Whitefish Bay, Wis. — Rock Racing got a runner-up finish Sunday and placed two riders on the final podium of the Point Premium Root Beer International Cycling Classic to cap one of the most successful stretches of racing in the team’s history.During 17 days of competition in Wisconsin and Illinois, Rock Racing won six races and recorded 10 podium finishes, including Rudolph “Rudy” Napolitano’s second-place in the “Super Week” series final, the Whitefish Bay Classic.
Sterling Magnell finished second in the overall standings, 11 points behind Jonathan Cantwell (Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling). Rock Racing teammate Rahsaan Bahati was runner-up in the Bianchi Sprints Competition, 23 points behind Jittery Joe’s Chad Hartley.
Rock Racing Team Owner Michael Ball pointed out that his squad never quit – battling to the last lap of the final race.
“We’re really proud of how we rode,” Ball said. “The spectators and other riders saw how classy and competitive this team is this. Even the race organizer told us tonight on stage that we were No. 1 in his book.”
Three different Rock Racing riders each won a pair of races. Magnell took the Beverly Hills Cycling Classic presented by Vee Pak/Beverly Bike & Ski (July 11) and the Great Downer Avenue Bike Race (Saturday). Bahati won the St. Francis Hospital Blue Island ProAm July 12 and the first day of the Ray Basso Bensenville Criterium (July 15), while Peter Dawson captured The Shorewood Foundation presents The Tim Hart DDS/Rainbow Jersey Shorewood Criterium (July 17) and the Evanston Northwestern Healthcare Grand Prix of Cycling (July 20).
Napolitano won the field sprint Sunday after Jairo Perez Suarez (Colombian National Team) soloed to victory in the 62-mile (100 km) race. Napolitano was one of seven riders who lapped the field.
“The guys wanted to give me a gift because I am normally a worker and I have gladly assumed that role,” he said. “I got on Rahsaan’s wheel with nine laps to go and he did a lot of work to close gaps. Then Justin (Williams) led me out on the last lap. They made it look easy.”
Magnell epitomized the monumental effort Rock Racing put forth in trying to win the series after Kayle Leogrande finished second here a year ago. Magnell crashed badly July 18 at the Ripon Red Hawk Criterium and needed seven stitches and a doctor’s approval to start the next day after suffering a concussion.
“We had crashes, Rahsaan missed three races to attend a wedding and we were undermanned for a couple days at the start,” Magnell said. “It was two weeks of pure stress and pressure but we’re really proud of how we performed. We rode our hearts out and rose to the occasion.”
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