By Molly Saunders
The Second Stage of the Tour Tuesday allowed the Jelly Belly Team to protect its best sprinter, Brad Huff
Beginning in Clinton, Mo., the teams rode south, gracefully conquering more than 120 miles of Missouri’s rolling hills before ending in Springfield, Mo. Thanks to team work and careful planning, Springfield native Huff came away with a 6th place finish.
“We really did have a plan to help out Brad Huff,” said Matty Rice, who placed 7th in Stage 5 at last year’s Tour of Missouri. “He is really one of the best sprinter’s in the country, and everything just has to go perfectly to get a first place finish.”
To their advantage, most members of the team rode the same hills on Stage Two last year, which Rice said may have been beneficial for them.
Knowing what to anticipate can help riders be better prepared for the next day’s stage, as well. Rice explained what his plan was for Wednesday’s Branson’s 17 mile time trial.
“I just have to survive,” he said. “For me, it’s a really hard time trial because it’s hard for me to find a good rhythm and stick to it. But I know that’s what I’ve got to do so I don’t fall too far back in the standings.”
The youngest and newest member of the team, 22-year-old Kiel Reijnen, crashed in the last two miles of the stage, but was unhurt, finished the race, and plans to race with the team for the rest of the week.
