Jeremy Powers won his first ever yellow jersey on the road in the Green Mountain Stage Race near Burlington, Vt., this weekend.
His victory was among several dominant results posted by Jelly Belly riders heading into next week’s national road and time trial championships in Greenville, S.C.
Powers is a frequent winner in cyclocross competition, but he had never won yellow on the road in seven years as a pro.
He put himself in contention in the opening time trial, then held onto his place in the circuit race on stage two.
Powers said he had to fight hard in stage three’s road race, which “was 75 miles but rode like a hundred.”
By the time of the final day’s criterium, his victory was all but sealed.
“I just defended and didn’t let any of the guys go up the road,” Powers said. “It was sweet.”
His teammates, in the meantime, were climbing up podiums of their own.
Sergio Hernandez, Jelly Belly p/b Kenda’s newest addition, claimed two victories, running first in the San Clemente Crit and first in the Giro De San Francisco. Bernard Van Ulden was fourth in the Giro.
Will Dickeson won the Adelaide Cycling Club Time Trial Championships in Australia, and Brad Huff was third in stage one of the Gateway Cup in St. Louis.
Will Routley, the 2010 Canadian National Champion, also rode at Green Mountain, getting in the first breakaway during Sunday’s third stage.
It’s all great timing for the season’s final race in the U.S.
“The bottom line is that anybody on the team can win next week in Greenville,” said Jelly Belly p/b Kenda team director Danny Van Haute. “We are definitely going to nationals to win.”
Powers said he and his teammates are primed.
“We have a great team,” he said. “Everyone’s been training real hard. We’ve got a lot of cards to play.”
