The upcoming Tour de Georgia bike race (the U.S. Georgia, not the European Georgia) just announced today that, guess who's coming to the Tour? None other than Rock Racing. One of the scheduled teams from Spain had to drop out due to lots of injuries, so the Tour organizers invited the bad boy of road bike racing to bring his new team to the Tour.
Rock Racing was started a couple years ago by fashion millionaire Michael Ball, CEO of Rock & Republic fashion house. All you have to do is watch the opening video on the Rock Racing web site to get a sense of the attitude they bring to races (pump up the volume) (Disclosure: Video uploaded without permission from Rock Racing -- hope they don't mind.)
Given that road bike racing is steeped in European tradition and fairly new to the U.S., some of Rock Racing's protocols are ruffling the feathers of the old guard. Like the team's black and neon-green bikes and kit; the six black Esplanades with tinted windows and the black and neon bus in which they arrive at races (think entourage), and hiring three riders connected to recent doping scandals on the pro tour.
But this isn't just for show -- Michael Ball is a biker and the team's riders are seasoned, winning professionals. Michael Ball was raised on welfare in California's San Fernando Valley and six years ago started a fashion company that today has $100 million in revenues. And he has entered the world of professional bike racing with serious intent. (The team performed well at the recent Tour of California race.) I can't wait to see what kind of splash Rock Racing makes at the Tour de Georgia -- and what might happen if they ever get invited to the Tour de France -- their goal for 2009.
Rock Racing was started a couple years ago by fashion millionaire Michael Ball, CEO of Rock & Republic fashion house. All you have to do is watch the opening video on the Rock Racing web site to get a sense of the attitude they bring to races (pump up the volume) (Disclosure: Video uploaded without permission from Rock Racing -- hope they don't mind.)
Given that road bike racing is steeped in European tradition and fairly new to the U.S., some of Rock Racing's protocols are ruffling the feathers of the old guard. Like the team's black and neon-green bikes and kit; the six black Esplanades with tinted windows and the black and neon bus in which they arrive at races (think entourage), and hiring three riders connected to recent doping scandals on the pro tour.
But this isn't just for show -- Michael Ball is a biker and the team's riders are seasoned, winning professionals. Michael Ball was raised on welfare in California's San Fernando Valley and six years ago started a fashion company that today has $100 million in revenues. And he has entered the world of professional bike racing with serious intent. (The team performed well at the recent Tour of California race.) I can't wait to see what kind of splash Rock Racing makes at the Tour de Georgia -- and what might happen if they ever get invited to the Tour de France -- their goal for 2009.
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