FITCHBURG —For what it’s worth, the riders came out.
The numbers for the 58th annual Longsjo Classic were respectable, with over 260 cyclists registering across a half dozen divisions. And at the root of the event, those hopping on bikes are the ones that keep it going.
Which is probably a good thing, given the fairly tepid showing from spectators on Sunday afternoon.
Long gone are the days of fans lining the sidewalk three or four deep. Even on a picturesque summer day like the one Fitchburg had Sunday, plenty of real estate was available for those taking in the event. Want a spot at the fence near the start/finish line for the pro races? You wouldn’t have had to jostle much. Outside of directly at the line, space was available both before and after the line.
It’s a shame, especially given the focus this year’s organizers put on drawing the community in, with plenty of distractions outside the race employed to draw the non-racing fan downtown. Music, food, beer, an appearance by women’s Olympic hockey player Erika Lawler. Something for everyone.
And that’s not mentioning the excitement on the pavement, which tends to hook even the most skeptical observer with the race’s speed and technical riding.
As has been the case in the last few years, regardless of who’s watching the cyclists put on a show on the streets of Fitchburg.
Both pro races came down to moves made on the final lap, with siblings Emma and Curtis White claiming victory in their respective divisions.
Curtis White, 24, has found success at the Longsjo Classic in the past, winning in Leominster in 2016, Fitchburg last year, and taking the overall omnium title in 2016. He’s already etched his name in the pantheon of Longsjo legends.
But those in attendance for the women’s race were witnesses to one of women’s racing’s rising stars staking her claim for greatness at the country’s second-oldest cycling event in the country. Emma White, fresh off of claiming the crown at the U.S. National Criterium Championship and the under-23 title at the National Road Race Championship, made a bold move down the stretch and sprinted to the line for the Longsjo victory.
Already the youngest national criterium champion in American history at 21 following her victory on June 28, Emma White made quite a statement in her first win in Fitchburg.
Judging from her older brother’s success at the Longsjo, Emma White is a name Fitchburg cycling fans may be hearing for years to come.
While the race isn’t what it used to be, the former multi-stage gem still obviously draws talented athletes. Big names like Lance Armstrong, Tyler Hamilton and Evelyn Stevens have all pedaled through the downtown criterium in the past.
Even if the Longsjo Classic never returns to its glory of multiple stages in multiple municipalities, the talent that shows up to ride makes it a sight to be seen.
Hopefully its something that potential spectators soon realize.
Nicholas Mallard: @n_mallard on Twitter
