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Pros arrive in Massachusetts Thursday's start of Fitchburg-Longsjo Stage Race

By Ophir Sefiha
Published: Jul. 2, 2008

The inaugural New England Race Week wraps up with the four-day Fitchburg-Longsjo stage race in Massachusetts.

The new race series includes eight days of top-tier racing in four Northeastern states. Back on the NRC calendar for 2008, the 49th running of the Fitchburg-Longsjo stage race begins Thursday with a stacked line-up of former winners and top pro riders.

The absence of top professionals at last year’s edition allowed for more open racing in both women’s and men’s pro fields. Genevieve Gauthier (Cascades) took full advantage, bagging a stage win and the overall in the 2007 women’s race. This year’s start list includes a considerably deeper field with Cheerwine, Colavita-Sutter Home and Team Kenda each sending full and motivated squads in the hunt for NRC points. Gauthier will be tested as she defends her title against the likes of Anne Samplonius and Cheerwine Laura van Guilder, both of whom are considered strong contenders for the overall, while Colavita Sutter Home’s indomitable Tina Pic is certainly a favorite for sprint wins.

In last year’s men’s race, Rite-Aid scored one of its biggest wins when Jacob Rytlewski netted the overall beating Symmetric’s Cameron Evans by just nineteen seconds while also placing Alejandro Borrajo in third. Rylewski will have a highly motivated team at his disposal but they will have their hands full against a deeper field at this year’s edition.

Colavita Sutter Home and Bissell (sitting second and third respectively in the NRC team points standings) will likely be the strongest teams in the men’s race as both are sending full squads. Look for all arounders Aaron Olsen and Ted King to head the charge for Bissell while Colavita will have a host of strong finishers including Allejandro Borrajo, stage two winner last year and Kyle Wamsley, last week’s Cox Charities criterium winner.

Regional elite squads will be well represented at Fitchburg including Toshiba-Santo p/b Herbalife, Battley Harley Davidson, CRCA, Fiordiafruttia and TARGETRAINING. As well, look for a strong ride from the Garmin-Chipotle backed VMG-Felt rider Peter Salon who recently took fifth place in the GC and Best Young Rider Jersey at last weeks Tour of Pennsylvania.

New England homeboy Tim Johnson will also be one to watch as he has raced Fitchburg before and knows the courses well. Although he won’t have the luxury of much team support as most of his Health Net mates are preparing for next week’s Cascade Classic in Oregon, Johnson could well ride to a victory with his strong time-trialing and climbing abilities.

The route
This years stage race will largely repeat the format of the past few years beginning with a tough mostly uphill, 6.2-mile time trial won last year by Russell Langley (Battley Harley-Davidson).

The following day features a four-hour plus, 109 mile road race – 69 miles for women – which finishes at the 2000-foot summit of Washusett Mountain won last year by New England cyclocross star Jonathan Page. Saturday brings a 78-mile circuit race on the campus of Fitchburg State University while Sunday concludes the race with a 50-mile downtown Fitchburg criterium.