After riding 120 km from Inverloch to Warragul, Bernard Van Ulden of the Jelly Belly Team lost the KOM jersey by a mere two points. And that’s not all the team lost.
At the end of Stage Two of Australia’s 2008 Sun Tour, the Jelly Belly Team has only four out of seven riders left. Time cuts and health problems have forced three members of the team to call it quits with four stages to go.
But Team Director Danny Van Haute said it’s not all bad. One of the best things about cycling is the energy from the fans, and Jelly Belly fans can be found all over the world.
“It’s really amazing actually,” Van Haute said. “We drive official Lexus vehicles all decked out in Jelly Belly beans in the states. But over here we have a car from the race promoter with maybe eight stickers on it, yet we still constantly hear, ‘Go Jelly Belly!’ We have fans everywhere, even in Australia.”
Two other Jelly Belly Team sponsors, GT and Champion Systems, are helping to spread the Jelly Belly word at the race expo. At their company booths they are handing out the coveted team post cards and samples of Jelly Belly beans to fans of all ages.
Stage Three from Warragul to Marysville will cover more than 135 km of forests and farmlands. This stage includes the first long climb out of the tour and a long technical descent into Marysville.
By Molly Saunders

Australia’s oldest stage race, the 57th Annual Jayco-Herald Sun Tour, began Sunday in Traralgon, Australia. At only 45 km, this 2.1 km prologue street-circuit was a fast and furious beginning to what looks to be an exciting week ahead.
The Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team is one of only three teams – out of 15 – representing the United States in the tour this year. Although Team Director Danny Van Haute said this was not the best day for the team, the results did not count toward the overall standings and tomorrow’s 130 km route offers the team a chance at a stage win.
“Tomorrow our goal is to be aggressive and lead all day long,” Van Haute said. “If (near the finish) it comes down to a field sprint, we will lead out Brad (Huff) or Nic (Sanderson).”
Riding alongside Nick Reistad, Bernard Van Ulden, Brad Huff and Scott Tietzel, are two Australian natives: Matty Rice and Nic Sanderson. However, Van Haute said having two riders familiar with the territory doesn’t change the dynamic of the race.
8 0This race is no different than any other race,” he said. “We still need to win as a team.”
Tomorrow’s stage begins in Traralgon and passes through 130 km of countryside ending in the seaside town of Inverloch.

By Molly Saunders
PR Jelly Belly Cycling Team

Australia’s oldest stage race, the 57th Annual Jayco-Herald Sun Tour, began Sunday in Traralgon, Australia. At only 45 km, this 2.1 km prologue street-circuit was a fast and furious beginning to what looks to be an exciting week ahead.
The Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team is one of only three teams – out of 15 – representing the United States in the tour this year. Although Team Director Danny Van Haute said this was not the best day for the team, the results did not count toward the overall standings and tomorrow’s 130 km route offers the team a chance at a stage win.
“Tomorrow our goal is to be aggressive and lead all day long,” Van Haute said. “If (near the finish) it comes down to a field sprint, we will lead out Brad (Huff) or Nic (Sanderson).”
Riding alongside Nick Reistad, Bernard Van Ulden, Brad Huff and Scott Tietzel, are two Australian natives: Matty Rice and Nic Sanderson. However, Van Haute said having two riders familiar with the territory doesn’t change the dynamic of the race.
“This race is no different than any other race,” he said. “We still need to win as a team.”
Tomorrow’s stage begins in Traralgon and passes through 130 km of countryside ending in the seaside town of Inverloch.
By Molly Saunders

Colorado Springs, Colo. (October 1, 2008)—Following a special election to determine the two athlete representatives on the USPRO Board of Trustees, USA Cycling announced today that Nicholas Reistad (Athens, Ga.) and Will Frischkorn (Boulder, Colo.) have won the two open seats. Reistad was also elected to the USA Cycling Board of Directors as the Athlete Director representing USPRO. MORE->

Danny,

It was another good season working with Team Jelly Belly. You put together a solid group of athletes with good character. The team may not have scored a lot of wins at the races, but I have to say they are the BEST team out there for the sponsors. I watch these guys sign tons of autographs, pose for pictures and generally talk with the fans who come out before and after races. Not once have I heard them complain about it. In Missouri, when the groups of kids came out, they were ready to jump in the middle and interact with all the kids. I hope the sponsors know how great they are.

Thank you for inviting me to be a part of the team this year. Good luck in your next two races. I hope the team brings home some wins.

Barry