Team Type 1’s McRae Second On Fitchburg Stage 2, Stevens Moves Into Overall Lead

Fitchburg, Mass. – Team Type 1’s Jen McRae scored a runner-up finish on the second stage of the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic Friday but it wasn’t enough to help teammate Alison Powers retain the overall lead.

Powers slipped to second following Friday’s Fitchburg State College Circuit Race that was won by Tina Pic (Colavita-Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light). Evelyn Stevens (Team Lip Smackers) took advantage of a three-second time bonus for finishing third on the 33-mile (54 km) stage to move ahead of Powers into the overall lead.

“Honestly, I was a little relived to see I’m in second place,” Powers said late Friday night. “Now I need to race my bike. That’s more fun than sitting in and not doing much. I’m super excited. It’s game on.”

Saturday’s 64-mile (102 km) Wachusett Mountain Road Race comprises six laps of an 11.4-mile (18.3 km) circuit. Just as in Friday’s race, it is the10, five and three-second time bonuses for the first three finishers that have Powers most concerned. Five riders are within 20 seconds of the lead with two stages to go.

“We would prefer that it not come down to a sprint finish because although it might be a great opportunity for Jen (McRae), Evelyn (Stevens) also has the power to get up the climb a little better that I do,” Powers said. “We would much rather take the opportunity to attack or get away solo. We definitely want to be on the offensive.”

Photo: Courtesy Mark Suprenant