PHILADELPHIA — Mike Friedman’s 11th place finish capped a courageous effort by Jelly Belly p/b Kenda in the Philadelphia International Cycling Championship on Sunday.
Jelly Belly put a man in every breakaway, and Will Routley led the race for three laps on the 14-mile course, good for second place in the King of the Mountains competition and second in the sprint.
“Everyone gave everything they have,” Friedman said. “It was an amazing day.”
With half the team competing in the Tulsa Tough, just four Jelly Belly riders traveled to Philadelphia. They had to attack at every opportunity.
Kiel Reijnen did the work early on, helping Routley save his legs. Bernard van Ulden was the support for Friedman.
“Bernard did a great job keeping him out of the wind, getting bottles for him, getting ice packs for him,” team director Danny Van Haute said.
Coming into the final loop, Friedman’s legs were cramping. With 500 meters to go and a headwind, he dug deep and found a gap, speeding to the finish line near the front with a chance at the win.
HTC-Columbia sprinter Matthew Goss won the overall.
“It was so cloe to being a win for our team,” Friedman said.
Said Van Haute: “He took a chance and I applaud him for that.”
Van Haute, who watched the race on TV with the rest of his team in Tulsa, said the Philly riders succeeded because they executed the plan for the race.
“It just went exactly how we talked about,” he said. ”It’s just amazing how the boys can work together.”
