Allar triumphs at Athens Terrapin Twilight Criterium

Held under warm muggy weather conditions with a crowd several people deep around the one kilometer loop, the Athens Terrapin Twilight Criterium is a party where a bike race breaks out.

Under the constant thump of dance music and the constant clang of a prime bell, Erica Allar (Ride Clean) jumped out of from the bunch and took the field sprint for the win over Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom-Rose Bandit) and Sarah Fader (Pepper Palace-Spin-Tech Training).

The cash-heavy primes kept the women on the gas throughout the whole 40 lap race. It was one of these primes that motivated Sara Tussey (Veloshine Cycling) to pull away and take several primes. Fortunately for her she was riding solo so there was no splitting the cash with breakaway companions.

As expected she was eventually pulled back into the peloton - but that didn't stop the counter-attacks.

With the pace so high by the halfway point, dropped women racers were being pulled from the race for safety reasons. Those who were still in contention were strung out in single file with Van Gilder at the front.

With the multiple attacks throughout the race, the Mellow Mushroom squad took the responsibility of keeping the breaks in check.

"I thought RideClean might contribute a bit, but they had their race to run and we had ours," said Van Gilder. "We felt confident in having a field sprint, unless there was the right mix (of riders) in a break."

With the daylight completely gone and with just three final remaining laps Tussey and Whitney Schultz (Paceline Projects p/b Veloforma) went off the front. However they only had a handful of seconds lead.

On the bell lap the women's peloton was all together and as expected a field sprint awaited to determine victory.

Coming over the small rise toward the finish line two women came into sight battling for the win. With a throw to the line Allar edged out Van Gilder at the line.

Allar had won last week in the Sunny King Criterium and was gunning for the Athens win.

"Coming off my win in Sunny King I came in knowing that Laura Van Gilder and Jacquelyn Crowell (Exergy) would potentially want to get up off the front and I was fully aware of that move. But I have pretty good pack handling skills and if it came down to a field sprint I could do well there too."

Allar explained her strategy for the last lap.

"Crowell jumped on the back straight and I got on her wheel. I knew if I was patient and timed my sprint well I could win," said Allar.

Allar maintains her lead in the USA CRITS series followed by Debbie Milne (Absolute Racing) and in third Colleen Gulick (Pure Energy Cycling).

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Full Results
1Erica Allar (RideClean-PatentIt.com)0:56:54
2Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom-Rose Bandit Racing)Row 1 - Cell 2
3Sarah Fader (Pepper Palace-Spin-Tech Training)Row 2 - Cell 2
4Jacquelyn Crowell (Exergy)0:00:01
5Debbie Milne (Absolute Racing-MSMOC)Row 4 - Cell 2
6Cinthia Lehner (Pepper Palace-Spin-Tech Training)Row 5 - Cell 2
7Elizabeth Morse Hill (Zmotion)0:00:02
8Laura Parsons (Mellow Mushroom-Rose Bandit Racing)Row 7 - Cell 2
9Addyson 'Addy' Albershardt (NOW-Novartis for MS)Row 8 - Cell 2
10Alexis Ryan (TIBCO-To The Top)Row 9 - Cell 2
11Lindsay Bayer (XO Communications p/b Cisco)0:00:06
12Kristen Meshberg (Spidermonkey)0:00:08
13Lenore Pipes (RideClean-PatentIt.com)Row 12 - Cell 2
14Amy Phillips (Mystique Cycling Team-SCV)0:00:09
15Colleen Gulick (Pure Energy ProAir HFA)Row 14 - Cell 2
16Valeria Galeano (Mellow Mushroom-Rose Bandit Racing)Row 15 - Cell 2
17Kathryn Clark (Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder)Row 16 - Cell 2
18Kristin Lotito (Pure Energy ProAir HFA)Row 17 - Cell 2
19Kat Carr (Paceline Projects p/b Veloforma)0:00:10
20Sara Tussey (VeloShine Cycling Team)0:00:11
21Ann Koehler (Modry Evergreen)0:00:13
22Colleen Hayduk (RideClean-PatentIt.com)Row 21 - Cell 2
23Whitney Schultz (Paceline Projects p/b Veloforma)Row 22 - Cell 2
24Rebecca Larson (Team Type 1-Sanofi)0:00:15
25Liz Gerrity (Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder)0:00:18
26Erica Chard (Pepper Palace-Spin-Tech Training)0:00:19
27Hannah Miller (PainPathways Cycling Team)Row 26 - Cell 2
28Shannon Parrish (Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder)0:00:21
29Morgan Patton (Team Type 1-Sanofi)0:00:23
30Colleen Paine (Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder)0:00:25
31Christy Keely (Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder)Row 30 - Cell 2
32Vanessa Drigo (Vanderkitten-Focus)0:00:27
33Cheryl Fuller Muller (Louis Garneau Factory Team)Row 32 - Cell 2
Swipe to scroll horizontally
USA CRITS standings after round 4
1Erica Allar (RideClean/PatentIt.com)997pts
2Debbie Milne (Absolute Racing)858Row 1 - Cell 3
3Colleen Gulick (Pure Energy Cycling - Proairhfa)735Row 2 - Cell 3
4Colleen Hayduk (RideClean/PatentIt.com)655Row 3 - Cell 3
5Laura Parsons (Mellow Mushroom/Rose Bandit Racing)572Row 4 - Cell 3
6Kristen Lasasso (Mellow Mushroom/Rose Bandit Racing)481Row 5 - Cell 3
7Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom/Rose Bandit Racing)458Row 6 - Cell 3
8Valeria Galeano (Mellow Mushroom/Rose Bandit Racing)447Row 7 - Cell 3
9Jacquelyn Crowell (Exergy TWENTY12)440Row 8 - Cell 3
10Lenore Pipes (RideClean/PatentIt.com)403Row 9 - Cell 3
11Emma Grant (Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies)390Row 10 - Cell 3
12Ann Koehler (Modry/Evergreen)386Row 11 - Cell 3
13Courtney Lowe (Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies)362Row 12 - Cell 3
14Annie Ewart (Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies)349Row 13 - Cell 3
15Alexis Ryan (Team TIBCO)346Row 14 - Cell 3
16Kathryn Clark (Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder)341Row 15 - Cell 3
17Liz Gerrity (Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder)331Row 16 - Cell 3
18Sara Tussey (VeloShine Cycling Team)323Row 17 - Cell 3
19Elizabeth Morse Hill (Zmotion)322Row 18 - Cell 3
20Cinthia Lehner (Pepper Palace/Spin-Tech Training p/b ABRC)290Row 19 - Cell 3
21Kate Ross (Pepper Palace/Spin-Tech Training p/b ABRC)288Row 20 - Cell 3
22Anna Barensfeld (Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies)288Row 21 - Cell 3
23Hanan Alves-Hyde (RideClean/PatentIt.com)262Row 22 - Cell 3
24Leah Kirchmann (Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies)254Row 23 - Cell 3
25Nichole Wangsgard (Primal/MapMyRide)250Row 24 - Cell 3
26Fader Sarah (Pepper Palace/Spin-Tech Training p/b ABRC)242Row 25 - Cell 3
27Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Exergy TWENTY12)240Row 26 - Cell 3
28Erica Chard (Pepper Palace/Spin-Tech Training p/b ABRC)239Row 27 - Cell 3
29Jade Wilcoxson (Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies)228Row 28 - Cell 3
30Morgan Patton (Team Type 1 - Sanofi)226Row 29 - Cell 3
31Anna Lang (Velo Club LanGrange)225Row 30 - Cell 3
32Kendall Ryan (Team TIBCO)222Row 31 - Cell 3
33Elizabeth Morse Hill (Zmotion)220Row 32 - Cell 3
34Sabrina Forbes (Two-Wheel Jones Racing)216Row 33 - Cell 3
35Christina Gokey-Smith (NOW and Novartis for MS)215Row 34 - Cell 3
36Stephanie Skoreyko (Kallisto/Wheels of Oakville)215Row 35 - Cell 3
37Albershardt Addyson 'Addy' (NOW-Novartis for MS)210Row 36 - Cell 3
38Zoe Mullins (Colavita)204Row 37 - Cell 3
39Bayer Lindsay (XO Communications p/b Cisco)202Row 38 - Cell 3
40Amy McQuire200Row 39 - Cell 3
41Gwen Inglis (Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder)200Row 40 - Cell 3
42Meshberg Kristen (Spidermonkey)197Row 41 - Cell 3
43Greta Neimanas (Exergy TWENTY12)196Row 42 - Cell 3
44Tracey Perez (TriSports Cycling/Eclipse Racing)196Row 43 - Cell 3
45Maura Kinsella (Vanderkitten-Focus)195Row 44 - Cell 3
46Shannon Koch (GG Events Management)192Row 45 - Cell 3
47Hannah Miller (PainPathways Cycling Team)191Row 46 - Cell 3
48Amy Phillips (Mystique Cycling Team / SCV)189Row 47 - Cell 3
49Shannon Parrish (Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder)188Row 48 - Cell 3
50Amity Elliot (Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder)187Row 49 - Cell 3
51Peggy Legrand (US Military Team)187Row 50 - Cell 3
52Natalie Koch (Landis/Trek)183Row 51 - Cell 3
53Kacey Manderfield (Pure Energy Cycling ProAirHFA)179Row 52 - Cell 3
54Melanie Colavito (Landis/Trek)179Row 53 - Cell 3
55Marilyn Gullimane (FloridaVelo)179Row 54 - Cell 3
56Meghan Korol (Pepper Palace/Spin-Tech Training p/b ABRC)173Row 55 - Cell 3
57Kristin Lotito (Pure Energy Proair HFA)173Row 56 - Cell 3
58Robin Farina (NOW and Novartis for MS)172Row 57 - Cell 3
59Lex Albrecht (Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies)171Row 58 - Cell 3
60Kristin Sanders (Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies)169Row 59 - Cell 3
61Carr Kat (Paceline Projects p/b Veloforma)169Row 60 - Cell 3
62Olivia Dillon (NOW and Novartis for MS)167Row 61 - Cell 3
63Kristy Neuenschwander (St. Pete Bike Fitness)167Row 62 - Cell 3
64Kristen Hetzel (TriSports Cycling/Eclipse Racing)166Row 63 - Cell 3
65Sara Fader (R2 Racing)159Row 64 - Cell 3
66Judy Jenkins (Landis/Trek)159Row 65 - Cell 3
67Chloe Black (TriSports Cycling/Eclipse Racing)156Row 66 - Cell 3
68Schultz Whitney (Paceline Projects p/b Veloforma)156Row 67 - Cell 3
69Anne Samplonius (NOW and Novartis for MS)155Row 68 - Cell 3
70Sheila Cousins (Morgan Stanley Specialized)155Row 69 - Cell 3
71Heather Dunphy (TriSports Cycling/Eclipse Racing)154Row 70 - Cell 3
72Lauren De Crescenzo (Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder)152Row 71 - Cell 3
73Larson Rebecca (Team Type 1 - Sanofi)152Row 72 - Cell 3
74Lindsay Myers (Team TIBCO)151Row 73 - Cell 3
75Merideth Miller (Team TIBCO)144Row 74 - Cell 3
76Lauren Tamayo (Exergy TWENTY12)134Row 75 - Cell 3
77Paine Colleen (Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder)132Row 76 - Cell 3
78Elizabeth 'Beth' Newell (NOW and Novartis for MS)131Row 77 - Cell 3
79Alison Powers (NOW and Novartis for MS)131Row 78 - Cell 3
80Keely Christy (Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder)129Row 79 - Cell 3
81Drigo Vanessa (Vanderkitten-Focus)127Row 80 - Cell 3
82Fuller Muller Cheryl (Louis Garneau Factory Team)123Row 81 - Cell 3
83Marianne Holt (PainPathways Cycling Team)116Row 82 - Cell 3
84Yesica Mendoza110Row 83 - Cell 3
85Emily Shields (PainPathways Cycling Team)107Row 84 - Cell 3
86Krystal McNutt (Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder)104Row 85 - Cell 3
87Bergen Watterson (Pepper Palace/Spin-Tech Training p/b ABRC)101Row 86 - Cell 3
88Allison Arensman (Pepper Palace/Spin-Tech Training p/b ABRC)98Row 87 - Cell 3
89Stephanie Swan (Pro Bikes - Pittsburgh Racing Team)77Row 88 - Cell 3
90Jennifer Greenberg (Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder)74Row 89 - Cell 3
91Katherine Shields (PainPathways Cycling Team)68Row 90 - Cell 3
92Carrie Cash (Pedal the Cause)62Row 91 - Cell 3
93Setter Jocelyn (Stranamanti Cycling)61Row 92 - Cell 3
94Brostrom Valerie (RideClean/PatentIt.com)60Row 93 - Cell 3
95Marquardt Mandy (Team Type 1 - Sanofi)60Row 94 - Cell 3
96May Jennie (Louis Garneau Factory Team)60Row 95 - Cell 3
97Rice Sarah (Spidermonkey cycling)60Row 96 - Cell 3
98Ross Melissa (Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder)60Row 97 - Cell 3
99Schepps Rebecca (Team Type 1 - Sanofi)60Row 98 - Cell 3
100Stephanie Bunnett (Pepper Palace/Spin-Tech Training p/b ABRC)60Row 99 - Cell 3
101Stephanie Cucaz (Frazier Cycling)60Row 100 - Cell 3
102Frazier Zoe (Frazier Cycling)60Row 101 - Cell 3
103Komanski Lauren (PainPathways Cycling Team)60Row 102 - Cell 3
104Rossouw Klara (Pepper Palace/Spin-Tech Training p/b ABRC)60Row 103 - Cell 3
105Shore Dominiqiue (Frazier Cycling)60Row 104 - Cell 3
106Stacey Jensen (Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder)60Row 105 - Cell 3
107Debbie Praity60Row 106 - Cell 3
108Amy Horstmeyer (352 Racing pb Bikes & More)60Row 107 - Cell 3
109Skylar Schneider (Team TIBCO)60Row 108 - Cell 3
110Christine Roettger (Pedal the Cause)60Row 109 - Cell 3
111Jennifer Schuble (US Paralympics)60Row 110 - Cell 3
112Marilyn Cullinane (Florida Velo)60Row 111 - Cell 3
113Arigail Aldridge (Frazier Cycling)60Row 112 - Cell 3
114Dana Walton (Chester County Cycling Foundation)50Row 113 - Cell 3
115Emily Weinert (Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder)50Row 114 - Cell 3
116Lauren Rigby (VeloShine Cycling Team)50Row 115 - Cell 3
117Tamyra Barnard (Alligator's Cycling Club)50Row 116 - Cell 3
118Michelle Blake (Colavita)50Row 117 - Cell 3
119Daniela Garcia (Park Place Dealerships/sun & ski cycling team)50Row 118 - Cell 3
120Hannah Hayduk (Team Alliance Environmental / Chester County Cycling Foundation)50Row 119 - Cell 3
121Crystal Little (Mellow Mushroom/Rose Bandit Racing)50Row 120 - Cell 3
122Corinne Schmid (Alligator's Cycling Club)50Row 121 - Cell 3
123Savannah Sill (Florida State University)50Row 122 - Cell 3
124Kimberly Truitt (TriSports Cycling/Eclipse Racing)50Row 123 - Cell 3

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Latest on Cyclingnews