The story behind Strava hero Jack Burke, who wants to follow in Lemmen's footsteps: "You have to do something with this!"

We speak to Burke from his home in the Stubaital, near Innsbruck. That region hosts the Ötztaler Radmarathon annually, which is about the most challenging and longest Gran Fondo for tour riders. He has already won there twice, showing his climber skills. Burke is also known to fans as the man behind the book How to Become a Pro Cyclist. He was already (semi-)pro, suffered several serious injuries, and is trying to fight his way back to the top ranks of cycling. In doing so, the Canadian has one big goal: to reach the top cycling division.

No new KOM attempt is in the cards on the day we speak to Burke. By now, he's kind of done with it. "I'm back in my own Alps, in Austria. The cycling season is over, so I'm taking a break now. It also started to get pretty cold. During my attempt on Alpe d'Huez, it was about ten degrees in the valley, but on top, it was freezing, and there was snow. I had to ask someone else to remove my helmet because I couldn't do it." When asked if Burke couldn't have gone much faster in the summer, he replied affirmatively. "But it just worked out that way."

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So, how exactly did that happen? Anyone who sees the 29-year-old climber's series of records almost thinks he's in it for the ride. Burke denies that. "In terms of planning, the season was over in terms of races. I did train for participation in the Zwift Academy, where I wanted to try to prove myself," he continued about his mission to turn pro again. "Ultimately, that didn't work out; I didn't make the selection. I was so annoyed that I wanted to get everything off my chest. That's actually where those records come from. I wanted to show what I could actually do and prove that I could handle the Academy. Then I found riding those KOMs a nice challenge toward the ski season."

Meanwhile, in weeks, he has the fastest time on the Stelvio, the Mortirolo, and thus on the Alpe d'Huez. Thanks to those records, Burke has become one of cycling's headline conversations in the offseason. While that attention is nice, it doesn't change the mindset of the Canadian. "You know, I've dreamed of pro cycling since I was 14. And in fact, I've already succeeded." Because Burke knows his stuff, he seems the odd man out with his Strava stats, but he has achieved great results with continental teams in the past. For example, he rode with Vorarlberg and Leopard and finished fourth in the Tour du Jura. In the past, he also briefly completed an internship with the then BORA Hansgrohe.

"People ask me why your values and performances are so good now. Well, they were the same two years ago. In 2019 and 2021, they were even better than they are now. It's just been pretty disappointing." Burke was involved in a serious collision and suffered severe head trauma and other injuries. "In the winter of 2023, I had the crash. That threw me back as a rider. I managed to get back on the bike relatively quickly, but for a long time, I noticed that I reacted slower during training sessions; concentration was difficult. It was like a long, lingering concussion. I did think: What's wrong now? Is this going to pass?"

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After the heavy crash, Burke's pro mission was in trouble. "Now things are going better, some two years later. But since the fall of 2022, I've basically cycled without a plan." For a while, Burke was okay with it; becoming a WorldTour pro would be nearly impossible. His rehabilitation also cost a lot of money. "The acceptance that my ambitions were over, yes. I had done everything I could. I also saw an acceleration in the sport since 2021. Anyone no longer cycling in the U23 and at the continental level can almost no longer step to the top. It used to be possible in steps. Now, guys from the pro-continental teams still manage to do it, but that intermediate step is necessary."

It is frustrating, although the man in question has an explanation for the situation. "The focus is so much on the youth that the WorldTour's U23 teams are already almost WorldTour level. To stand out in that circuit as a close to thirty-something is so difficult." So Burke decided to post his top performances on the cols on Strava, in pursuit of that one goal he still has, although he also did it for fun. "I uploaded my results from amateur races I rode on Strava just because I thought it was fun for my friends. Some were racing in the WorldTour and said: Mate, you should do something with this. You need to send this to teams."

And that sparked things into motion. "There are now four WorldTour teams with whom I have been in contact. They then ask for my values, and I certainly give them them. Teams do see that he has skills. It's about the other aspects." Because with values alone, nobody succeeds. "In the end, it's about how you race. And that is the most difficult point. Then, when you look at ProCyclingStats, you wonder where my results are. I was also often lined up in races without climbing, which didn't suit me, making it hard to prove myself. And that's the frustrating thing—racing for smaller teams, where you rely much more on your own facilities. Hiring me on that basis is a risk. Will teams then commit me based on those values?"

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Burke also points out the age aspect. "2022 really should have been the year. I was supposed to ride the Tour of Upper Austria, Sibiu, and Slovenia. I was recovering from an injury in that first race and finished sixth. That's really not bad, but it's not attractive to big teams. In Slovenia, Tadej Pogacar won, but the rest were nowhere. On the Sibiu Tour, my team put a line through. Then those were your chances for the season as a climber. Those are the crazy things with continental teams, the irregularities." A real opportunity to stand out as a potential top rider and be seen that way remained for the time being.

Bart Lemmen, doesn't that name remind you of Burke's trajectory? The protagonist sees the similarities and differences. "He's definitely an inspiration. It's an incredible story; hats off to him. He didn't get into sports until later, and I've been trying since I was a kid. What stands out about him is that he took that intermediate step." Lemmen raced for VolkerWessels and then made a move to pro-continental Human Powered Health, where he could prove himself in somewhat more major races. "From the continental level to the WorldTour in one go is almost impossible. From the pro-continental level, it's easier. However, those teams hardly exist anymore, partly because of the focus on youth in that category."

Burke points out what he believes are crucial differences. "It's not even about pay then, but about how well everything is organized. There is a good staff, a mechanic, and material from the team. There are outstanding opportunities to show yourself in bigger races, you name it." In 2025, the Canadian intends to venture into some gravel races and cyclo-cross racing. "But other than that, I will keep doing what I'm doing. The KOMs weren't a goal either; it was almost more of a brilliant coincidence. It was nice that it worked out, but I always stick to my goal: I still want to get to that WorldTour." One has to keep in mind, Burke himself says, that he certainly doesn't want to come across as pompous. "People got very serious when I said I did want to challenge Pogacar on the Madone climb, but that's a joke, lol. Of course, I won't come close to that."

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In other words, Burke does not give up on his dream yet. He is fit, knows what he can do, and has the momentum to build on his records. If it ever gets that far, what role does he see for himself in the peloton? "Winning races would be difficult for me. For me, the ideal role would be to be one of the last domestiques in mountain stages." A kind of Sepp-Kuss role, then? "That's how you could say that yes, I do the work first, and then the leader completes the work. I would like to ride the Tour de France one day. Then the Giro, then the Olympics." Who knows, if a WorldTour team has a spot left, Burke's dream could become a reality. The top climber's passion, work ethic, and values must be considered.

For anyone dreaming of an opportunity in a top sport, he highlights some tips from his book and emphasizes his own motivation: enjoyment. "I once just started asking great riders questions about improving. I got quite a few answers, not from trainers or coaches but from retired riders. They get a lot of messages, but they really respond more to serious kids or young people. I started looking for a team of mentors. You need luck, opportunities, and talent. Those opportunities are significant, and you have to be lucky. In addition, above all, you have to keep enjoying it. That's my journey: I enjoy it, so I'm still trying. That's why the journey is worth it. Whether it succeeds or not, I enjoy it."