The Superior Morgul Classic: Day 1, Summit Criterium

Race report by Shawn Lortie

(May 29, 2011)Superior, Colo.-An old Colorado road race is making it’s comeback in the form of the The Superior Morgul Classic. This road race has it’s roots in the Red Zinger and Coors Classic days when many of the nations top professionals would show up to do battle. The new incarnation of the race, now in it’s second year, also includes the Summit Criterium on Saturday before the road race the next day.

This year the Crit race drew good-sized fields and quite a few spectators to witness some great racing. The Start/Finish line lay in the middle of a long straight climb with plenty of room to battle it out before the first corner that lead into the narrower section of the course. A couple of fast corners through the alleys of a townhome complex led the racers back out onto the surface street and into a downhill with a wide sweeping left turn back up to the finish line.

In the Women’s Pro race the Primal/Map My Ride team continued its series of strong performances on the regional scene. The team’s duo of Megan Hottman and Casey Clark broke away from the pack early in the race, bringing along Catherine Johnson (Big Ring Cycles) for the ride. The gap between the breakaway and the pack grew quickly; until it seemed unlikely the breakaway would be caught within the 50-minute race.

With Hottman and Clark teaming up against Johnson, they were able to wear down the lone Big Ring Cycles rider. With about 5 laps to go Hottman took off on her own, never looking back.  She rode solo to the victory, leaving her teammate Clark to battle it out with Johnson for second. Johnson kept it tight until the end, but after working hard the entire race to stay in the breakaway, she lost the sprint to Clark to take third for the day.

In the Men’s Pro race, a group of six was able to get away from the pack early in the race. With three HorizonOrganic/Panache riders in the group, Josh Yeaton, Scott Moninger, and Alex Welch, it looked like teamwork would once again play a large part in the race. Garret Suydam (Big Ring U-25) did much of the early work in the break, helping to insure the group would not be caught by the pack. Russell Harding (Natural Grocers), Kieth Harper (Jewi Solar/First Solar), were also among the riders in the break.

Eventually the group felt secure enough to begin the battle for the podium spots.  After a few initial breakaway attempts, the group remained intact until with a lap to go, Harper attacked through the start/finish.  “I got off the front with Harper, but I didn’t work because I had teammates behind,” said Yeaton “I waited, Scott bridged, and then he led me out. I took off at 200 meters and it worked out perfectly.” Yeaton took the win, with Harper holding on for second and Moninger taking third.