Superior Morgul Classic gets USA Pro Cycling backing

Winners of Denver's amateur Superior Morgul Classic may get a chance to also win professional contracts following news that the event - which features races for men and women - will in future be run by Boulder Racing and USA Pro Cycling, with victors earning a place in the prestigious USA Pro Cycling Challenge.

The Morgul parcours uses parts of the Red Zinger and Coor's Classic routes, including two infamous climbs known as The Hump and The Wall, to make up one of the most difficult amateur races in the US. Last year, more than a quarter of a million people turned out to watch the finish - as the race will now be filmed by television crews, this means sponsors are likely to take more of an interest; allowing the event to grow.

"We want to support the sport of professional cycling," says ," said Stacie Lange, spokesman for the USA Pro Cycling, "and it starts with embracing amateur events like the Superior Morgul."