Allar repeats as Athens Twilight champion

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The 34th edition of the Terrapin Twilight Criterium was held under beautiful weather conditions which produced a sprint win in the women's race with Erica Allar (Care4Cycling p/b Solomon Corp) and a solo vixtory by Kevin Mullervy (Champion System p/b Stan's NoTubes).

“With ten laps to go we knew it was going to be a field sprint,” said Allar. “In the final turn I was following Jennifer Purcell's and with the tailwind (into the home stretch) I knew I had to make a run off of her wheel,” said Allar.

Allar won the Terrapin Twilight last year. “I was super motivated to win in Athens for a second year in a row.”

At the halfway point two women were able to get a slight gap: Christina Gokey-Smith (Rouse/Oogie Racing) and Lindsay Bayer (Colavita/Fine Cooking). They were allowed a few laps of freedom and scooped up several primes for their effort. With 13 laps remaining the sprinters moved to the front of the peloton with no team taking control.

As the race entered the single digits remaining Colavita/Fine Cooking moved to the front for their sprinter Jennifer Purcell.Also in the mix was Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) looking to take advantage of Colavita/Fine Cooking's hard work at the front.

On the penultimate lap, one last prime was offered and what was once an organized lead-out train of Colavita riders was now a large group curb to curb.

On the backside of the course with 500 meters to go Morgan Patton (Team Novo Nordisk) attacked and got a gap. However, the slight decline to the finish line helped the peloton bring her back just before the line and Allar had the fastest sprint to take the win by several bike lengths.

Mullervy defies the odds

With four laps remaining Kevin Mullervy (Champion System p/b Stan's NoTubes) jumped away breakaway companions Frank Travieso (SmartStop-Mountain Khakis) and Carlos Alzate (UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling) to take a solo win at the Terrapin Twilight Criterium.

Mullervy, perhaps the lesser known of the trio took advantage of a stalemate between the other two notable criterium racers to steal the show.

“I didn't even attack, they (Alzate and Travieso) were just staring at each other. I put my head down and went,” said Mullervy of his race winning move.

The last lap was hard, but Mullervy was inspired.

“I was red-lined the entire way and they (the crowd) brought me to the line. I feel like I'm dreaming. This is the biggest win of my life by far.”

On the first lap a two-hundred dollar prime was announced which launched Jean Michel LeChance (Team Predator). He was joined by Bobby Lea (SmartStop-Mountain Khakis) but the duo were quickly brought back.

The next serious attack came from Adrian Hegyvary (UnitedHealthcare) and Thomas Brown (SmartStop-Mountain Khakis). A third rider Adam Koble (Giant South) bridged and helped increase the time gap grew to 17 seconds. Slightly behind the trio and chasing hard was solo rider David Guttenplan (AG Bicycles/Guttenplan Coaching).

Guttenplan was unable to make the juncture and was caught by the peloton. The leading trio continued to hold a solid 28 second gap.

At the front of the chasing peloton was the Team Predator Carbon Repair squad as they had missed what was looking to be a dangerous move.

With 29 laps of the 80 laps remaining the Predator lead peloton was finally brought the escapees to heel.

The counter-attacks were immediate and Frank Travieso (SmartStop-Mountain Khakis), Kevin Mullervy (Champion System p/b Stan's NoTubes), and Carlos Alzate (UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling) were the next serious move of the night. They were able to get a 13 second gap. After several laps they expanded their lead to 23 seconds.

With 17 laps remaining the trio increased their lead to 33 seconds. Travieso, Mullervy, and Alzate were working together as the SmartStop-Mountain Khakis squad were at the front of the chasing peloton squashing any chases.

With eight laps remaining the trio had a large enough gap that they were getting close to lapping the field.

On the backside of the course with 5 laps to go Mullervy attacked. Travieso and Alzate looked at each other, neither wanting to expend the energy to bring the Champion System rider back.

Behind him Travieso and Alzate couldn't or wouldn't work together and instead continued to look at each other.

With one lap to go there was a large crash in the main field. Mullervy, who was approaching the back of the field, had to pick his way around the riders who were straightening bars or picking themselves off the ground.

The crash didn't hamper the Champion System rider and he crossed the finish line with his arms in a victory salute. Several seconds behind him Alzate out sprinted Travieso for second.

Full Results

Women's Results