June 28, 2003 (Fitchburg, MA) – The third and crucial stage of the Fitchburg-Longsjo Classic was contested today over a hilly course, finishing at the summit of Mt. Wachussett.  In the women's race, Sarah Ulmer (TDS) certainly appeared to have a tenacious grip on the leader's jersey, and with the help of her able and determined TDS team she seemed well equipped to put up a good battle in defending it.  On the men's side of things, Saturn had things set up nicely with Victor Rapinski wearing the leader's jersey and his teammate Chris Horner laying in third should Rapinski falter.  In the end of the day, new leader's climbed their way to the top, with Saturn's Katie Mactier pulling on the Orange Leader's jersey after taking the stage win despite an awesome ride by Ulmer and her TDS squad.  And, as in the women's race, it was a Saturn rider taking the stage win but protecting Rapinski's lead.

The women's race started immediately with attacks coming from the Saturn team as they tried to pry the lead from Ulmer's grasp. Her TDS team soldiered the front, bringing anything threatening back immediately.  Ulmer remained well protected, patiently letting her team defend her lead. Saturn's Laura Van Gilder, only 1:20 down from Ulmer attacked relentlessly, never spending more than a few miles in the main group before launching herself again.  Her efforts finally paid off with a group forming containing Van Gilder, Tina Mayolo-Pic (Diet Rite), Heather Albert, Lara Kroepsh (T-Mobile), and one TDS rider marking the break.

With Van Gilder, Mayolo (who did move into the leader on the road at one point) and Albert worked the break opening the gap on a chasing TDS team. With one lap to go the time gap was well over a minute and the strong TDS fabric began to become disheveled.  Ulmer was soon left to chase on her own, and on the last trip up through the feedzone, Mactier and Jessica Phillips gave the one two punch, finally escaping from Ulmer. One more attack from Phillips, and no one had any response when Mactier went. From the Mactier bridged to what remained of the break, catching Albert and Mayolo with about one kilometer left.

By the one hundred meter mark, an acceleration from Mactier was unanswered by Mayolo or Albert after their efforts in the break, and Mactier danced her way to the top for the stage win and the lead of the race.  Behind her Mayolo and Albert desperately tried to come to terms with the time ticking by, and finished strongly, but still nearly ten seconds back.

Tomorrow's final stage is a downtown criterium, which certainly compliments Saturn's strength at defending a leader's jersey. However, Mayolo, Albert and Ulmer still cannot be factored out of the equation with only seconds separating the top spots in the overall.

The men's race was all about Prime Alliance's John Peters who spent 100 miles at the front of the race in a three person break.  In the end, it was a heart break effort as he was caught 100 meters from the finish by Saturn's Horner.  Saturn rode tempo at the front for the majority of the race, managing the time gap as none of the three in the break were considered threatening to Rapinski's jersey.  As the group ascended the climb, no pressure was applied until Peters was caught at which point his Prime Alliance teammate countered his impressive effort with a bid for the finish.  Horner was quick on the trigger and jumped away with Vaughters, passing him in the final meters for the win.  Second was Mike Jones (West Virginia).  The overall will see Rapinski start tomorrow's criterium in the lead, flanked by his Saturn teammate, Horner in second.

Results:

Unofficial

Men:
1. Chris Horner – Saturn
2. Mike Jones – West Virginia
3. Jonathon Vaughters – Prime Alliance

Women:
1. Katie Mactier – Saturn
2.  Tina Mayolo or Heather Albert