Allar Takes Third at Spartanburg Criterium
Spartanburg, SC - Team Vera Bradley Foundation’s Erica Allar secured her fourth Speedweek podium on Friday evening in downtown Spartanburg. In a race that saw multiple attacks, plentiful primes and the biggest crowds since Athens, Allar sprinted to 3rd place behind Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Colavita) and Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom). Allar continues to sit second in the overall behind Cliff-Ryan.
The race was aggressive from the gun. Elizabeth Morse Hill (Z-Motion) launched the first attack two laps into the 50 lap race. As soon as Morse Hill was absorbed by the field, Treads.com/DFT countered. Allar and Cash sat in towards the front ready to go with dangerous moves. “It was a hard race,” said Allar. “The hardest so far, maybe. There were a few times where I was really hurting, and then the pace would let up just enough that I could recover and get ready to go again.”
Cash outsprinted Anna Lang (Vanderkitten) for the first prime of the race. After Cash nabbed her third prime, the announcer dubbed her the “Queen of Primes.” “I was just living up to my name,” jokes Cash, who says she’s feeling much better now that her allergies are clearing up a bit.
The race remained animated until about ten laps to go when Vanderkitten and Colavita came to the front to take control of the pace. As the strung out field completed the final laps, all attempted attacks were immediately shut down. In the final lap, Allar came into the second to last turn fourth wheel. She jumped around Seehafer coming out of the final turn but was not able to get past Van Gilder and Cliff-Ryan who had jumped earlier. “It’s about following the right wheel,” said Allar. “There are two days of racing left. Two more chances.”
Allar and Cash race in Charlotte, NC on Saturday. Watch for updates on the team's Twitter and Facebook pages.
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