The 2009 Tour de Winghaven in St. Louis, Missouri was the hottest race for the Jelly Belly Cycling Team so far this season. But St. Louis’ 98-degree heat and humidity didn’t stop them from gaining a spot on the podium.

With a seven-man team, Jelly Belly began the 80-mile road race in good form, protecting and closing gaps when other riders tried to break away. But after a few laps, a three-man break gained two minutes over the pack. Those three riders held that gap until halfway through the race, when about 12 riders decided to chase. In the group were Jelly Belly’s Brad Huff, Jeremy Powers and Nick Reistad.

“I initially put myself in workhorse mode to be there for [Jeremy],” Huff said.

After the dozen riders caught the three-man break, it wasn’t long before two riders, Michael Jensen of Tradewind Energy and Andrew Bajadali of Kelly Benefit Strategies, pulled away once again. This time they held it until the end, with Bajadali taking first and Jensen following in second.

“I think the riders were just not able to handle the heat from the first lap on. I noticed I was really having to stay on top of my hydration,” Huff said. “I felt it was imperative to have the ice socks every lap to help keep our cores just a little cooler.”

His determination overcame the pain O’Fallon’s heat was inflicting. As he glanced over his shoulder and heard the crowd yell his name, Huff found the strength to stand up and sprint up the steep 200 meters to the finish to grab third place on the podium.

“The race should not have been as painful as it was,” he added. “But that’s what happens when you have a really strong field giving it their all!”

-Molly Saunders

PR Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team