February 13, 2007 (Minneapolis, Min.) — The Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast pro cycling team, fresh from its first competitive race in its first season, today announces plans to go international. After a strong finish in the Tour of the Bahamas, the team will quickly follow the season’s start by sending squads to race in South Africa and Ireland.

“We’re pleased with our result in the Bahamas,” says Jonas Carney, team performance director. “It was a good way to warm up for the season and to test the way the guys work together. Judging from this first race, we’re looking at a highly motivated season and we want to race against the best competition there is — so that means competing both domestically and on the international stage.”

In the team’s first outing in the Bahamas, Martin Gilbert took 2nd place in Stage two, third place in Stage 3, and was the Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast team’s top finisher, placing 6th overall in the Tour.

March sees the Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast team participating in the Tour of MALOTI against competitors from UCI pro continental teams from Austria and Germany plus the United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Australia and South Africa. The ten-day stage race opens March 17, starting and finishing in Bloemfontein in the Free State South Africa. Racing a total of almost 1,400 kilometers the tour includes 10,000 feet climbs and a 70 km stage three time trial.

“The well organized Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast pro team is looking at a terrific first year and is ready to travel to show their professionalism,” says George Schoonraad, organizer of the tour.
“They’re taking pro cycling seriously and that will only be an advantage to have on The MALOTI Tour. We hope to see them achieving good results in South Africa and throughout the 2007 season.”

Two months later the Kelly Benefits Strategies/Medifast team races in Ireland in the 54-year old FBD RÁS, the world-ranked, eight-day, 1,200-kilometer stage race from Naas to Templemore in the Republic of Eire. With an anticiptated field of 150 riders from around the world, the race includes 20 King of the Mountain climbs and a 174-kilometer final stage road race.

“We invited the team to join the race this year because we have a lot of respect for the roster of riders Jonas Carney has put together,” says Dermot Dignam, of the FBD RÁS organizer’s office. “The Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast team is going to be a serious contender in the 2007 season wherever they race.”

“Ireland will be an excellent event to get our athletes in shape and conditioned for some of the bigger US races in June including Philadelphia,” adds Carney. “We’re looking at a tough, eight day stage race with big climbs and a lot of potential for stiff crosswinds and rain. But we’ll be ready.”

The Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast team is managed by Circuit Global Sports Management.

Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast Tour of Bahamas Results

Stage 1: Reid Mumford (USA): 14
Martin Gilbert (CAM): 18
Stage 2: Martin Gilbert (CAN): 2
Stage 3: Martin Gilbert (CAN): 3
Final GC: Martin Gilbert (CAN): 6 (5:29:41)