April 9, 2009 – The Kelly Benefit Strategies Tour of Thailand squad kept it in the family today, switching the leader’s yellow jersey from Jake Erker, who has dominated the race all week, to Andrew “Baj” Bajadali. With one stage left to go tomorrow, April 9, KBS leads on the team GC and has riders in four of the top five positions on the general classification.

Going into stage five, the Kelly Benefit Strategies team was tied for first. Bajadali broke away in a group of 18 riders that gained seven minutes on the field in the early part of the race. That lead got whittled down to less than two minutes but Baj successfully controlled the competition in the break to move into the yellow jersey for the final stage, tomorrow. Other KBS riders lost a couple of GC placements but the team overall now leads by 30 seconds going into the final stage.

“Everything went according to plan today, says Jonas Carney, Performance Director. “We didn’t want to enter the final day tied for first place. There are too many things that can happen, especially with the time bonuses that are available tomorrow. I would have liked to have seen Erker keep the jersey until the end, because he has really earned it this week, but we needed to play it safe.”

The team enters the final stage tomorrow, the 76km circuit race in Udon Thani with Bajadali first, Erker fourth, Zach Bell sixth and Dan Bowman seventh on the GC. Bell is second in the points classification, one point behind the Seoul Cycling team.

The KBS Thailand team success happens at the same time that Reid Mumford leads the field in the Vuelta Ciclista del Uruguay, in which Kelly Benefit Strategies has won four stages in a row.

“This has been a challenging but incredibly rewarding week for our program,” says Charles Aaron, Managing Director, Circuit Global Sport Management. “Competing, let alone winning, on two continents at the same time is logistically difficult. But we’re thrilled to see the hard work pay off for our guys and are looking forward to getting back to racing on domestic soil.”

The Kelly Benefit Strategies pro cycling team is managed out of Minneapolis by Charles Aaron’s Circuit Global Sport Management.

Results

1. James Spragg (GBr) Trek-Marco Polo 4:31:27
2. Hayato Yoshida (Jpn) Japan National Team
3. Phuchong Sai-Udomsin (Tha) Royal Thai Air Force
4. Wang Yip Tang (HKg) Mongolian China Team
5. Bradeley Hall (Aus) Tincli Colossi
6. Andrew J. Bajadali (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies
7. Ki Hong Yoo (Kor) Seoul Cycling Team
8. Gang Xu (Chn) Max Success Sports
9. Zargari Amir (Irn) Azad University Iran
10. Yuzuru Suzuki (Jpn) Shimano Racing Team
11. Tumurbaatar Ochirbaatar (Mgl) Mongolian National Team
12. Yan Dong Xing (Chn) Trek-Marco Polo
13. Elliott Wells (Aus) Team Plan B Racing
14. Jonathan Lovelock (Aus) Team Plan B Racing
15. Kazushige Kuboki (Jpn) Japan National Team
16. Okart Bualoi (Tha) Royal Thai Navy
17. Adam James Semple (Aus) Team Plan B Racing
18. Nick Aitken (Aus) City of Perth Cycling Team 0:05
19. Nathan Dahlberg (NZl) Tincli Colossi 0:06
20. Dong Hyun Shin (Kor) Sosfo 1:42
21. Rodger Shem (NZl) City of Perth Cycling Team
22. Kam Po Wong (HKg) Mongolian China Team
23. Naran Khangarid (Mgl) Mongolian National Team
24. Ming Xing Xue (Chn) Max Success Sports
25. Hyo Suk Gong (Kor) Seoul Cycling Team
26. Jae Wan Jung (Kor) Sosfo
27. Kohei Uchima (Jpn) Japan National Team
28. Nguyen Hung Mai (Vie) Vietnam National Team
29. Luke Hardy (Aus) City of Perth Cycling Team
30. Lei Sun (Chn) Max Success Sports
31. Zachary Bell (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies
32. Xiaoyong Dong (Chn) Qinghai Tianyoude Cycling Team
33. Jacob P. Erker (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies
34. Guo Hui (Chn) Max Success Sports
35. Li Yao Chiang (Tpe) Team Fuji Asia
36. Seon Ho Park (Kor) Seoul Cycling Team
37. Tuan Anh Do (Vie) Vietnam National Team
38. Peerapol Chawchiangkwang (Tha) Royal Thai Air Force
39. Michael Freiberg (Aus) City of Perth Cycling Team
40. Natthapon Jeebthaworn (Tha) Thailand National Team
41. Prajak Mahawong (Tha) Thailand National Team
42. Hassan Suhardi (Mas) Malaysian National Team
43. Kui Wei (Chn) Qinghai Tianyoude Cycling Team
44. Timo Scholz (Ger) Ijsselstreek
45. Daniel R. Bowman (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies
46. Lex Nederlof (Tha) Ijsselstreek
47. Kazuki Aoyanagi (Jpn) Japan National Team
48. Yoshimitsu Hiratsuka (Jpn) Japan National Team
49. Phanuphan Koolrungruengkit (Tha) Royal Thai Air Force
50. Eugen Wacker (Kgz) Azad University Iran
51. Seree Ruangsiri (Tha) Royal Thai Navy
52. Chun Hing Chan (HKg) Mongolian China Team
53. Yoshinori Iino (Jpn) Shimano Racing Team
54. Nateghi Hossein (Irn) Azad University Iran
55. Tomoya Kano (Jpn) Shimano Racing Team
56. Eric Van de Meent (Ned) Trek-Marco Polo
57. John Krondorg Ebsen (Den) Team Stenca Trading
58. Kin San Wu (HKg) Mongolian China Team
59. Yu Jian Zhao (Chn) Max Success Sports
60. Muhammad Rauf Nur Misbah (Mas) Malaysian National Team
61. James Langedyk (Aus) Tincli Colossi
62. Ekachai Tawornlumlerd (Tha) Royal Thai Air Force
63. Ji Hun Yu (Kor) Sosfo
64. Van Tai Nguyen (Vie) Vietnam National Team
65. Nell B. Shirley (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies
66. Saeidi Tanha Abbas (Irn) Azad University Iran
67. Michael Naylor (NZl) Tincli Colossi
68. Soren B.Petersen (Den) Team Stenca Trading
69. Andersen Danielvestergaaed (Den) Team Stenca Trading
70. Thomas Berlivet (Kgz) Team Fuji Asia
71. Montri Chomphuwiset (Tha) Royal Thai Air Force
72. A. Fallanie Ali (Mas) Malaysian National Team
73. Gu Hyeon Kim (Kor) Seoul Cycling Team

GC after Stage 5

1. Andrew J. Bajadali (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies 20:36:34
2. Phuchong Sai-Udomsin (Tha) Royal Thai Air Force 0:28
3. Jonathan Lovelock (Aus) Team Plan B Racing 0:40
4. Hyo Suk Gong (Kor) Seoul Cycling Team 1:22
5. Jacob P. Erker (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies
6. Zachary Bell (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies 2:02
7. Daniel R. Bowman (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies 2:15
8. Prajak Mahawong (Tha) Thailand National Team 2:18
9. Yoshimitsu Hiratsuka (Jpn) Japan National Team
10. Timo Scholz (Ger) Ijsselstreek 2:34
11. Bradeley Hall (Aus) Tincli Colossi 2:52
12. Ki Hong Yoo (Kor) Seoul Cycling Team 5:14
13. Gang Xu (Chn) Max Success Sports
14. Yan Dong Xing (Chn) Trek-Marco Polo 5:30
15. Lex Nederlof (Tha) Ijsselstreek 5:31
16. Soren B.Petersen (Den) Team Stenca Trading 5:32
17. Gu Hyeon Kim (Kor) Seoul Cycling Team 5:52
18. Kohei Uchima (Jpn) Japan National Team 6:00
19. Lei Sun (Chn) Max Success Sports 6:04
20. Nell B. Shirley (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies 6:31
21. Kam Po Wong (HKg) Mongolian China Team 6:49
22. Tomoya Kano (Jpn) Shimano Racing Team 6:56
23. Guo Hui (Chn) Max Success Sports 7:07
24. Chun Hing Chan (HKg) Mongolian China Team 7:12
25. James Spragg (GBr) Trek-Marco Polo 7:26
26. Adam James Semple (Aus) Team Plan B Racing 9:19
27. Ming Xing Xue (Chn) Max Success Sports 10:10
28. Phanuphan Koolrungruengkit (Tha) Royal Thai Air Force
29. Seree Ruangsiri (Tha) Royal Thai Navy
30. Kin San Wu (HKg) Mongolian China Team 10:15
31. Van Tai Nguyen (Vie) Vietnam National Team 11:36
32. Seok Kyu Suh (Kor) Seoul Cycling Team 11:51
33. Wang Yip Tang (HKg) Mongolian China Team 13:30
34. John Krondorg Ebsen (Den) Team Stenca Trading 13:51
35. Zargari Amir (Irn) Azad University Iran 14:22
36. Yuzuru Suzuki (Jpn) Shimano Racing Team
37. Tumurbaatar Ochirbaatar (Mgl) Mongolian National Team
38. Nick Aitken (Aus) City of Perth Cycling Team 14:29
39. Saeidi Tanha Abbas (Irn) Azad University Iran 15:11
40. Eric Van de Meent (Ned) Trek-Marco Polo 15:36
41. Nateghi Hossein (Irn) Azad University Iran 15:45
42. Kazuki Aoyanagi (Jpn) Japan National Team 16:04
43. Eugen Wacker (Kgz) Azad University Iran
44. Wim Spijkerboer (Tha) Ijsselstreek
45. Jae Wan Jung (Kor) Sosfo 16:23
46. Peerapol Chawchiangkwang (Tha) Royal Thai Air Force 16:41
47. Nguyen Hung Mai (Vie) Vietnam National Team 16:59
48. Seon Ho Park (Kor) Seoul Cycling Team 17:00
49. Dong Hyun Shin (Kor) Sosfo 17:12
50. Rodger Shem (NZl) City of Perth Cycling Team 18:58
51. Xiaoyong Dong (Chn) Qinghai Tianyoude Cycling Team 19:02
52. Thomas Berlivet (Kgz) Team Fuji Asia 19:49
53. Yu Jian Zhao (Chn) Max Success Sports 20:28
54. Okart Bualoi (Tha) Royal Thai Navy 21:32
55. Elliott Wells (Aus) Team Plan B Racing 21:33
56. Natthapon Jeebthaworn (Tha) Thailand National Team 21:34
57. Nathan Dahlberg (NZl) Tincli Colossi 21:39
58. Li Yao Chiang (Tpe) Team Fuji Asia 21:47
59. Ji Hun Yu (Kor) Sosfo
60. Dong Hun Kim (Kor) Sosfo 22:25
61. Jatupoom Lekawat (Tha) Thailand National Team 22:47
62. Kui Wei (Chn) Qinghai Tianyoude Cycling Team 23:15
63. A. Fallanie Ali (Mas) Malaysian National Team
64. Michael Freiberg (Aus) City of Perth Cycling Team 23:18
65. Hayato Yoshida (Jpn) Japan National Team 23:23
66. Tuan Anh Do (Vie) Vietnam National Team 25:15
67. Muhammad Rauf Nur Misbah (Mas) Malaysian National Team
68. Montri Chomphuwiset (Tha) Royal Thai Air Force
69. Takayuki Abe (Jpn) Shimano Racing Team 25:29
70. Luke Hardy (Aus) City of Perth Cycling Team 25:32
71. Naran Khangarid (Mgl) Mongolian National Team 25:57
72. Kazushige Kuboki (Jpn) Japan National Team 28:06
73. David Ayre (NZl) Tincli Colossi 29:23
74. Hassan Suhardi (Mas) Malaysian National Team 30:58
75. Yoshinori Iino (Jpn) Shimano Racing Team
76. Ekachai Tawornlumlerd (Tha) Royal Thai Air Force
77. Ahmad Haidar Anuawar (Mas) Trek-Marco Polo 31:14
78. Genta Nakamura (Jpn) Trek-Marco Polo 32:56
79. Komsan Karnbanchee (Tha) Thailand National Team 34:14
80. Michael Naylor (NZl) Tincli Colossi 35:39
81. James Langedyk (Aus) Tincli Colossi 35:54
82. Pathoumphanh Kengchai (Lao) Laos National Team 38:25
83. Dong Hyun Choi (Kor) Sosfo 42:24
84. Morten larsen (Den) Team Stenca Trading 43:48
85. Andersen Danielvestergaaed (Den) Team Stenca Trading 46:15
86. Ho Ting Kwok (HKg) Mongolian China Team 46:50
87. Piempanya Soulivong (Lao) Laos National Team 48:53
88. Khayankyarvaa Uuganbayar (Mgl) Mongolian National Team 52:02
90. Michael Verheyen (Aus) City of Perth Cycling Team 54:35
91. Dashpuntsag Erdenebayar (Mgl) Mongolian National Team 1:07:05
92. Martin Wuagjorngaard (Den) Team Stenca Trading 1:12:16