Rock
Racing’s Sterling Magnell and Kayle Leogrande finished 1-2 in Saturday
night’s Pro-Am Challenge, the warm-up to the Saab USA Cycling
Professional Criterium Championship at Downers Grove, Ill.
Magnell
launched an attack with two corners to go on the figure-eight course,
then held off the charging field on the slightly uphill finish to score
Rock Racing’s 33rd win of the season.
“Sterling
went past everyone going five or six kilometers an hour faster than
everyone else,” Leogrande said. “It looked like he was shot out of a
cannon.”
As
Magnell blazed across the finish line, Leogrande jumped defending
national criterium champion Kirk O’Bee (Health Net presented by
Maxxis), who was also passed by third-place finisher Jonathan Cantwell
(Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling) in the final few meters.
The
Rock Racing pair’s success was set up by teammates who covered moves
throughout the 31-mile (50 km race). In the waning minutes of the race,
it was Rahsaan Bahati who was the engine powering the team’s lead out.
His Herculean effort came just a handful of laps after the 2000 amateur
criterium champion stopped for a free lap following a flat tire.
“Rahsaan
came up to me and asked, ‘Do you want to win?,’ ” Magnell said. “So I
jumped on his wheel and Kayle followed. When I felt him slowing down
coming into the second-to-last corner, I punched out and went for it.”
Magnelll’s
move was reminiscent of the strategy that earned him a victory at the
Great Downer Avenue Bike Race at the Point Premium Root Beer
International Cycling Classic. It was one of two races the 25-year-old
won while finishing second overall in the 17-day series.
“I
had confidence I could hold my speed and hit out,” Magnell said of his
now-signature move. “I also knew Kayle was right there and could win if
I didn’t.”
More
than 150 amateurs and professionals competed Saturday night. Sunday’s
Saab USA Cycling Professional Criterium Championship is only open to
licensed professionals. The 62-mile (100 km) event begins at 3 p.m. CST.
“The
win tonight was good for the morale but we’re staying hungry,” Magnell
said. “This was by no means our goal. (Winning) the national title is
our No. 1 goal.”
In
other Rock Racing action Saturday, Oscar Sevilla finished seventh on
Stage 4 at the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah to climb into seventh place
overall.
— RRC —
All Photos Copyright "Vero Image"
Rock
Racing's Rahsaan Bahati (second from left) and Sterling Magnell stayed
vigilant during the Pro-Am Challenge Saturday night in Downer's Grove,
Ill.
Kayle Leogrande of Rock Racing teamed up in a breakaway to enjoy a few moments of freedom at the Pro-Am Challenge Saturday.
Rock
Racing's Sterling Magnell (left) takes the win at the Pro-Am Challenge,
while teammate Kayle Leogrande (right) wins the sprint for second.
The
podium at Saturday's Pro-Am Challenge (from left): Kayle Leogrande
(Rock Racing), Sterling Magnell (Rock Racing) and Jonathan Cantwell
(Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling).