Jul 13, 09:19 AM |

The Fitchburg Longsjo Stage Race is pretty much one of, if not the biggest stage race on our calendar this year. It was something we took seriously and had high expectations coming in. Like all bike races, there were some successes and some let-downs, but all in all, the 51st running of the Longsjo will go down in the record books as a success for team Embrocation. Let’s break it down…

(Images courtesy of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette)

Stage 1 – Circuit Race
The circuit race at Fitchburg is a doozie. It usually falls the second day of the race, so a clear race leader has been established and there’s been some softening of the legs from the TT the day prior. This year, however, the circuit race led off. 16 laps; 16 times up the finishing climb – a stiff uphill sprint that completed once doesn’t register with the body, but by the fifth or so time it begins to take its toll. This is a race where breakaways can and do form off the front of the group, so our plan was to monitor the front of the race and make sure we were in any major moves, while discouraging others. The plan worked, with Jurgen and James patrolling the front part of the race, both getting into early breaks and allowing other Embrocators to chill out and save energy for the later attacks that were sure to come. Sure enough, just as Jurgen and James had returned to the field from one mid-race attack, Jackson launched a counter-attack, dragging several riders with him. A relatively large break established itself and stayed away – Jackson, always eager and willing to fight to the bitter end, gave the best uphill sprint he could, but the strength in his legs couldn’t quite reach its full potential as he was boxed out by a couple riders in front on him and narrowly missed the podium with a more-than-respectable fourth place finish out of a 10 man break. Behind in the field sprint, James managed to place in the top 5 for some serious Embrocation representation on the circuit stage.

Stage 2 – Road Race
One of the monuments of New England bicycle racing, the Wachussett Mountain road race is, in fact, another circuit race, but in grander scale. We completed 7 laps of the course, each lap featuring a difficult climb – a two-tiered climb through the town of Princeton – about 4 minutes of climbing through the feedzone and down onto a false flat section. The plan for the day was not dissimilar from the previous day – control the race, make sure we were represented in every break and try to move James, Jurgen, Franny or Jackson up the GC or into a position where they could take a stage win. Again, the plan worked. Breakaways went up the road early; the first one with Colin, and a subsequent few with Jurgen and Jackson. Splits in the group were happening almost every lap at the top of the main climb. With the field strung out through the feed zone, a lead group of riders could get a gap from the main field, and with any luck, hold that gap. One such break went about mid-way through the race – a 4 main break with James in it. Eventually, 3 of these 4 riders would drift back to the main field, including James. One solo rider stayed in front of the field virtually the rest of the race. With one strong rider off the front and James tired from his time in the break, the rest of team Embro went to the front of the field and set a high pace in an attempt to bring the rider back and discourage any other attacks. At this point the plan was to set up Jackson for a stage result – he’d been riding strong all day and was the top-placed rider on the team at that point.

Colin burned himself out and faded off the back. So did Jurgen. Jackson did as much work as possible without dropping himself. The last time through the main climb, like on other laps, a group went clear of the main field at the top. A 6 man break established itself with about 12km to go. James, having recovered from his earlier efforts, was part of this final move – a last-ditch effort to stay in front of the main field and catch the solo leader. To make a long story short, the break was able to say in front of the main field for the remainder of the race. On the final climb to the finish line, James was able to best his breakaway companions with a final uphill sprint and in the last 50 meters catch and pass the solo breakaway to take the stage win. The team did their thing and James followed through with the best result possible on the day. Only a few moments after James, Jackson did what he does best and won the field sprint, gapping all other riders by about 5 seconds at the top of the hill.

For the team’s efforts they were rewarded with a stage win and a leader’s jersey for James.

Stage 3 – Time Trial
While the previous two days were perfect for Jackson, James and Jurgen, the TT was the say for Franny and Josh. Unfortunately, Josh, having done a great deal of work in the road stage to help the team, and suffering from the every-increasing heat levels had dropped out the day before. The time trial is an out and back, about 10 miles of relatively flat roads. Francisco did his thing and finished 13th on a day of blistering temperatures and very fast times. James and Jackson, both far from TT experts, suffered greatly and dropped down the GC – James, unfortunately but expected had the leaders jersey stripped from his back with extreme prejudice. Despite a few good times, notably by Jurgen and Franny, the TT was the weakest link of our race. Especially unfortunate given its supreme importance to the GC competition.

Stage 4 – Fitchburg Downtown Criterium
Since most of us are from Boston, we get a lot of crit practice and consider ourselves to be pretty good at them. So, we were all excited to tackle the final and fastest stage around downtown Fitchburg. The plan here was to control early on, try to facilitate breakaways in the middle third and if breaks did not stick then set up the sprint for either Kyle or Colin, both of whom felt confident in their sprinting abilities. Again, the team executed the plan. Early breaks didn’t get down the road without us in them or controlling them. Sadly none of these stuck, so we geared up for the sprint. Franny led out with two to go, pulling the field at remarkable speed until about 3/4 of a lap to go. James took over and pulled hard through the final turn at which point Colin and Kyle jumped with everything they had; Kyle pulling off in sight of the finish line, allowing Colin to open up a sprint. Like in the first race of the weekend, we came tantalizingly close to a podium – Colin finishing 4th on the stage by a fraction.

So, a stage win and three other top five finishes. Not too shabby. Yet another year where Fitchburg lived up to its reputation as one of the most difficult and storied races in the US.