By Kirsten Robbins in Fitchburg, Massachusetts
The 49th annual Fitchburg Longsjo Classic will kick off through the Independence Day holiday weekend from July 3-6 in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. The long running four-stage event has returned to the NRC calendar and has recently become a key event in the New England Race Week.
Since the first edition in 1960, organisers have continued to expand its visibility in memory of Arthur M. Longsjo, the first American athlete (cyclist/speed skater) to compete in both summer and winter Olympics in the same year. Longsjo was killed in an automobile accident in the prime of his career.
The non-profit memorial event has attracted a strong field this year including three past champions: 2005 winner Jonathan Page (Batley-Harley Davidson), 2006 winner Shawn Milne (Team Type 1) and defending champion Jake Rytlewiski (Rite Aid).
Other notable riders from the 140-rider professional men's field include Scott Zwisanski and Aaron Olson (Bissell), Alejandro Borrajo and Anthony Colby (Colavita/Sutter Home), Justin Spinelli (Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast) and John Murphy (Health Net-Maxxis).
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