Kelly Benefit Strategies boosts support staff ahead of ToC

The 2008 Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast pro cycling team, faced with an already booked full season, announced this week that they have added Ken Mills as Performance Manager.

Mills was Director Sportif for TargeTraining in 2006 and Jittery Joe's-Kalahari for the 2005 race season. He has also been a guest DS for both Navigators Insurance and Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast pro cycling teams in 2007. It was this guest appearance for Carney and him working with the team in Mexico at the Vuelta Chihuahua that secured the full time position on the squad as the season gets underway for 2008.

"We've known and watched Ken's work for some time now," says performance director, Jonas Carney. "I was particularly impressed with Ken's work for us in Mexico last season so it was an easy decision to bring him on board for 2008. He's going to be a terrific resource for the team and really help us race at our best."

Mills, who is based out of San Antonio, Texas will work directly with Carney on all team race logistics, athlete training and race preparation and will begin by working with the team's Tour of California squad.

"I really learned the short hand of the team last season racing with the guys in Mexico," says Mills. "So it's great to come back this year and build on that with a full race calendar out in front of us. Jonas has made some significant new hires for 2008 and we're expecting great things out of the athletes returning. It's going to be an interesting and wildly successful season."

Athletes racing under Carney and Mills' direction include five new athletes to the roster this season: Andrew Bajadali and Alex Candelario, Brian Bucholz, Ben King and David Veilleux of Canada. Returning for a second year with the squad are Martin Gilbert, Keven Lacombe, Jonny Sundt, Dan Bowman, Reid Mumford, Justin Spinelli and Nick Waite.