July 28, 2009 (Minneapolis, Min.) – The Kelly Benefit Strategies pro team can’t ask for any better momentum going into this weekend’s upcoming Tour of Elk Grove and David Veilleux’s defense of his 2008 win. Fresh off the plane from Mexico’s Pan Am Championships last week, Veilleux rejoined his KBS teammates to win the most prestigious stage of Superweek: the Great Downer Avenue Bike Race, only days after Andrew Bajadali solo’d the last three laps to take the Cedarburg stage. Read more about Veilleux’s 2008 win here.

“We came to Superweek to prep the team for the Chicago Criterium, Tour of Elk Grove, Charlotte and the USPRO Criterium,” says performance director, Jonas Carney. “But our guys can’t help competing all out. We came with the goal of winning the Downer Avenue Bike Race, so it was a great bonus when Baj solo’d the Cedarburg Stage. With this kind of racing, we are more than ready for the upcoming events.”

Veilleux spent most of the day out in front, first in a three-man break that stayed off the front for 20 laps and then in a break of 13 riders that also included KBS teammate Neil Shirley. The break eventually split with Veilleux and six other riders lapping the field and the remaining riders being caught by the field. The squad immediately took the front to control the race and protect Veilleux’s position with Neil Shirley abandoning the remnants of the break to drove the front with Bajadali and Dan Bowman for fifteen laps. Alex Candelario and Jake Keough then executed the leadout for Veilleux. Keough won the field sprint and Veilleux came in second, taking the win ahead of his breakaway partners.

Veilleux and the rest of the KBS pro team head to the Tour of Elk Grove, starting this Friday July 31.

Kelly Benefit Strategies Tour of Elk Grove Roster

– Alex Candelario
– Andrew Bajadali
– Reid Mumford
– David Veilleux
– Zach Bell
– Ryan Anderson
– Scott Zwizanski
– Neil Shirley