The Giro di Burnaby was in good hands this year.
The California-based United Heathcare team swept the podium at the Giro for a second time at B.C. Superweek as Luke Keough claimed his third straight podium title with a victory on the streets of Burnaby Heights on Thursday after earlier wins in UBC and the night before in Gastown.
Keough led an all-United Healthcare sweep with runner-up Ken Hanson, the winner of the 2012 Giro, and Australian Hilton Clarke, the Giro di Burnaby winner in 2006, in third place in the 45-lap, 55km men’s criterium.
United Healthcare swept the prodium at the UBC Grand Prix earlier in the week and placed riders first and third at Gastown.
Keough said achieving results like this may look easy to the unpractised eye but it is hard work.
“People say it looks easy, but we have six guys committed to one goal,” he said.
Like the women’s crit, no rider was able to establish a clear break from the pack, although Team Colmbia’s Sebastian Molano and Jan-Niklas Droste of Team Heizomat tried, because the alignment of the course and the strength of the headwind leading up Hastings Street after the 180-degree hairpin turn on Madison Avenue.
“This race, everyone was racing so fast, you just try and ride as fast as the breakaway,” said Keough after the race. You just have to ride really steady.”
Last year, United Healthcare won 32 of 34 races the team entered. They are doing equally well this season.
Keough also expects the team to be back next year.
“To have a crowd like this, screaming and yelling, it gives us all the energy in the world to come back next year,” Keough said. “We’ve heard its great racing (up here). It’s just a prestige event that brought us here.”
