Emerson Oronte takes Superior Morgul crit win with seconds to spare

Emerson Oronte wins the pro-1-2 men’s race in the Superior Morgul Classic criterium

It was so close he didn’t have time to raise his arms skyward. Emerson Oronte (Horizon Organic/Einstein Bros) got his first win in four years on day two of the three-day Superior Morgul Classic in a criterium race. He attacked the field with two laps remaining and held on, finishing two seconds in front of second place Gage Hecht (Team Specialized Racing) and third place David Kessler (California Giant Berry Farms/Specialized).

Oronte’s team rode aggressively throughout the sixty minute contest, placing riders in the break and driving a hard pace.

“It was quick, a little bit hectic,” the winner said post-race. “There are few places to move up and it’s hard to move up so it’s about holding position. The whole race was just kind of this washing machine from start to finish.

“We like to show at these local races and do well. We usually travel a lot on the NRC circuit and so when we’re here we like to let our presence be known and have fun and I think we did that today.”

Taylor Shelden tries to get a gap

Taylor Shelden (5-hour Energy p/b Kenda), Kessler, and members of the Primal-Audi Denver and Rio Grande teams also made strong efforts to separate from the field.

Oronte made his move when the field caught a breakaway of three guys.

“There was a little bit of a lull heading into the more technical neighborhood section,” he said, “and I just sort of hit it and put my head down and hung on to the end.

“I’m pretty happy. I haven’t won a bike race in a pretty long time so this is great. I really don’t know how to digest it quite yet. It’s a good group of guys and a great team and I’m happy to be racing in Colorado.”

The twenty-four year-old’s last win came in 2000 in the local New England Tokeneke Classic Road Race where he got in a break-away with Jeremy Powers. “I still managed to win and I remember being so excited about that,” Oronte recalled.

Today the peloton of about forty riders tackles a portion of the legendary Morgul-Bismark circuit on the final day of the Superior Morgul Classic. Oronte’s teammate Fabio Calabria holds the omnium lead. With four riders within five points of his total, the day’s action should prove to be one of the best in the local Colorado road season.

“We’re looking to have some fun and make the race hard tomorrow,” Oronte said on Saturday.

For full results see the Bicycle Racing Association of Colorado website.

Fabio Calabria bear hugs Emerson Oronte with Gage Hecht (left) and David Kessler on the podium

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