Bahati Makes It Two-In-A-Row For Rock

Blue Island, Ill. — For the second straight night, Rock Racing was unbeatable in a criterium at the Point Premium Root Beer International Cycling Classic.

This time it was Rahsaan Bahati who did the honors, winning the St. Francis Hospital Blue Island ProAm Saturday in Blue Island, Ill.

In Friday night’s opener to the 17-day race series, Rock Racing’s Sterling Magnell won in the Beverly Hills Cycling Classic in Chicago. Magnell finished third in Blue Island to easily retain the yellow jersey of overall race leader.

And once again, Rock Racing did not let its lack of numbers stand in the way of an impressive performance. Bahati, Magnell and Justin Williams were up against a full squad fielded by Kelly Benefit Strategies presented by Medifast – considered to be one of the premier criterium racing teams in the country – and a Colombian national team loaded with track pursuit specialists.

“Fortunately, Justin rode really, really strongly tonight,” Bahati said. “He saved us from a lot of work so we could be fresh at the end.”

The four-corner, mile-long course was perfectly suited to Bahati’s strength: an all-out, drag race-type sprint. With nearly 700 meters to the finish line out of the last turn, the 2000 national criterium champion won four of five point classification sprints leading up to his furious charge at the end of the 60-mile race.

“Usually I like racing to the corner because I’m good at bike handling,” Bahati said. “But on this course you could come out of the corner sixth or seventh and take your time because it was so long to the finish.”

Last year, Rock Racing was victorious in four races at the International Cycling Classic (with Kayle Leogrande winning three of them) on the way to second place in the final overall standings.

Bahati said Rock Racing Team Owner Michael Ball has made it clear that the team will set its sights on reaching the top step of the podium this year.

“That’s why he’s sending in some reinforcements for us next week,” Bahati said. “We’re motivated to win the whole thing.”