Los Angeles — Rock Racing’s Kayle Leogrande and Sterling Magnell finished third and fifth, respectively, at Sunday’s L.A. Circuit Race at the Los Angeles International Airport.

With Rock Racing Team Owner Mike Ball and Rock & Republic President Andrea Bernholtz cheering them on, the Rock Racing team got its lead-out train in order on the final lap of the 60-mile race on the looping, hotdog-shaped out-and-back course.

“We lined up Tyler Hamilton, Haldane Morris, Sergio Hernandez, and Brock Curry to get the lead-out started,” Rock Racing Team Director Mariano Friedick said. “While the guys were riding tempo on the back side against the wind, the rest of the team was setting up Rahsaan Bahati for the sprint.”

Bahati has been Rock Racing’s most prolific rider this season, having scored four podium finishes – including a victory at the Roger Millikan Memorial Criterium.

But the tactic broke down when Toyota-United launched its lead-out train just before the U-shaped turnaround preceding a final tailwind section less than a mile from the finish.

“From that point on, it was every man for himself,” Friedick said.

Hilton Clark and Dominique Rollin of Toyota-United went on to finish first and second, respectively, while Patrick Nuber (Team Erdgas Schwaben) was fourth. It was the first top five finish of the season for Leogrande, while Magnell had previously scored a third-place finish at the Red Trolley Classic in February.

“It is great to see both of them coming around,” Friedick said.

— RRC —