2024-12-16 19:05:00
PORTRAIT – Stopped by doping cases and a serious fall, this former pro broke legendary climbing records in the hope of convincing a team to give him a chance (again).
“I want to compete with the best and compete in the most beautiful races in the world”: Jack Burke’s demands are clear. Unknown to the general public, this 29-year-old Canadian has found an original way to make a name for himself in recent weeks to get closer to his dream. On the app Strava Allowing route and speed to be logged via a smartphone or GPS sensors, the 29-year-old recreational cyclist racks up KOM (King of Mountain) records on legendary climbs to catch the attention of recruiters.
It all started by a happy coincidence. Frustrated by a failed amateur race, he set himself a challenge: “I took the car on a whim and went to the bottom of the Stelvio to test myself” a more than conclusive test given that the Canadian conquered the record held by the 2020 Giro winner Jay Hindley. After a publication on his social networks, given the enthusiasm aroused by his performance, the Toronto native did not stop there and achieved other records. Those of the Alpi d’Huez, covering the 21 curves in 35’56” (9 seconds less than Sepp Kuss) and the Mortirolo of Vincenzo Nibali (11.85 km at 10.8% in 43 minutes and 45 seconds is a best minute of “Shark of Messina”). We would like to point out that unlike professional cyclists, the Canadian’s times are obtained on dry climbs and not after hundreds of kilometers in the legs: “I don’t do a lot of front turns, just a quick warm-up and I do it as if it were a time trial” specification.
If he admitted that he wanted to take a break, he already has several other objectives such as Sa Calobra in Mallorca or the Côte de la Madone in Nice. Presented as an amateur, Jack Burke is far from being an ordinary man as his CV is full of numerous professional experiences.
A doping incident interrupts his promising start
Jack Burke immersed himself in cycling from a very young age, in the junior category, has accumulated successes and is promised a great career. But in 2013, when he won the third stage of the Tour de l’Abitibi, he tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide, a doping substance. At 18, he put his career on hold to defend himself against this accusation for a year and a half: “I went from being the best junior in the country to being a loser” he tells us.
I was wrongly accused and it ruined my life.
Jack Burke
Ultimately, the Torontonian won his case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The water in the municipality of Malartic, where he had filled several water bottles, was contaminated and believed to be responsible for the low blood level of hydrochlorothiazide, a blood pressure drug also used as a doping product. But even after he was exonerated, the label of cheater continued to hang on him. “I am one of the few athletes in the history of sports to test positive only to find out there was no fault, I did nothing wrong, I was considered a cheat for years, I was wrongly accused and it ruined my life” .
A professional journey full of pitfalls
Preceded by his fame, between 2016 and 2018, the Canadian continued short professional contracts in second-rate formations (H&R Block, Aevolo, Jelly Belly-Maxxis). In 2019 he decides to leave his America to take a step into a European team and joins him Leopard Pro cycling but nothing goes as planned and the beginning of her fairy tale turns into a nightmare. “When I arrived in Europe I received a salary of 500 euros a month, I found it very difficult to survive and get by, I slept in the stables and I couldn’t take part in many races”.
As if that wasn’t enough, a year later, the Covid-19 crisis short-circuited his 2020 and 2021 seasons and the following year, during training, the Canadian was hit by a car and almost lost his life. At the same time, he realizes that his team canceled his medical insurance ahead of schedule without notifying him. There were many factors that prematurely interrupted his professional career.
Other areas to start from
18 months later in hospital, he recovered to begin his career change and pay his treatment bills. The retiree took up odd jobs and published a book, “How to become a professional cyclist»then he created a podcast of the same name. At the same time, to impress recruiters, he embarked on record-breaking streaks Strava and competed in the unofficial 227 km cycling marathon World Cup, Ötztal Cycling, which he won twice in 2022 and 2024.
For the moment, although several teams have already contacted him, he has not received any concrete offers. “I received more compliments from runners or team members than concrete proposals”. At the same time, he began taking up ski mountaineering, a new Olympic discipline at the 2026 Winter Games, in hopes of representing Canada.
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