The MetLife p/b groSolar team just completed the 51st Fitchburg-Longsjo Classic,
with the squad out in full force, split between the Category 2 field and the Pro/Category
1 field, which was once again part of the National Racing Calendar in 2010. The team
sent Andrew, Chris, and Corey to the Cat 2 event, with Alex, Austin, Brad, Gabe, Peter,
Nick, and Ryan representing the blue and gold in the pro race.
The race celebrated its 50th edition in style in 2009, and followed up with another great
event this year. As always, the race brought out eager fans and volunteers from the area
that throw an enormous amount of time, and energy (and vocal support as the guys
can attest) behind the race. The community in Fitchburg, Massachusetts really rallies
behind the event, and as Sentinel and Enterprise reported, the race is also really a great
example of how the whole event can come back full circle and ends up giving back to
the community… Yes, a great event for the racers, high-quality racing for the fans, and a
boost to local businesses!
The team raced hard in all the events, eager to show off the stylish, MetLife-blue
kits with the splash of groSolar gold. The first race took place on a short loop around
Fitchburg State College, and the steep climb up to the finish line was packed with local
fans and cycling enthusiasts. The boys in the pro field were eager to stay near the front
and always had an eye on Austin, the diesel freight train nurturing the best hopes of a
high finish on the overall classification for the race. The two’s were similarly ambitious,
and could be seen right at the head of the race each time around.
The second stage took the riders out on the roads near the Watchussett Mountain State
Preserve near Princeton, MA, with an unrelenting string of sharp climbs on a 11 mile
course that the riders in tackled seven times in the Cat 2 field and even twice more in
the pro race. The finish line in Princeton was the gathering place of choice for fans,
who were treated to lap after lap of attacks up the climb through town. The guys in
the pro field took some shots animating the race, playing the role of opportunist in the
field loaded with international talent. No move was successful, until a group seemingly
just easily slipped away in the last third of the race. With powerful pro teams all well
represented, it effectively marked the end of the day’s race. The Cat 2 boys were well
positioned to light up the road race and climb into the top places on the overall had it
not been for three precision mechanical difficulties (a busted bearing that made steering
impossible, a cracked rim rendering a wheel useless, and a chain slipping off the gears at
the most crucial, closing moments of the race)… Unfortunately, all three of the guys were
taken out of contention by the bad luck.
The time trial was on the Fourth of July, testing each rider alone against the clock over an
8.9 mile, gently rolling course that started and ended just outside of Westminster. Those
riders in the escape group from the day before had a lot riding on their times, but the rest
of the field saw an opportunity to “relax” before the big criterium on Monday, although
the rules ensured that nobody could take it too easy by enforcing a rigorous time-cut
that saw even the least-interested riders pedaling their bikes with quite a bit of anger.
The high-tech time-trail bikes used for this race and the high average speeds (30 mph)
sustained for the duration of the effort were the big draw for those cycling lovers that
came out to support the riders.
The last day saw a tired, greatly-diminished group of riders take to the starting line for
the criterium right through the heart of Fitchburg. The race was 40 miles long, which
meant that the crowds lining every inch of the mile-long course got to see intense racing
for nearly two hours. The winding course offered plenty of excellent vantage points for
spectators, and local businesses, especially restaurants, cafes, and bars took advantage of
the curbside entertainment, offering the riders a continuous cheering-section all the way
around the loop. The boys left in the race could be seen poised to strike as the final laps
ticked away, one-by-one offering everything left in the tank to keep Nick well-positioned
for the sprint.
The race was a blast for all the guys as always, and despite the top-notch result that the
squad had in its sights before the start of the race, everyone left with the satisfaction
of having raced confidently for the blue and gold. The guys all left with some valuable
lessons under their belts, as well as some hard-earned fitness.