Jelly Belly p/b Kenda made a big splash at several events over the weekend, on and off the bike.
On Saturday, Napa River Velo, the Focus Bicycles dealer in Napa, hosted a shop ride with 30 customers of the shop. Jelly Belly p/b Kenda riders Bernard Van Ulden, Alastair Loutit and Sergio Hernandez joined the pack on the 60-mile ride.
Following the ride, team director Danny Van Haute made an appearance at Peerless Coffee & Tea, handing out Jelly Belly candy from the team bus.
Brad Huff grabbed a huge victory at the Dana Point Grand Prix on Sunday. With teammates Sean Mazich, Will Dickeson and Ken Hanson behind him, Huff shot ahead of a late breakaway and rode home with the win.
Also Sunday, Van Haute joined his riders in the Napa Valley Tour de Cure, a fundraising event to benefit the American Diabetes Association. Van Haute hopped on the 25-mile ride, while Hernandez, van Ulden and Loutit pedaled for 50 miles. The team’s car took prominent spot at the finish line where 2,500 fans were gathered.
And on Monday, Van Haute and the riders hit the links for the 21st Annual Jelly Belly Celebrity Golf Tournament. The event featured 35 sports celebrities and benefitted four child-oriented charities: The Okizu Foundation, Mission Solano, River Oaks Center for Children and the Salvation Army Kroc Center in Suisun City, Calif.
The Jelly Belly riders interacted with fans on the Ninth Hole, talking about Sport Beans and their Focus bicycles and handing out autographed water bottles. Focus donated a bike which was auctioned off, raising $1,200 for the charities.
“We love to do things like this for our sponsors,” Van Haute said. “It benefits all of us.”
Next up for the team is the Amgen Tour of California, the biggest stage race in the U.S. It kicks off May 15 in Lake Tahoe.
[Photo: Sergio Hernandez shows off former Oakland Raiders great Larry Schreiber's Super Bowl and college rings.]
