Speed Week’s Athens Orthopedic Clinic Twilight, presented by Michelob Ultra, and Visit Athens—the first stop on the American Criterium Cup.

April 24, 2023

Monday, April 24, 2023  /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Fifty-two women lined up to the start, a crowded field of National Champions and Olympians. While some tried to escape, the group stayed bunched for most of the race until the last Sprint points sprint at seven to go—speeds when up, as the break attempts became more pointed. Spread out in the straights and lined up through the corners, the eventual winner, Alexis Ryan of Legion of Los Angeles, stayed near the front, rocketing out of turn four, holding on for the long sprint to the finish line, finishing ahead of the field to earn the first ACC, Selle Italia leaders’ jersey of the series, supplied by Primal, the Official Cycling Apparel Partner.

Women’s top three.

1. Alexis RYAN, L39ION of Los Angeles
2. Andrea CYR, Miami Nights
3. Erica ZAVETA, Denver Disruptors

The men’s field, one hundred and thirty-three strong, took to its eighty-lap race. Riders rode flat out in a long line, indicative of the speed. As gaps began to form, riders took to the front to try and stay away, and eventually, the move came with a group of nine, then ten when Artem Shmidt of Hagens Berman Axeon made a huge bridge to join, made it stick and lapped the field. Bryan Gomez of Miami Nights captured the Selle Italia leaders’ jersey, winning by a bike throw against Danny Summerhill of American Cycling.

Men’s top three.

1. Bryan GOMEZ, Miami Nights
2. Danny SUMMERHILL, ACG
3. Robin CARPENTER, L39ION of Los Angeles

Our in-race sprint competition heated up with strong showing by competitors. In our Women’s event, Erica Zaveta of the Denver Disruptors took the lead early, winning the first two sprints. Danny Summerhill of American Cycling, also took the first two sprints before joining the winning move.

Women’s top three.

1. Erica ZAVETA, Denver Disruptors
2. Rachel PLESSING, ButcherBox Cycling p/b LOOK
3. Leah KIRCHMANN, Denver Disruptors

Men’s top three.

1. Danny SUMMERHILL, ACG
2. Dusan KALABA,  ButcherBox Cycling p/b LOOK
3. Evan MCQUIRK, ButcherBox Cycling p/b LOOK

Full results can be found at https://americancritcup.com/results-standings-2023/

The next ACC event is the Sunny King Criterium, Saturday, May 6^th, in Anniston Alabama.

ABOUT AMERICAN CRITERIUM CUP

The American Criterium Cup is a multiple race criterium series that elevates the stature of criterium racing in the United States. The series is led by a group of independent criterium race organizers collaborating with and supported by USA Cycling, with input from professional and domestic teams and athletes. Each event has pledged to execute each event with standards of excellence, high production quality, and safety. In addition to individual event purses, organizers of the series have added $100,000 for a series purse to be split equally among men and women. The total available event and series prize purse is over $500,000

Learn more at americancritcup.com

For more information, contact Peter Discoe pdiscoe@gmail.com