First Endurance Partners with Kelly Benefits Cycling to Support Rising Talent

Kelly Benefits Cycling: Mission, Vision, and Achievement

At Kelly Benefits Cycling, our mission goes beyond developing top-tier cyclists. In addition to shaping our riders into the best athletes they can be, we are committed to helping them become exemplary citizens, and as we work toward becoming one of North America’s premier development teams, we’re focused on creating meaningful opportunities for our riders to gain experience and reach their full potential as athletes and as people. 

We challenge our riders to constantly push their limits, both on and off the bike. Whether it's competing for national titles, earning national team selections, or reaching key milestones in their development, we believe that true growth happens when athletes step out of their comfort zones and embrace the discomfort of pushing harder, faster, and further.

Beyond the realm of performance, we work to instill important life skills like leadership, accountability, and communication, which not only enhance race-day performance, but help our athletes grow as individuals. These lessons, learned through teamwork and competition, stay with our riders long after they leave the sport.

Team History: A Legacy of Passion and Progress

In 1996, Lateral Stress Velo Club created a local cycling community in the Baltimore area. It was clear that the region had an untapped desire for competitive cycling, particularly among talented, ambitious juniors who lacked the support system to race at a higher level.

In response to this need, Kelly Benefits Cycling was founded in 2007 by John Kelly, CEO of Kelly Benefits Strategies. Fueled by John’s lifelong passion for cycling and his business expertise, Kelly Benefits Cycling started with a focus on junior riders, but it wasn’t long before we developed a competitive elite program that produced strong performances, including two under-23 national titles in 2022. Today, the team is a key player in the development of talented young riders, guiding them from the junior ranks into the U23 and elite levels.

2024 Accomplishments: A Year of Growth and Success

In 2024, our U23 team raced over 65 days, competing in some of the most prestigious events in North America and Europe. From iconic races like the Redlands Cycling Classic, Valley of the Sun, US Pro Nationals, and the Tour of Somerville, to grueling stage races and one-day classics in Belgium and Spain, our riders consistently proved they belong on the world stage.

Season highlights include:

• 1st Place – Green Mountain Stage Race, Stage 4

• 3rd Place – Vuelta a Madrid, Stage 3

• 2nd Place – U23 Crit National Championship

• 2nd Place – Oostende-Konterdam

• 1st Place – U23 Gran Fondo National Championship

• 20+ Wins – Regional races

These results are a testament to the hard work, dedication, and potential of our athletes, while also underscoring our commitment to providing the resources and support necessary for those athletes to thrive at the highest levels of competitive cycling.

Looking Forward: Short-Term and Long-Term Goals

Entering 2025, we have a clear and focused vision of our goals, objectives, and success criteria. The lessons we've learned over these years have solidified our confidence in how we approach the season. From training and preparation to race planning, we know how to peak at the right moments for key milestones throughout the year.

Our program has set ambitious, yet realistic goals for the season: placing riders on the USA National Team; winning U23 National Championships in road, time trial, and criterium; securing the white jersey at UCI and US-based stage races; and claiming victories in national-level pro criteriums. Additionally, we aim to excel in in the Spanish stage races on our calendar by winning stages and competing at the highest levels in general classification (GC).

These are not just hopes, but concrete targets that we’re determined to achieve.

In the short term, we aim to send even more riders to the national team this year, building on our success in 2024. Long term, we are committed to developing the next generation of World Tour riders by providing athletes with the guidance and experience they need to reach the pinnacle of the sport.

Partnership with First Endurance: Fueling Performance

As part of our commitment to helping our riders perform at their best, we’ve partnered with First Endurance for all our nutritional needs. The EFS Pro line has become our go-to, providing our riders with the carbohydrates, electrolytes, and endurance fuel they need to perform at the highest levels. Additionally, our Director Nima has been using Ultragen for nearly two decades, and his daughters even relied on it after their lacrosse games as kids! 

This partnership ensures that our riders have access to top-quality nutrition, which is essential for maintaining energy and recovering effectively during intense training and racing.

"Every nutrition company for endurance sports has its benefits and drawbacks, but in a year of using First Endurance, I have experienced very few drawbacks. They are a one-stop shop for all my nutritional needs—liquid gels, high-carb mixes, recovery products, multivitamins, and supplements. If you are looking for nutrition in or out of racing, you cannot beat the robustness of First Endurance, which supercharges your performance."
— Alexander Scopinich-Burgel, Rider

A Commitment to Excellence

At Kelly Benefits Cycling, we are dedicated to building great athletes and great people. By creating opportunities for growth, fostering a supportive team environment, and emphasizing leadership both on and off the bike, we are shaping the future of American cycling. With a clear mission, a history of success, and an unwavering commitment to rider development, we are excited to continue our journey toward making a lasting impact on the sport and the individuals who race for us.