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(April 3, 2008)
Report filed by Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast Pro Cycling

Minneapolis, Min – When Andrew Bajadali returns to the Redlands Classic this week, the scene of his decisive 2007 win, he’ll have the support of one of the strongest lineups the Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast pro cycling team has ever fielded.
“It’s nice to come back to Redlands with the defending champ in Bajadali,” says Jonas Carney, performance director for the Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast squad. “It brings a lot of confidence to the team. Our guys will do everything they can to make this a repeat performance but we have a lot of guys on the ground here in California and plenty of options. Things are starting to click this season and it’ll be very cool to see how that confidence pays off.”

Chief among the Redlands hopefuls are Reid Mumford, Alex Candelario, Dan Bowman, Keven Lacombe and Martin Gilbert. Mumford clocked an impressive time two weeks ago at the Sequoia Classic in Visalia, snatching a third place podium in the time trial. Candelario has won the criterium at Redlands in the past and played a pivotal role in Bajadali’s overall victory last year by driving the winning break on the Sunset Loop. Bowman, who poses a solid GC threat, finished seventh overall in 2007, and Keven Lacombe, one of the fastest riders in this season’s lineup, returns fully recovered from a run in with the rear windshield of the CSC team car at the Tour of California in February. Martin Gilbert, who won the 2007 USPRO Criterium Championships, also returns to the KBS lineup fresh from the World Track Championships and adds to the teams sprinting threat.

“Everyone is finally healthy and ready to rumble,” adds Carney. “The guys have worked out some minor kinks from the season start and are ready to go. We’ll be looking for Baj on the podium if at all possible, but our squad is way more than a one man team.”

The full Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast Redlands Classic 2008 roster includes:

Andrew Bajadali (USA)
Dan Bowman (USA)
Alex Candelario (USA)
Martin Gilbert (CAN)
Keven Lacombe (CAN)
Reid Mumford (USA)
Justin Spinelli (USA)
David Veilleux (CAN)

For additional information regarding the Team, please visit Circuit Global Sport Management www.circuitsport.com