Dionne, Colavita take another stage win

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Charles Dionne (Fly V. Australia) won his second consecutive stage at the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic’s finale, jumping ahead of his breakaway companions Luis Amaran (Colavita-Sutter Home) and Thomas Soladay (Mountain Khakis). The French-Canadian gained enough time bonuses from his two victories to finish second place in the overall classification.

Dionne and Soladay followed Zach Bell (Kelly Benefit Strategies) across to the day’s decisive breakaway. Bell’s efforts claimed him the overall victory after overcoming a six second deficit to previous race leader Tom Zirbel (Bissell).

“Once I got there I just emptied the tank to keep the group moving,” said Bell. “Charles was able to sprint for the win and I was focused on gaining as much time as possible for the overall.”

The late-race breakaway finished 15 seconds ahead of the main field, which included the yellow jersey. The Bissell squad’s desperate attempt to reduce the time gap to the threatening breakaway was not enough, with Zirbel forced to settle for third overall.

“Yeah, I knew we could do it but it came right down to the wire,” said Bell. “I was only six seconds back and for our team, in a criterium...it was doable. Especially because we have so many riders that could put pressure on Bissell. But as always in these situations, winning meant that things had to go our way.”

Bissell’s six-rider squad successfully controlled the front of the field early in the race to protect its leader in the two previous stages. The pressure increased during the 80-kilometre race, the last chance for riders to move ahead in the overall or capture a stage win. The professional men’s peloton negotiated a 1.5 kilometre circuit that included three tight corners in the notorious downtown Fitchburg criterium.

The race started with a flurry of attacks and mid-race a move set sail that included eight riders. The highest place riders in the break included Michael Creed (Team Type 1), Tony Cruz and Ina McKissick (BMC) along with strong-men Amaran, Mike Friedman (Garmin Slipstream), Matt Wilson (Team Type 1), Derrick St-John (Garneau Club Chaussuer), Tyler Wren (Colavita-Sutter Home) and Patrick McCarty (OUCH p/b Maxxis).

The break gradually gained time on the peloton until it have over one minute on the peloton. The reward for working harder was each individual rider’s chance to move ahead in the overall classification. Bell’s team-mates became uncomfortable with the time split and kicked in a few riders to help Bissell in the chase.

“We were losing our place in GC too and we originally wanted to make sure it was a field sprint so that I could go for the time bonus, we though that was our best chance of winning the race,” Bell said.

After hard work brought the margin down to 20 seconds, Bell saw an opportunity to make his winning move. “I saw that after chasing, Bissell was really starting to crack and Tom only had a few riders left,” said Bell. “I felt really good so I decided to jump across to the break instead of chasing more. I knew that I had to use my sprint to get away from Zirbel because he has such a good time trial.

“I was shocked that he wasn’t there and I was also lucky that when made it across the guys still motivated to drive it,” he added.

Stevens captures first NRC stage race title as Pic wins finale

Colavita-Sutter Home capped off a successful weekend of racing with a third straight victory at the stage race criterium finale. The squad’s sprinter Tina Pic won the bunch gallop to the line ahead of Jen McRae (Team Type 1) and Erica Allar (BMW-Bianchi).
“It was tough because my team covered a lot of stuff today and I felt pretty bad,” said Pic. “Jen had a gap and just galloped away and I had to full on chase her to the finish. I didn’t think I was going to get her. We are really excited about winning three stages because we feel like we are getting it together.”

Evelyn Stevens (Lip Smackers) solidified her first NRC stage race victory at the 50th Fitchburg Longsjo Classic ahead two heavy-hitting talents. US Time Trial Champion Alison Powers (Team Type 1) finished second overall and the legendary French cyclist Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli (Vital Plus) took third.

“It was exciting to win here especially ahead of two great riders,” Stevens said. “I couldn’t have done it without the backing of my team. There were some attacks and it was a hard race but my team was chasing stuff down and they kept me nice and protected all day.”

The fourth and finale stage presented the riders with an exciting 40-kilometre criterium held in downtown Fitchburg. The 1.5-kilometre course was flat and fast where riders needed to bring their strong technical abilities in order to negotiate three tight corners.

Team Type 1 started the stage on a mission to bump Alison Powers back up into the overall lead. Powers started the stage-race in the leader’s jersey after her winning performance in the opening time trial but lost it to Stevens after the stage two circuit race. “Our plan was to look for opportunities for Alison to go up the road during the second half of the race,” said McRae.

Former US Criterium Champion Theresa Cliff-Ryan captured the points jersey. “Theresa was a couple points behind me and she was so good today,” said Kelly Benjamin, who started the day in the points lead. “She was on everything and she took the first two sprints. After that I did what I could to help Tina in the finish.”

With the field in tact Team Type 1 moved ahead to plan-B: lead-out and sprint. Colavita-Sutter Home had the same plan in mind and both squads displayed a strong presence at the front of the peloton. McRae came out of the final corner in the lead with hopes of holding off Pic to the line.

“I wanted get a gap and I thought I had it but Tina passed me at the line,” she said. “It was a moment where you think you have it but then you don’t.”