Get In Mah Belly

GT Bicycles and Ritchey Design Sponsor Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team

From Maura Lansford (SOAR Communications):

LAKE FOREST and SAN CARLOS, Calif. - Dec. 18, 2007 - GT Bicycles and Ritchey Design Inc. today announced the signing of sponsorship agreements with the Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team, a continental road cycling team.

As a direct result of a strategic partnership with Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team's apparel sponsor Champion System, GT Bicycles signed a deal to become the exclusive bicycle frame supplier for two years starting January 1, 2008. Ritchey Design will be the exclusive provider of handlebars, stems and seatposts to the Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team for the 2008 racing season.

"Our riders depend on their equipment, so they can focus on the extreme demands of training and racing," said Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team Director, Danny van Haute. "My team has 100% confidence in the race-proven products GT Bicycles and Ritchey are providing. We're excited to welcome these two strong partners to our distinguished roster of sponsors."

The Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team will be riding GT Bicycles' GTR Team racing frame, a lightweight and stiff carbon fiber monocoque road frame, which is manufactured through GT Bicycles' proprietary composite manufacturing process called Force Optimized Construction. GTR Team bikes are available to consumers through independent bicycle dealers (IBD).

"GT Bicycles has a long-standing commitment to racing," said Steve Reeds, executive vice president and general manager of Pacific Cycle IBD division. "We are proud to align GT Bicycles with the Jelly Belly Pro Cycling team."


Founded by product innovator Tom Ritchey in 1974 and well-known for attention to detail and high-quality components, Ritchey Design will supply all "cockpit" components including their WCS Carbon One-Bolt seatposts, WCS Alloy handlebars, WCS Carbon 4AXIS stems and Pro Oversized 30-degree stems and alloy adjustable stems for time trial bikes.

"We believe bike racing is the best place to prove our component designs," said Steve Parke, Ritchey Design's general manager and vice president of marketing. "Jelly Belly Pro Cycling's team roster has some of the best racers in the U.S. and we are looking forward to helping them have a successful year."

In the last two years, Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team riders have accumulated 47 wins and close to 100 podium finishes in both domestic and foreign events as they've raced in front of nearly 9 million spectators. In 2007, the team took the individual and overall victory at the Tour of Hong Kong to Shanghai, first place general classification rider at the Redlands Bicycle Classic, the Georgia Cup, the Tri Peaks Challenge, and the Missouri State Road Championships, as well as first place Team Classification at stage 7 of the Amgen Tour of California, a stage win at the Sea Otter Classic and Sport Beans® King of the Hill jersey at the Nature Valley Grand Prix. With the addition of pro veterans Bernard Van Ulden and Olympic hopefuls Brad Huff and Todd Wells, the team is poised for another successful season in 2008.