Hossein Askari of Tabrz Petrochemical won the yellow jersey with Radoslav Rogina of Loborika in second.

On the first sprint, three laps into the 66-km stage, Jelly Belly riders Bernard van Ulden and Sean Mazich led out Reijnen. Mazich ran second and Reijnen won, giving him a two-second advantage over Mitja Mahoric of Slovenia, who started the day in third place.

“I got on the radios with the guys and said, ‘let’s seal this up and go for the next sprint,’” said team director Danny Van Haute. “And the boys helped Kiel win the next sprint.”

That gave Reijnen a four-second margin – good for third place in the final standings.

“I’m very pleased with the performance of Kiel and the Jelly Belly p/b Kenda riders,” Van Haute said. “They did an outstanding job. It wasn’t easy.”

[Photo courtesy cyclingnewsasia.com]

Hossein Askari of Tabriz Petrochemical remains in the tour lead, 44 seconds ahead of Radoslav Rogina of Loborika. Reijnen is another 41 seconds back.

The competition could reach its pinnacle in a grueling Stage 8 on Saturday which includes a Category 2 and — toughest of all — an hors categorie climb.

“I know the team will keep Kiel on the podium come Sunday,” said Jelly Belly team director Danny Van Haute.

[Photo courtesy cyclingnewsasia.com]

Reijnen is 41 seconds behind leader Radoslav Rogina of Loborika with four stages to go.

Reijnen was ecstatic to take over the green jersey, but Jelly Belly team director Danny Van Haute made the team’s overall goal clear: ensuring Reijnen is the podium.

“We want to keep this more than the jersey,” Van Haute said.

Reijnen took second place in Stage 1 and has fought each day to hold onto his spot at the front. He currently sits 44 seconds behind Radoslav Rogina of Loborika in the yellow jersey.

Jelly Belly’s Will Dickeson and Jonathan Chodroff got sick on the first stage and couldn’t start the next day due to the flu.

That leaves three teammates riding in support of Reijnen with six stages to go in China.

“The good news is the that Jelly Belly p/b Kenda is riding very well in support of Kiel,” said team director Danny Van Haute. “We will do all we can to keep Kiel in the top three.”

[Photo courtesy cyclingnewsasia.com]

Fellow Jelly Belly rider Brad Huff will also be on hand for the inaugural ‘Grand Fundo.’

In the cycling world, a gran fondo is a massive group ride/race, which can attract thousands of riders of all ability levels. It is not surprising to see tourist riders alongside local and international professionals at the world’s various gran fondo events.

The name Grand Fundo was chosen because it will be grand and more fun than any gran fondo, Powers said.

The Fundo is 64 miles, including about 20 miles of dirt roads. No rider will be left behind. An ice cream truck will await the riders at a rest stop at mile 32, and SRAM neutral support will provide a follow car with wheels.

After the Fundo, riders will relax for music, a bonfire and a pig roast. 

 The 2010 Grand Fundo will be the first of many events to support J.A.M — a fund created by cycling friends Jeremy Powers, Alec Donahue and Mukunda Feldman whose mission is to help young cyclists get a start in the expensive and competitive world of cycling.  

To register, visit: www.tinyurl.com/grandfundo2010. Thursday is the last day to pre-register.

Will Dickeson, Kiel Reijnen, Jonathan Chodroff, Bernard van Ulden, Anthony Colby and Sean Mazich will represent Jelly Belly p/b Kenda in the race July 16-25.

This is the team’s fourth year participating in Qinghai, home to the headwaters of the Yellow River. The race covers more than 1,500 kilometers, reaching a top altitude of 12,700 feet.

Jelly Belly riders have posted several top 10 stage finishes in years past but have come up short in the overall.

“This year the team has been training up in the mountains of Colorado, and I think the outcome will be very good,” said team director Danny Van Haute.