Fitchburg-Longsjo - Stage 1

Today started the 48th annual Fitchburg-Longsjo classic. Originally this race was supposed to be a team goal for the Human Zoom/Pabst Blue Ribbon Elite Team, but work/family commitments forced the rest of my squad to bail, unable to take a half-week of vacation to travel up to Fitchburg, Massachusetts. The Longsjo Classic is one of the premier stage races on the east coast; all the big teams show up to try to get results at this prestigious event.

The race started with a 6.5 mile time trial up a mountain road. The first 5 miles were uphill which lead to a pretty fast descent to the finish line. Although the race bible noted that the climb was only 3% average grade it was deceiving; the climb itself had many steep kicks that then leveled off for a bit, only to kick up again. It was the type of course that is very difficult to pace yourself on, hard to get into a rhythm, and very easy to blow up too early on one of the steep kicks!

Having pre-ridden the course the day before, I had my gameplan in mind and I followed it to near perfection. I felt strong the whole way up the climb and left just enough in the tank to attack the downhill and cross the line in 16:56, the only person in the Men's 2 field to break the 17:00 barrier! My time would have placed me 5th in the Men's Pro/1 field as well. Not too shabby!

Tomorrow I'll be starting in the orange Leader's Jersey; should be exciting! -- Al