February 17, 2010 (Oxnard, CA) – Welcome to Kelly Benefit Strategies’ third pro cycling “winter” camp in Oxnard, California, just west of the best cycling in southern California where the sand and Santa Ynez mountain range sandwiches its citizens with palm trees and probably too many UV rays.

This is bonding California-style, where pro cycling teams take a different tack than some Euro counterparts, unless hunting for game and starting fires in the snow to survive is akin to throwing Frisbees in flipflops while wolfing down BBQ veggie burgers at the beachouse.

KBS title sponsor owner, John Kelly, thinks his Cali-version creates tighter cohesion. Kelly, a savvy, passionate speaker, has gambled on cycling as his way of not only giving back, but to put the gospel of his father’s business legacy on the front burner for business. He is the sparkplug behind this team in its 4th season, and with some new partners and sponsors, the 2010 KBS team is gaining generous dividends both on the track – enter Canadian Zach Bell – and road.

From a thriving family-owned business to more partners and sponsors like Clif bar, Mavic wheels and Lazer helmets (among others), it’s not surprising that Kelly is a team player, hammering his credo that it’s about team work – even thanking the cyclists for being on his team. KBS is just as passionate about contributing outside the cycling world, giving money and sending riders to Africa for the World Bicycle Relief Fund – click here to see what you can do to help others change their lives with a $134 bike. “We have to think beyond the cycling world and leave something behind us that matters,” says Kelly.

KBS Performance Director Jonas Carney, a former pro cyclist who began tapping into Canadian talents years ago, hand picks each rider to form a team not based on “one superstar” but with a loaded deck, flush with depth. “A few years back, I was looking at riders that many people weren’t familiar with including Canadians but I knew had talent. Sometimes I rely on information from top Canadian rider Svein Tuft or Kevin Cunningham [co-owner of former Symmetrics Cycling], to help me find talented Canadians, who, like Ryan (Anderson), was under the radar”.

Jonas’ philosophy reflects the team: “I’m not interested in centering this team around any superstar, I really enjoyed being on a team where we had lots of weapons, not working for the same guys all the time. The atmosphere we create is tough, but we have eight riders who can win at some point in the season since we have great sprinters, time trialists, climbers, and all-around riders who can win in a break. We had success last year doing that, not just with one guy – but key is that we take chances, so instead of going for 3rd or 5th all the time, we go to win. Sometimes we fall short as you get caught going out too soon or possibly crash on the last corner, but it’s our strategy to take good risks, whether its against the Pro tour teams or not.”

The Tour of California, Philadelphia and Missouri are the big races for KBS this season. In the past, the team had some difficulties preparing for early season races but this year KBS will already have five events including some 6-10 day stage races (most of them overseas), under their belt. They’ll be coming back to the ToC – moved to May from February – with full expectations of doing some damage.

On KBS 2010 goals Jonas confirmed, “On the right day any of our guys can win; when we win a prologue we have options, and the harder races like Tour de Beauce, with only 6-man rosters, are to our advantage with our depth. Though we won it last year, we’re not sure we’ll be there this year, as its going to be a busy early season in 2010.”

For Canada’s Bell, it’s the transparency factor, “At the end of the year they asked us what we needed rather than telling us ‘this is what you’re going to do next year’. This makes for a really different chemistry between the riders (and the management).”

Bell, on being a former wrestler: “Advantages? I’ve got better bone density (laughing) – I can fall and protect myself better than most guys.” And peaking too soon? “No, I feel good, and there’s always some kind of job I can do if I’m not feeling good, we share the goals and we have a lot more early season ones (Tour of Lankawi); it’s a good year to have good form early in the season, and hopefully I can put that to good use for Kelly Benefit Strategies. We’ll try to do our damage at the UCI races and circuits so we can move up, but of course, and we’ll be going hard on the NRC races.”

David Veilleux’s 2010 forecast reflects his surroundings – a sunny and hot season. “It’s true, we have more fun than any team and that’s a big reason we support each other more than out of any obligation, but we switch on the serious when it’s race time.”

Anderson, who proved himself in the 2009 season commented, “I gotta second chance being recruited by Jonas after Symmetrics folded, and fortunately my year went well. I want to try to get a spot for the Pro Tour races in Canada and at the Nationals. Both will be really competitive, but this year I want to bring it up a notch, maybe in Singapore coming up.”

They both agreed with Bell’s take: “We don’t necessarily have the strongest guys in the race but we have the strongest unit. Watching each other win a race last year was great, and it was always seen as a team victory. What makes this team stand out is that even when one rider has a bad day he knows it’s not because we didn’t do our jobs. So it’s one less thing to deal with after the race, and it makes it much easier to do well the next day.”

Bell will return to his hometown for the 2010 Winter Olympics to help raise the Canadian spirit and profile, hinting on various appearances, while training for the Track World Championships in Copenhagen in late March: “It’ll be fun to be at the Olympics again, this time being an active supporter, trading stories with them. Then the Tour of Lankawi which will help a lot to get me in better form for Copenhagen.”