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50th Fitchburg Longsjo Classic readies for race day

by VeloNews.com

• June 11, 2009
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PRESS RELEASE

Fitchburg, Massachusetts (June 09, 2009) – For half a century, residents of North Central Massachusetts have come to expect two things in the summer: warmer weather and some of the best cycling competition in North America.

At least the region can count on one of those two things. In less than three weeks, nearly 800 cyclists are expected to roll into North Central Massachusetts for the 50th Fitchburg Longsjo Classic.

“We expect a diverse and exciting field this year,” noted Fitchburg Longsjo Classic Executive Director Ed Collier.

The race is dedicated to the memory of Arthur Longsjo, the first same-year dual (winter and summer) Olympian in the United States. Riders from across the United States and around the globe in eight different categories, including Women’s Pro/1 and Men’s Pro/1 will compete for $51,500 in prize money.

The racing gets underway Thursday, July 2nd with the Courtyard by Marriott Fitchburg South Street Time Trial, a 8.7-mile race against the clock. Race officials changed the course location this year, which will start near the Westminster Town Hall on South Street. The women pro will race will start mid afternoon and the men pro at 4:30 pm.

Cyclists shift on Friday, July 3rd to the Fitchburg State College Circuit Race, a 3.1 mile loop through the hilly streets of Fitchburg, with the men’s pro riding 75-miles, starting at 3:30 pm, and the women’s pro cycling 34-miles beginning at 2:00 pm.

On Saturday, July 4th the riders change venues with the men’s pro riding a total of 110 miles in the Wachusett Mountain Road Race, a grueling 11-mile course through the town of Princeton with the race concluding in the picture postcard center of town, which is a new finish line for 2009. The pro riders will start shortly after noon at the base of Wachusett Mountain.

The race concludes on Sunday, July 5th with the Workers’ Credit Union Criterium. This fast-paced, exciting race runs right past the Longsjo Memorial, with multiple laps, starting at 2:00 and 3:30 pm for the pro women and men respectively, around a 0.9-mile loop through historic downtown Fitchburg.

The major sponsors include: The Ronald M, Ansin Foundation, Unitil, Sterilite Corporation, Workers’ Credit Union, Courtyard by Marriott Fitchburg and Fitchburg State College.

For more information, please visit www.longsjo.com