Spartanburg, South Carolina – The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team scored a pair of podium results in South Carolina earlier tonight, with sprinting sensations Jake Keough (USA) taking 1st place and Robert Förster (GER) securing 3rd place in the 8th Annual Spartanburg Regional Classic. Carlos Alzate (COL) of Team Exergy took 2nd place in the evening’s criterium, part of the USA CRITS SpeedWeek series.
Photo by Daniel Carruthers
Having just returned from a rigorous European racing schedule where the Team fought through injury, illness and weather, the sprinting duo of Keough and Förster delivered the podium results for the five-man squad that included Brad White (USA), Adrian Hegyvary (USA) and Jay Thomson (RSA).
Following the race, Keough stated, “Tonight was a really fast and hard race. All of the teams stepped up and raced well, so it’s really nice to get the win for this Team.”
Keough continued, “It’s good to be racing again in the US. We just got back on Sunday from a big European campaign. Racing in Europe is hard. It’s a different style of racing but it prepares you for anything. This Team just continues to work together and never quits. Tonight was a good result for us and we’re looking forward to the rest of SpeedWeek.”
Tonight’s Spartanburg Criterium was a fast and furious race that experienced two neutralizations due to large crashes involving more than half the field. After the second restart, the teams with larger contingencies made their move to the front to increase the pace in an effort to string out the field. With eight laps remaining, Team UnitedHealthcare’s Blue Train moved into formation to gain control of the lead out. One lap later, Team Kenda/5Hour Energy leapfrogged the boys in blue and held fast until five circuits were left. The shuffling of the deck created hesitation amongst the multiple teams jockeying for position with their lead out trains. Then, the relentless Hegyvary along with Teammates White and Thomson took initiative and lead an organized Blue Train through the final three laps to deliver Keough and Förster to the podium.
Photo by Daniel Carruthers
Team Director, Mike Tamayo, said, “We are happy to see the boys take a win in the Southeast Crits. Jake and Robert did a fantastic job, as well as Jay, Brad and Adrian. The Gila Team was watching from New Mexico and cheering the boys on while the race was streamed live. It’s great motivation for the entire Team while we defend the SRAM Tour of the Gila lead.”
The UnitedHealthcare Team members racing in the Southeast will continue racing in the USA CRITS SpeedWeek series throughout the weekend. The squad squares off against the field once again in Anderson, South Carolina tomorrow at the Electric City Circuit, followed the Global Imports Sandy Springs Cycling Cycling Challenge on Sunday, May 6, in Sandy Springs, Georgia.
The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team Roster for the USA CRITS SpeedWeek:
Jake Keough (USA)
Robert Förster (GER)
Brad White (USA)
Adrian Hegyvary (USA)
Jay Thomson (RSA)