprinter, and Andy Bajadali and I covering every move imaginable.

In what was a less than spectacular tour for myself, I was able to salvage my self-respect by getting in the break on stage 5 and holding off the hard-charging field for a 7th place finish. While I would have liked to place higher up on the podium, I was happy that I could end my season on a high note.

Nick

Dear Danny,

On behalf of the Tour de Health bike ride, I want to thank you and JellyBelly Pro Cycling for supporting our ride. I have attached a post-ride flier.

The event went very well and we were fortunate to have Bryce Mead there to do the ride -  and the winner of the Bryce Mead-autographed jersey was all smiles as he rode the 50-miler wearing it.

This was our third annual ride and we hope to have the fourth annual next July. Having Jelly Belly support the ride was a nice tie-in with Ronald Reagan - riders were served free pie at a rest stop in Tampico, Reagan’s birthplace. It was also the first time we’ve had such a VIP as Bryce join our event… really added some prestige! Our volunteers had their hands full trying to keep the autograph seekers at bay so Bryce could get a safe start to the ride. Having the team Lexus there was a nice touch too.

The ‘Bird’ is, of course, very modest about his grand achievements in the world of pro cycling, but we are very proud of him and lucky to have him as part of our community.

Once again, thanks for the jersey, the water bottles and Sport Beans. We really appreciate your generosity and support.

Jim McPherson, co-organizer

Team Jelly Belly with Through Healing Eyes.

Team Jelly Belly Supports Audi Best Buddies Challenge
Alex Candelario, Mike Jones Pull Through for Sept. 8 Charity Ride
Best Buddies International announced today that Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team, one of the most popular and successful cycling teams in America will support the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle on Sept. 8.

In addition to providing every rider and stocking every rest stop with its popular Sport Beans® jelly beans, Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team will have two of its most popular riders leading the way. Alex Candelario, highly regarded as one of this country’s top sprinters, has had impressive finishes in 2007, most notably his win at Tour de Nez. He will join his teammate, Mike Jones on the ride. For the popular Jones, this event will cap off his career, as he announced his retirement from pro racing.

“I am honored to be representing the Jelly Belly team with Alex at this year’s 2007 Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle,” said Jones, who last rode this course during the Amgen Tour of California. “I have driven and raced up and down Highway 1, and this is the perfect way to wrap up the 2007 season meeting new friends while cycling down the Pacific coast.”

Jelly Belly will also be the official supplier of the rest stops with Sport Beans jelly beans, a sports performance product with electrolytes, vitamins and carbohydrates, helping cyclists to complete the 100-mile trek from Chateau Julien Winery in Carmel to the Hearst Castle in San Simeon.

Pro Riders
Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team will join other pro cyclists to help raise funds to support people with intellectual disabilities. Other pro cyclists riding are Team CSC riders David Zabriskie and Lars Michaelsen, Team T-Mobile riders Axel Merckx, Aaron Olsen, Mari Holden, Kimberly Baldwin and Kim Anderson, and Kodak Gallery/Sierra Nevada rider Ryan Trebon.

The Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle is a 100-mile charity ride held Sept. 8. In its fourth year, this event is considered the only five-star ride. Starting at Château Julien Wine Estate in Carmel, cyclists ride the spectacular Pacific Coast Highway past Big Sur, over the Bixby Bridge, and beneath the beam of the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse before finishing at the Hearst Castle in San Simeon. First Lady of California Maria Shriver serves as Honorary Chairperson and will be riding in the event, which also includes a 15-mile course beginning at Ragged Point Once there, riders are pampered with massage, dinner, an open bar, and a concert featuring the legendary band, Cheap Trick.

The ride benefits Best Buddies International, a nonprofit organization founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing them with opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment.

“The Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle is an event I truly believe in because it supports the work done by Best Buddies benefiting people with intellectual disabilities, while also promoting exercise and providing families with an opportunity to do something together that is beneficial to their health,” says First Lady of California and event chair Maria Shriver. “I am proud to say that this event is the largest national fundraiser for Best Buddies – a true testament to the generosity and spirit of Californians.”

Founder and chairman Anthony K. Shriver says, “The Challenge is an amazing event because it inspires people to become engaged in Best Buddies long after the ride has ended. People go home and find out how to be a part of their local chapter, they decide to hire people with intellectual disabilities at their companies and they encourage their children to volunteer. That’s the best you can hope for from any fundraiser.”

About Jelly Belly: Jelly Belly Candy Company makes the taste defining Jelly Belly jelly beans in 50 official flavors and an ever changing array of new flavors and limited editions. The company that put the gourmet jelly bean on the map became known worldwide when Jelly Belly beans were taken to the White House during the Ronald Reagan administration. Today, Jelly Belly beans are celebrating 31 years of fun and flavor, and are the leading jelly bean brand.

About Best Buddies International: Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant, international organization that has grown from one original chapter to more than 1,300 middle school, high school, and college campuses across the country and internationally. Best Buddies programs engage participants in each of the 50 United States. We have accredited international programs on six continents; with additional country programs under active development. Our six formal programs – Best Buddies Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies and Jobs – positively impact more than 300,000 individuals. For more information, please visit www.bestbuddies.org.