The headline is a shoutout to Bob Seger of Ann Arbor, Mich., and also a setup for anoverdue report on Rock Racing, the U.S. continental cycling team owned by Rock And Republic’s Michael Ball.
Ol’ 10 Speed has been immersed in 92,000 hours of Tour de France coverage on Versus, with the Tour de Donut and the Tour de Carl Edwards on the side, which meant pretty much everything else sailed past me over the past three weeks.
Anyway, Rock had a nice run at Super Weeks with two riders on the final podium, six race wins and bunch of individual race podiums. In addition, Tyler Hamilton won a race in China, the Tour of Qinghai Lake, and Kyle Kuykendall won Rock’s online photo contest with a pix of Kayle Leogrande from the Tour de Georgia.
Here’s what the Rock cats had to say about Super Week …
Napolitano’s Runner-Up Finish Caps Rock Racing’s ‘Super Week’
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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And the Hamilton release …
Rock Racing’s Hamilton Wins Tour of Qinghai Lake
Xining, China - Tyler Hamilton delivered Rock Racing its most prestigious victory to date Sunday when he captured the overall title at the Tour of Qinghai Lake in China.
Hamilton crossed the finish line with the peloton at the end of a 68-mile (110 km) circuit race through the streets of Xining to secure a 10-second win over Marek Rutkiewicz (Polish National Team). Iranian Hossein Askari (Tabriz Petrochemical Team) finished third, 1:08 behind.
“It’s a special win for me,” Hamilton told a group of reporters after being congratulated by his Rock Racing teammates. “It’s been a long time. I think most people didn’t think I’d ever reach the highest level (again).”
This was Hamilton’s sixth victory in an international stage race, but his first since the Tour de Romandie in 2004. The 37-year-old Marblehead, Mass., native has won more than 30 races since turning professional in 1995.
Rock Racing Team Owner Michael Ball congratulated Hamilton by phone for earning the team’s 26th win of the year.
“Seeing pictures of Tyler on the podium in the yellow jersey is simply spectacular and fulfills one of my original goals for this team,” Ball said. “I set out to give guys second chances and Tyler is a perfect example of that. He’s been one of our captains on the road this year, giving his all to help his teammates win. Now it’s his turn to celebrate.”
Hamilton won the eighth stage Friday to move into the lead after trailing Rock Racing teammate Oscar Sevilla in the overall standings since the opening time trial July 11. Sevilla finished the race in fifth place, 1:22 behind.
“The goal coming in was to win the race, whether it was myself, Oscar, Michael Creed or whoever,” Hamilton said. “So for me, it’s all the same - victory for a teammate is a victory for me. This is nice way to repay them, the staff and especially Michael Ball.”
Alex Rasmussen (Danish National Team) won Sunday’s race to score his fourth stage win of the 10-day, 841-mile (1,354 km) event.
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