Pro-Team Discount Announced

We’re pleased to announce the 2009 Pro-Team Discount Program for the 50th edition of the Longsjo. This improved discount program applies to Pro/1 Men, and Pro 1/2 Women.

• Register 4 riders by May 25th and get one free
  

• Register 6 riders by May 25th and get two free. Register the first riders online, and we’ll create manual entries for the complimentary positions.
  

• If you have a past Longsjo champion on your team, current national or world champion, (any specialty, road, track, mountain, etc.) a member of the 2008 Olympic team (any specialty or nation) then that rider’s entry fee is automatically waived!
  

• If one of your team directors or managers is a past Longsjo champion and is going to attend the 2009 Longsjo with the team, then we can add a bonus free registration!

Full details can be found here

Colavita is the first full team to sign up, and 2008 winner Kyle Wamsley will attempt to defend his title!

2009 Fitchburg Longsjo Classic Podcast - Episode Four - 2001 Criterium Storm

This episode of the Longsjo Podcast has some incredible footage of the soaking rain that forced the early cancellation of the Pro Men's Criterium in 2001. Baden Cooke took the stage win, as Dick Ring made the call. I remember hearing stories about the rivers that were flowing down the middle of Main St. when this happened. You can see in some of these shots what people are talking about. Anyone want a Briko Umbrella? -Ed

A Greeting from Terry Longsjo-Brackett

In this brief podcast episode, Terry Longsjo - Brackett welcomes back our returning champions. Terry is a remarkable woman who has seen the race develop over 50 years. The Art Longsjo memorial race began, and continues as a tribute to her late husband Arthur M. Longsjo Jr.

2009 Fitchburg Longsjo Podcast Episode Two - Mayor George Bourque Interview

In the second episode of the 2009 Fitchburg Longsjo Classic Podcast we talk to former Fitchburg Mayor George Bourque. Bourque was the mayor of Fitchburg in 1960 during the first Civic Days and Art Longsjo Memorial Race. Anne O'Connor and I (Ed Collier) interviewed Mayor Bourque last year, and he was such a warm, funny character. We can't wait to see him in July for the 50th Longsjo, and the 50th Civic Days! You can also watch the video in higher quality on youtube.

A Longsjo Memory from Lyne Bessette

Lyne Bessette - ’99,’00,’01,’02

I always seem to have found my racing legs just in time for Fitchburg every year! That race was almost a hometown race for me. My parents would drive down, even my uncle and aunt came one year.

In 2000 on the downhill there was a huge crash and I remember the ambulance.... Racers were saying that it was very bad. At that time I didn't know the guy, but it happened to be Tim Johnson who had hit a sign post at full speed. We met that next January in California at the Saturn team camp. He is now my husband!

2009 Fitchburg Longsjo Classic Podcast - Episode One

The Podcast is back online! The first episode of the 2009 Fitchburg Longsjo Classic Podcast is up and running. Head over to longsjo.com/podcast to check it out, or just watch it here on blogger, or follow this link to youtube. It's a long one, about ten minutes. There is some great footage of Davis Phinney, Ron Keifel, and Rebecca Twigg. We've got a ton of footage that has been popping up, so we'll be publishing many more episodes this year. I'm working on the RSS issues with the iTunes store, so as soon as I get that figured out I'll let you know. Enjoy! -Ed

Send us your Longsjo Photos!

We need your photos! (and video too)

In gearing up for the 2009 Longsjo, we're trying to gather as much memorabilia as we can to represent the history of the race. We've got a great collection of shots from the 60s, 70s, and the 2000s, but we could always use more. More from the 80s and 90s especially. Do you have some snapshots you want to share, or digital files you want to send? We will give you photo credit for your submission of course!

If you've got some video or film footage you'd like to share, we'd love to see it. I know that someone out there has some 8mm film of the Longsjo in the 1970s and 80s. We can help you convert that to video, and add it to our archive.

If you've got anything you'd like to share, or questions o how to get it here, send me an email: ecollier @ longsjo.com (remove the spaces)

Photo of Lance in 1992, Courtesy of Art Caponi