Fred “Fast Freddie” Rodriguez lived up to his name, outsprinting the field in Chattanooga, Tenn., to win the U.S. Professional Road Race Championship.
It was Rodriguez’s fourth national championship and the second for Jelly Belly p/b Kenda. In 2004, Jonas Carney won the criterium championship while riding for the Bean Team.
“This was a huge win for our team,” said Jelly Belly p/b Kenda director Danny Van Haute. “We made a plan and it worked. Everybody had a job to do and they did it.”
In the time trial championship, Ian Burnett placed 11th and Ben Wolfe — at just 19 years old — finished 15th.
“Both riders rode their best. This was the first time in team history that we placed two riders in the top 15,” Van Haute said.
In the road race, Rodriguez battled over Lookout Mountain and fended off a late challenge from Phil Gaimon of Bissell to win the championship in a thrilling field sprint.
Said Van Haute: “I am so proud of Freddie, the team and the organization.”