Concord Man Wins Criterium Men's Pro Race [VIDEO]

Issac Howe seemed a little surprised after he won the Portsmouth Criterium Men's Pro race Sunday afternoon.

He said he hadn't trained much in the last few weeks because he was studying to take his MCAS test to he can go to medical school. But halfway through the final race of the 7th annual Smuttynose Brewing Co. Portsmouth Criterium, Howe grabbed the lead and never looked back.

He rode 45 kilometers in 1:02:15 and edged out Peter Bell of the Metlife Cycling Team of Cambridge, Mass., and third place finisher Robbie King of the Boston Bicycling School of North Andover, Mass.

"I've never been happy riding out in front early," said Howe, 25.

He said he prefers to grab the lead in the last 200 meters.

In the Women's Pro race, Kate Carr of Bell Lap Coaching of Salt Lake City, Utah, was the first place finisher with a time of 44:07 minutes. She bested Melissa Ross of Team Kenda Presented by Gear Grinders of Norwood, Mass., and Danielle Ruane of Sunapee/Continental Paving/Revolution C of Webster, who finished third.

Earlier in the day, Sean Casey of Allston, Mass., was the Men's Category 4 race with a time of 44:48 and Joseph Lynch of Portland, Maine, won the Men's Category 3 race with a time of 42:51. In the Community Challenge, Robert Davis and his team from First Colebrook Bank of Portsmouth won first place. They rode 12 kilometers with a time of 17:12.