The Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast team wraps a successful 2008 season this coming weekend with a return to France, where the squad will race the Criterium de Levallois, just outside of Paris on October 19. The race marks the second outing in France this year, with KBS/M finishing second in the Tour des Pyrenees in August where they also took first on points.

“Returning to France is a perfect way to close out a very successful, busy season,” says Jonas Carney, performance director, Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast. “We had a great first trip this summer at the Tour des Pyrenees coming first in the overall points classification and we’re hoping to bring a similar success home this time. It’s a fantastic race and a strong international field.”

KBS/M will field a four-man squad for the 108 km Criterium de Levallois, which starts outside of Paris. Now in its 11th year, the race attracts a top field of 80 riders from across Europe. In addition to the Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast team, squads will compete from Italy, Spain, Luxembourg, Russia and from France’s top racing clubs Marseilles and Dijon.

The team’s roster includes Reid Mumford, Jonny Sundt, Jake Keogh and David Veilleux, winner of the Tour of Pennsylvania, the Tour of Elk Grove, the Kelly Cup and a string of podium placements throughout the 2008 season.

“Europe is a big target in our cross hairs for 2009,” adds Carney. “We’ve progressed as a program to the point where we will, of course, continue to compete in the top domestic races, but to really develop and build our team, we will want to go head to head with the international programs. It’s the best way to take our program to the next level.”

Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast Criterium de Levallois Roster

Reid Mumford

Jonny Sundt

Jake Keogh

David Veilleux

The Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast pro cycling team is managed out of Minneapolis by Circuit Global Sport Management.