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Photo ©: Bettini

 UCI codes explained

49th Fitchburg Longsjo Classic - NE

Massachusetts, USA, July 3-6, 2008

2007 results     Stage List     Preview    Start List     Past winners

The Stages

  • Stage 1 - July 3: Rindge Road Time Trial, 10 km
  • Stage 2 - July 4: Wachusett Mountain Road Race, 104/69 mi
  • Stage 3 - July 5: Fitchburg State College Circuit Race, 75/34 mi
  • Stage 4 - July 6: Workers’ Credit Union Downtown Criterium, 50/25 mi

Past champions return at Fitchburg Longsjo Classic

By Kirsten Robbins in Fitchburg, Pennsylvania

The 49th annual Fitchburg Longsjo Classic will kick off through the Independence Day holiday weekend from July 3-6 in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. The long running four-stage event has returned to the NRC calendar and has recently become a key event in the New England Race Week.

Since the first edition in 1960, organisers have continued to expand its visibility in memory of Arthur M. Longsjo, the first American athlete (cyclist/speed skater) to compete in both summer and winter Olympics in the same year. Longsjo was killed in an automobile accident in the prime of his career.

The non-profit memorial event has attracted a strong field this year including three past champions: 2005 winner Jonathan Page (Batley-Harley Davidson), 2006 winner Shawn Milne (Team Type 1) and defending champion Jake Rytlewiski (Rite Aid).

Other notable riders from the 140-rider professional men's field include Scott Zwisanski and Aaron Olson (Bissell), Alejandro Borrajo and Anthony Colby (Colavita/Sutter Home), Justin Spinelli (Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast) and John Murphy (Health Net-Maxxis).

On the women's side the two dominant American teams Colavita/Sutter Home and Cheerwine will provide some exciting racing for the Fitchburg spectators. US national criterium champion Tina Pic has brought strong team-mates in Dotsie Bausch and Iona Wynter Park while Kelly Benjamin and Catherine Cheatley will provide backup for the decorated Laura Van Gilder. Other notable teams include Kenda Tire, Juice Plus and Hub Racing.

The four-day race will take place in and around the town of Fitchburg, Massachusetts. July 3 will present the first stage, a 10-kilometre predominately up hill time trial.

The race will continue on July 4 for the event's 'queen stage' that will bring the competition over to the notoriously hilly roads around Mount Wachusett, a 166-kilometre challenge finishing at the top of an additional five-kilometre climb to the ski resort.

On July 5, the riders will continue to power over the Fitchburg State College circuit race, a two-kilometre course with 100 feet of climbing per lap. The July 6 finale will present the riders with an exciting downtown Fitchburg criterium. The 1.5-kilometre course is flat and fast where riders will negotiate three technical corners.

Start list

Coming!

Past winners

2007 Jake Rytlewski (USA) Rite Aid               Genevieve Gauthier (Can) Cascades
2006 Shawn Milne (USA) Navigators Insurance      Sarah Ulmer (NZl) Colavita/Cooking Light
2005 Jonathan Page (USA) Colavita Olive Oil      Sue Palmer-Komar (Can) Colavita/Cooking Light
2004 Mark McCormack (USA )Colavita               Susan Palmer-Komar (Can) Genesis Scuba/FFCC
2003 Viktor Rapinski (Blr) Saturn                Katie Mactier (Aus) Saturn
2002 Chris Horner (USA) Prime Alliance           Lyne Bessette (Can) Quebec
2001 Eric Wohlberg (Can) Saturn                  Lyne Bessette (Can) Saturn
2000 Henk Vogels (Aus) Manheim-Mercury           Lyne Bessette (Can) Saturn
1999 Bart Bowen (USA)                            Lyne Bessette (Can) Saturn
1998 (2) Frank McCormack (USA)                   Dede Demet (USA)
1997 John Peters (USA)                           Giana Roberge (USA)
1996 Tyler Hamilton (USA)                        Lyn Nixon (Aus)
1995 Mike Engleman (USA)                         Kathy Watt (Aus)
1994 Frank McCormack (USA)                       Jacqui Nelson (NZl)
1993 (2) Davis Phinney (USA)                     Rebecca Twigg (USA)
1992 Lance Armstrong (USA)                       Karen Mackin (USA)
1991 Davis Phinney (USA)                         Stephanie Roussos (USA)
1990 Tom Post (Ned)                              Sue Elias (USA)
1989 Jeff Slack (USA)                            Lucy Tyler (USA)
1988 Graeme Miller (NZl)                         Jessica Grieco (USA)
1987 Roberto Gaggioli (Ita)                      Beth Mills (USA)
1986 Patrick Liu (USA)                           Barbara Gradley (USA)
1985 Jeff Slack (USA)                            Jeanne Golay (USA)
1984 Russ Williams (Gbr)                         Liz Larsen (USA)
1983 Louis Garneau (Can)                         Betsy Davis (USA)
1982 Alan McCormack (Irl)                        Pam Deem (USA)
1981 Steve Pyle (USA)                            Carol Varnier (USA)
1980 Bruce Donaghy (USA)                         Beth Heiden (USA)
1979 Tom Schuler (USA)                           Mary Jane Reoch (USA)
1978 (3) Wayne Stetina (USA)                     Sue Novara-Reber (USA)
1977 (2) Wayne Stetina (USA)                     Connie Carpenter (USA)
1976 Tom Doughty (USA)
1975 Wayne Stetina (USA)
1974 Bill Shook (USA)
1973 Steve Woznick (USA)
1972 (2) Giuseppi Marinoni (Can)
1971 Bobby Phillips (USA)
1970 Doug Dale (USA)
1969 Jocelyn Lovell (Can)
1968 Robert Simpson (USA)
1967 Guiseppi Marinoni (Can)
1966 Sam Watson (Irl)
1965 Franco Poutenzieri (USA)
1964 Paul Ziak (USA)
1963 Rob Parsons (USA)
1962 Richard Centori (USA)
1961 Arnie Uhrlass (USA)
1960 Guy Morin (Can)
 
Past winners by Mario Stiehl, www.world-of-cycling.com