June 29, 2003 (Fitchburg, MA) – The final stage of the Fitchburg-Longsjo Classic wrapped up the four-day stage race in a criterium format around the city square in Fitchburg. After Saturday's cool down, the weather remained perfect for bike racing with a light breeze, sunny skies and warm temperatures.
In both the women's and men's race there was not a lot of available space for anyone to move up in the overall. Saturn's Katie Mactier and Victor Rapinski looked confident in their Leader's Jerseys and both were flanked with strong teams ready to defend the lead, no matter the aggressive attacks that were sure to come from teams like Prime Alliance, Health Net, Navigators, TDS, and Diet Rite.
The women's race began from the gun with points up for grabs every fifth lap for the sprinter's jersey. With the distinct possibility of Sarah Ulmer moving over Heather Albert in the points competition, the sprints were fast and furious. With three laps to go, it looked like Ulmer would take the jersey – all she had to do was win and Albert receive no points for her to move into the lead. However, Albert, well aware of the math, drove it to the line with Ulmer unable to come by her to take the jersey. From there, a group sprint was inevitable and the TDS and Saturn teams wound it up for their sprinters, Ulmer and Laura Van Gilder. As the final meters ticked by, Mayolo picked up the speed, driving it to the line. Van Gilder jumped, and in the ensuing drag race to the line, it was Mayolo gaining the advantage in the final meters over Van Gilder. Crossing the line only slightly behind in the top half was race leader Mactier, ensuring she would take home the 2003 Fitchburg-Longsjo Classic title.
The men's criterium was animated but a quick succession of attacks from the Navigator, Jittery Joe, and Prime Alliance Teams. Rapinski's Saturn Team had all breaks marked with good representation so that the Belarusian never had to be concerned about his lead. With 38 laps to go, a break of seven formed from pressure from the Prime Alliance and Saturn Team that immediately gained 22 seconds. Snow Valley, Saturn, Prime Alliance, and Navigators all had representation. Notably absent was Gord Fraser's Health Net Team, ensuring a chase would pursue the break. The seven all worked forcing the gap open to the 30 second mark. With Mike Sayers leading the baying chase, the time gap held steady for a few laps at 30 seconds. Soon, Jittery Joes joined in the chase and ten men forced the pace at the front, bringing the time gap back down slowly to 27 then 25 seconds. Finally, with lots of encouragement from Fraser, the deed was done with immediate counter attacks flying from the main group.
A group of eight formed with four Saturn riders, (Mark McCormack, Chris Horner, Phil Zajicek, and Rapinski), Sayers (Health Net), Jonathon Page (Prime Alliance), Jeff Louder (Navigators), a Snow Valley rider, and one other. The Saturn Team immediately set a hard pace, as the pack scrambled to come to terms with the break behind them but no one could match the horse power up the road. In one lap the gap blew open from 23 to 43 seconds and grew from there on out, averaging 12 seconds gained per lap.
The race became very interesting when Saturn's Horner had the opportunity to move into the point's jersey over Prime Alliance's John Peters. However, Peters' clever teammate, Page out-sprinted Horner each time, snatching the points away from Horner. As the laps wound down, it was clear that the stage winner would come from this group. On one of the last point sprints, McCormack jumped hard, and the rubber band immediately snapped, with the newly crowned US PRO Road Champion gaining 15 second within one lap.
Page, fatigued from sprinting Horner could not react, nor could any others. With cheers from his family, team, friends and local fans McCormack powered away at the front, opening the gap from 15 to 22 to 28. With the final lap in front of him, the Saturn rider had 50 seconds of cushion to celebrate his hard earned victory. Behind him, Louder launched from the field and struggled to hold what remained of the chase at bay for second place. Winning the group sprint for third was race leader Rapinski, who maintained his lead of the race and won his first big stage race in the US for the Saturn Team.
McCormack was very happy with his win, “I have never won here (at Fitchburg). I am very to have won her with my Grandmother here to see.” McCormack's brother Frankie, wife Suzanne and son Colin all celebrated with him at the finish, happy to have the local boy do good so near to his hometown.
From here the Saturn men head to the Cascade Classic, while the women have a brief respite before racing the International in Altoona, PA – kicking off at the end of July.
Results:1. Tina Mayolo – Pic – Diet Rite
2. Laura Van Gilder – Saturn
3. ?
Men:
1. Mark McCormack – Saturn
2. Jeff Louder – Navigators
3. Victor Rapinski – Saturn
Overall:
1. Katie Mactier – Saturn
2. Tina Mayolo – Pic – Diet Rite
3. Heather Albert – Team Basis
Men Overall:
1. Victor Rapinski – Saturn
2. Chris Horner – Saturn
3. Mike Sayers – Health Net