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.”
— RRC —
