March 31, 2009 (Minneapolis, MN) – Right on the heels of the Kelly Benefit Strategies team’s season start at the Redlands Classic, the squad splits this week to tackle two simultaneous races on separate continents. The team will be fielding squads in the 66th Vuelta Ciclista del Uruguay (April 3-12) as well as the Maha Chakri Sirindhon’s Cup — the “Tour of Thailand” (April 4-9).

Zach Bell joins the Thailand-bound line-up direct from the World Track Championships in Poland where he took the Silver Medal in the Omnium this past weekend. He flew directly from Poland to join teammates Andrew Bajadali and Dan Bowman plus new additions Neil Shirley and Jacob Erker.

The Uruguay squad consists of Ryan Anderson, Scott Zwizanski both new to the team this year plus Alex Candelario, Jake Keough, Reid Mumford and Jonny Sundt.

“Increasing our international schedule is a major goal for the KBS program this year,” says Jonas Carney, Performance Director. “We had some of our best results last season while competing overseas and we hope to continue that trend in both Thailand and Uruguay. We’re very excited to be participating in these two great events and know that it will provide good preparation for major upcoming events on the domestic circuit this year.”

In 2008, the KBS team came second overall and first in the overall points classification at Le Tour des Pyrenees in France, took first places in stage six and second in stage seven of Vuelta a Chihuahua, Mexico in 2007 and snatched the Most Aggressive Rider at the Criterium de Levallois in 2008. As well as Uruguay and Thailand, international race plans include a return to France and Mexico in the 2009 season. Both international squads head overseas on the back of a victory in their first race of the season (the Lago Vista road race, San Antonio, TX) and third and fourth places in Sunday’s final stage of the Redlands Classic, where the team also finished third on the overall team general classification.

“This is going to be a terrific season for us,” adds Carney. “Wherever we’re racing — even two races at the same time — we’re confident that we’re sending the strongest athletes we’ve ever fielded and we expect do well. We’re happy Zach Bell is able to join our Thailand squad from his success at the World Championships and are delighted to have him on our squad this year.