PORTSMOUTH — Cyclist Isaac Howe, 26, of Concord, seemed to come out of nowhere to win the 8th annual Portsmouth Criterium for the second year in a row on Sunday, sprinting ahead within 20 feet of the finish line.

Howe said a knowledge of the course and an ability to apply the necessary speed at the end led him to the win, ahead of Logan Owen, 17, of Bremerton, Wash., and Gabe Varela of Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, who placed second and third, respectively.

Both Owen and Varela race with Hagens Berman Cycling, and Howe said they kept the race fast. Howe races for Kenda/5-Hour Energy and was the only member of that race team to participate in the pro race.

Howe said he is best in the last 200 meters, and said it is not just about speed, but also timing, positioning and “a lot of luck.”

Behind him, a few riders did not have that luck, with a crash taking down at least three riders just before the finish line. No one was seriously injured.

New Hampshire riders also fared well in the other competitive races of the day. Steve Stockwell of Hopkinton, racing with the Sunapee/Continental Paving/Buchikas team, placed third in the Masters 40 behind Matthew Kressey of Wellesley, Mass. Racing with Designtown-Velocite, who placed second, and Paul Richard of Amesbury, Mass., racing with CCB Racing, coming in first.

Aaron Miller, of Hopkinton, racing with Paycheck to Paycheck, placed third in the CAT-4 race, behind Tom Reagan of Freeport, Maine, riding with the Sunapee Racing Team, who placed first. Matt Doremus, of Somerville, Mass., riding with Treshold Cycling, placed second.

The pro race may draw the biggest crowds, but the children’s races might draw the biggest fans each year to the Portsmouth Criterium.

Since the event was re-born eight years ago, thanks to the work of co-organizers Susanne Delaney and Catherine Keenan, it has focused more and more on involving the community.

There is no better example than the Community Challenge Race, which draws up to 15 teams of four from area businesses to raise money for the Krempels Center, an area nonprofit that offers assistance to people who have suffered various types of traumatic brain injury.

Pro riders Ted and Rob King are longtime supporters of the race, and have a personal connection to the Krempels Center.

Their father, Dr. Ted King, Sr., a surgeon, benefited from the Krempels Center after suffering a stroke in 2003, and this year participated with the Krempels Center team in the Community Challenge race.

“At the end of the day, with Krempels, we want to have an inclusive community and seeing Dr. (Ted) King out there riding that whole race, it just brings it home to everybody,” said Neal Ouellett, a Krempels Center board member. “We all have skills and everybody belongs.”

Ouellett was also a member of the Krempels Center racing team.

“It’s harder than it looks,” he said. “But it’s for a good cause.”

Cyclists young and old, experienced and novice, all seemed to enjoy their day on the course.

“The course was a great, classic New England criterium course,” rider Jeff Palleiko of Rollinsford said after helping the Exeter Cycles team win the Community Challenge race. “It is mostly smooth, historic buildings and excellent spectators. There’s just a great outdoor community here.”

Smuttynose Brewing Company has sponsored the event for the last eight years, and president Peter Egelston said events like Criterium are good for the entire community, including local businesses.

“If you look at the big picture, events like this are very good for the Portsmouth business community. It draws a very large amount of attention to downtown Portsmouth, which draws dividends 365 days a year,” Egelston said.