FITCHBURG — Sunday’s 58th installment of the Longsjo Classic professional cycling served as the capstone event for a busy week of downtown activities.
While the city’s Fourth of July festivities had a local feel, the Longsjo races drew spectators and racer, from throughout the Northeast to the city.
Jason Longsjo, the nephew of the late Olympian Arthur Longsjo, the race’s namesake, was happy about the 2019 iteration of the classic race. Over the years the event has gone from taking place in multiple communities over the course of a weekend to being a one-day race in Fitchburg.
“I think the turnout was really good,” said Longsjo, president of the Art Longsjo Foundation. “We want to really concentrate on growing the race here in Fitchburg, making it a more well-rounded event. That’s where we are headed with this, and we’ll start planning next year’s event tomorrow.”
Longsjo officials worked hard to intertwine the race with other events in the community. There was music before and after the races at River Styx Brewing, and with the Monica McNamara Band performing at the gazebo after the event. A coffee truck and ice cream truck were on hand, as well as downtown businesses showcasing their goods.
Despite turnout growing as the day progressed, Longsjo officials are hoping next year will bring even more people in from the community to come and enjoy the event.
“I think we’ve still got a way to go to figure out what will drive the community to come out and watch this race,” Art Longsjo Foundation Executive Director Reese Brown said. “There were people picnicking, lots of food, beer in two locations, and I think the kids’ race was awesome, and it’s just awesome watching these professionals race. It was a good start, but we have a little more to do now.”
Fitchburg Mayor Stephen DiNatale sees the Longsjo Classic as a catalyst for economic development. The race complements a number of other revitalization projects, including the rehabbing of historic City Hall, which aim to reinvigorate Fitchburg’s city center.
“This is a Fitchburg race,” DiNatale said. “Anything that brings people down to the center of Fitchburg, to some of our picturesque areas, is a great event. This entire week has been filled with great things. We want you to spend your dollars, look at this beautiful common, and watch this amazing race.” The Longsjo Classic could not operate without a small army of volunteers. One such volunteer, Councilor at Large Anthony Zarrella, who was conducting crosswalk duty at the event, notes that the race not only gives Fitchburg name recognition, but also helps local businesses.
“The Longsjo is a proud Fitchburg tradition,” Zarrella said. “It’s one of the things that popularizes Fitchburg across the country. It brings people from all over, there are some from outside of the country. Some will leave right after the race, but others are going to be here and go out to dinner. People who aren’t from Fitchburg will be here long enough to take a look at what we have to offer.”
Prior to the men’s pro race, organizers raised an Olympic flag, provided by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, over the Arthur Logjso Monument, situated in the Upper Common between Workers Credit Union and the Calvinistic Congregational Church. Arthur Longsjo was the first American to compete in both the Summer and Winter Olympics in the same year.
United States Massachusetts 3rd District Rep. Lori Trahan was at the ceremony and spoke about the history and achievements of Longsjo.
“(Longso) competed as a cyclist in Melbourne (Australia) in the summer of 1956 and then on the speed skating team in Cortina d’Ampezzo (Italy),” Trahan said. “It is incredible. I can’t think of a better place for the Olympic flag to fly, than in Fitchburg.”
Former Olympic hockey player and Fitchburg native Erika Lawler attended the race. She helped lead the U.S. women’s hockey team to a silver medal at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada.
Lawler marveled at how Longsjo could be an Olympian in two sports. “To be an Olympian in two different sports is amazing,” she said. “I could hardly do it in one. To specialize in two totally different things that well, better than the majority of the world, is impressive.”
Longsjo Middle School teacher Camilo Neves was on the Upper Common offering children the opportunity to design their own Longsjo racer. He plans to combine the images into a large mosaic for display at Longsjo Middle School.
“It gives families and kids a different option at the race if they don’t want to just watch the race,” Neves said. “We’re doing this at Longsjo Middle School and Reingold’s 21st century summer camp, basically teaching them about Arthur Longsjo, and trying to build local culture in the community through small arts projects.”
Bill Collins, a spectator from southern New Hampshire, has been attending the Longsjo Classic for the past couple of decades.
“My wife and I are fans of the cycling sport,” Collins said. “The criterium is a good fan race, because you usually get to see the cyclists only go around like five times.”