Fresh from competition at the San Dimas Stage Race, Jelly Belly p/b Kenda will take on the competition at the Redlands Bicycle Classic.
Team director Danny Van Haute is bringing his best veteran riders to the four-day stage race.
“I’m looking for big results there – podium finishes,” he said.
The race opens Thursday with a 4.8-mile time trial that is flat until the last 400 meters when riders will battle up a steep hill.
Friday is a 120-mile road race, followed by a criterium on Saturday and ending with an 85-mile road race on Sunday.
“It’ll be another test for us to see where we’re at,” he said. “Hopefully everybody’s in good racing condition and ready to win some races.”
It’s also a warmup for the Tour of Korea, which is two weeks later, and then the Amgen Tour of California, the biggest stage race in the U.S.
In the hunt for Jelly Belly p/b Kenda at Redlands will be Bernard van Ulden, Brad Huff, Sean Mazich, Nic Hamilton, Alex Hagman, Ken Hanson, Sergio Hernandez and Alastair Loutit.
Veteran Jelly Belly rider Jeremy Powers won’t be with the team just yet, as he is being given more time to train at home after a long season last year, first with Jelly Belly then as a professional cyclocross racer.
He will begin racing for Jelly Belly in April, Van Haute said.
For Redlands, Van Haute said he’s delighted to be returning to the home of the Rubio family, which has hosted the Jelly Belly team for the past 12 years.
They open their home to the riders and staff for 10 days between the start of San Dimas and the end of Redlands.
“That’s our home away from home for those 10 days,” Van Haute said. “It’s great.”
2011 News
Jelly Belly p/b Kenda will be in the hunt at Redlands
