Mills joins Kelly Benefits

The US continental squad Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast will mark its 2008 season professional debut at the Amgen Tour of California, and in anticipation of a heavy season, has announced the addition of Ken Mills as Performance Manager.

Mills was directeur sportif for the TargeTraining squad in 2006 and Jittery Joe's-Kalahari prior to that, as well as a guest director of both Navigators Insurance and Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast pro cycling teams in 2007. It was this guest appearance 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," said performance director, Jonas Carney. "I was particularly impressed with Ken's work for us in Mexico [at the Vuelta Chihuahua] 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 have little time to settle in with the Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast's selection to race in the Amgen Tour of California next month.

"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."

For the full Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast roster, visit Cyclingnews' teams database.