After the team’s first day in the saddle for the 2009 Tour of Missouri, it’s guaranteed that St. Louisans know the Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team. Stage One led the peloton around a seven mile circuit race through some of St. Louis’ most popular areas, including a spin around Lafayette Square, which was also featured in St. Louis’ Gateway Classic on Friday.
After getting off to a slow start, Jelly Belly’s Jeremy Powers decided to shake things up a bit by breaking off the front with Frank Pipp of Bissell. This initial effort was not enough however, and after the first lap the two man break was consumed by the peloton. For the next seven laps a strong three man break contested the pack but did not have enough power to hold out against the strength of the peloton, which reeled it in with two laps to go.
Just when fans thought it was over, Jelly Belly rider Matt Crane found the strength to pull ahead by himself. It took all he had to stay ahead but it proved to spectators that Jelly Belly is not a team to underestimate.
“It hurts being out there by yourself,” he said. “Especially when you’re just putting your head down and going as hard as you can. You just try and stay out there as long as possible.”
Content with its effort in the initial stage, the Jelly Belly squad will try to surprise the peloton again tomorrow in the hills of south-eastern Missouri. Stage Two is a 112 mile route from Ste. Genevieve to the town of Cape Girardeau.
-Molly Saunders
Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team PR
