Westminster, Mass. – U.S. National Time Trial Champion Alison Powers of Team Type 1 won the Courtyard by Marriott Fitchburg/South Street Time Trial to open the 50th edition of the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic Thursday.
Racing through foggy and damp conditions on an unseasonably cool New England day, Powers averaged more than 27 mph on the 8.8-mile (14.3 km) undulating course in Westminster, Mass., to win by four seconds over Evelyn Stevens (Team Lip Smackers). Stevens’ teammate, Anne Samplonius, was third, nine seconds behind Powers.
France’s Jeannie Longo (Vital Plus), a 57-time national champion, five-time world champion, four-time Olympic medalist and winner of more than 1,000 races, finished fourth, 13 seconds back.
Powers’ victory was the 26th overall by the Team Type 1 women in their inaugural season. It was also the squad’s fourth win (all by Powers) at a National Racing Calendar (NRC) event.
Team Type 1 women’s Team Director Jack Seehafer said he was unsure of how Powers would perform on a course that didn’t necessarily favor her and after a layoff since her third place finish at the Nature Valley Grand Prix nearly two weeks ago.
“This was her first hard effort as she rebuilds toward the national championships later this month,” Seehafer said.
Keeping Powers in the race leader’s jersey for the reminder of the four-day, four-stage event will mean racing aggressively during Friday’s Fitchburg State College Circuit Race, Seehafer said. The women will tackle 11 laps of a 1.2-mile (2.0 km) circuit that includes 100 feet of climbing on each lap of the 33-mile (54 km) race.
“What will work better for us is to be a little aggressive because of the time bonuses (of 10, five, and three seconds for the top three finishers),” Seehafer said. “Stevens had a good ride at Nature Valley so she’ll be one to watch and Samplonius is someone we have to keep our eye on, too. We also know Colavita-Sutter Home will be looking for stage wins and ValueAct Capital will be looking to be aggressive, too.”
Michael Creed’s sixth-place finish led the Team Type 1 men’s squad as Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling) won by 23 seconds over Scott Zwizanski (Kelly Benefit Strategies). Zwizanski’s teammate, David Veilleux, was third at 32 seconds.
Photos: Courtesy Mark Suprenant (top - Alison Powers of Team Type 1 begins her winning ride Thursday in the Courtyard by Marriott Fitchburg/South Street Time Trial that opened the 50th edition of the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic; center - Foggy, damp conditions ruled the day in Westminster, Mass.; bottom - Matt Wilson of Team Type 1 prepares to set out at the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic)
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