Cycling Pro Road & Mtb

UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team's Jake Keough and Hilton Clarke take 1st and 2nd in the Downtown Walterboro Criterium

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Parent Category: Cycling Pro Road & Mtb

Category: News Cycling Pro Road & Mtb 2011

Published on Thursday, 05 May 2011 11:36

Written by Luca Salvatelli

In what has become a familiar scene throughout the USA Crits Speed Week, Jake Keough and Hilton Clarke once again proved they are part of a formidable force on the Southeastern US speed circuit, taking first and second place respectively for the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team's Blue Train earlier tonight in the Downtown Walterboro Criterium.

The one-two punch of Keough and Clarke outgunned the rest of the field of 120 riders on the very dark one-mile loop in Walterboro, South Carolina earlier this evening.

Keough's win tonight is his second of the season and the Blue Train's fifth overall this year and his spot atop the podium tonight with Clarke raises the total number of times members from Team UnitedHealthcare have raised their arms on the those highly coveted three steps to 16. The new dynamic duo of criteriums also secured the first year pro continental squad its 35th top 10 finish this season.

After the race, Keough stated, "I feel the pressure to win when I'm in the position to do so because my Teammates are working so hard to get us in a position where one of us can bring it home. Tonight's lead out was perfect. Our guys were so dialed in. We took the front with about 8 laps to go and as we moved into the final lap, we were riding at about 65km/hour. With about a lap to go, Hilton and I slingshotted out of the last two corners and did what our Teammates set us up to do."

Keough continued, "Every single guy on this Team is riding extremely well. There's no secret to this. We are eight guys riding as one unit and that is the key to being successful in this sport."

"On a night like this, teamwork and experience really come into play," said General Manager and Team Director, Mike Tamayo. "Everything you do in this sport matters, and our entire UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team family - staff, riders and sponsors - all understand that. Success is in the details and it is epitomized by the selflessness these guys show every day. Tonight the boys were pumped and we are looking forward to the final three races of this series."

The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team Roster for the Downtown Walterboro Criterium

Karl Menzies (AUS)

Jake Keough (USA)

Andrew Pinfold (CAN)

Boy Van Poppel (NED)

Brad White (USA)

Adrian Hegyvary (USA)

Hilton Clarke (AUS)

Jonny Clarke (AUS)

General Manager/Team Director: Mike Tamayo