2025 Gran Fondo National Series
United States | Midwest | Ohio >> Gran Fondo Champion takes Mortirolo and Alpe d'Huez KOM's from Pro's

Gran Fondo Champion takes Mortirolo and Alpe d'Huez KOM's from Pro's

Top amateur cyclist, Jack Burke beat Sepp Kuss and Vincenzo Nibali up two of the toughest climbs in the world

Top amateur cyclist, Jack Burke beat Sepp Kuss and Vincenzo Nibali up two of the toughest climbs in the world

Jack Burke's dream is to secure a WorldTour pro contract. The 29 year-old Canadian edged closer to it and recently took the KOM on two of the toughest climbs in cycling.

Burke climbed the famous 21 hairpins of Alpe d'Huez in a time of 35m 56s, beating Vuelta a España champion Sepp Kuss’s time by nine seconds set at the 2022 Tour de France. He also beat the likes of Romain Bardet, David Gaudu, Steven Kruijswijk and Thibaut Pinot.

Burke then travelled from the French Alps over to the northern Italian Alps, near Bormio, and took the Mortirolo KOM in a time of 1h 44m, beating Vincenzo Nibali by 53 seconds. He also beat the likes of Jan Hirt, Giulio Ciccone, Damiano Caruso,  Pavel Sivakov and Emanuel Buchmann.

The Mortirolo is famed for its extreme gradients, hitting a 26% of maximum gradient. Its narrow path allows no turnarounds, and 3-axle vehicles are banned. Known as one of pro cycling's toughest ascents, Mortirolo averages gradients over 10%. This climb is often dubbed Italy's hardest. Lance Armstrong famously said "it's the hardest climb in the world". 

Burke said afterwards "It's just one of those days where I had really good legs". Burke recorded an average power of over 440 Watts up the climb.

2 years ago Burke was hit by a car and thought that it was the end of his cycling career. Having made a full recovery he said "It feels like the old Jack again & that maybe I can still do this. I don’t know what I’m training for, but I’ll be ready when it shows up. I just love feeling like me again.”

Before his accident, Burke raced in Continental teams including the well-known Leopard amateur team from Luxembourg and the USA's Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis squad in 2018.

The Canadian also claimed he took Stelvio KOM and has yet to upload his file to Strava.

You can climb the Mortirolo as part of the super tough Gran Fondo Stelvio Santini, one of Gran Fondo Guide's favorite rides in Italy.

Jack stated after his KOM records, “I just want a chance at the WT. Anyone, anywhere, anytime. I’ll do whatever you want, I just want a chance against the best guys.”

Burke also hinted "Pogi, I'm coming for your Madone KOM, But now it's time to switch to skiing mode for fun."

Burke is also two times winner of the Ötztaler Radmarathon, one of the world’s toughest Gran Fondos in Austria.

Alpe d'Huez KOM on Strava

2025-alape-d-huez-kom

2025-alpe-d-huez-leaderboard

Mortirolo KOM on Strava

2025-mortirolo-kom

You can follow Jack Burke on Strava here and on Instagram here.

 
Tag: strava
 
Dec 01 2024 - NEWS: Gran Fondo Champion takes Mortirolo and Alpe d'Huez KOM's from Pro's
Jan 04 2024 - NEWS: Gravel and e-bike rides on the increase on Strava
Mar 29 2023 - NEWS: Record Largest Strava Art created with a French Dinosaur
Dec 14 2022 - NEWS: 22 Percent Increase in the Number of Century Bike Riders
Dec 09 2020 - NEWS: UK Strava Artist returns with an Amazing Merry Christmas across London
Jun 24 2020 - NEWS: Lance Armstrong Teams Up With PowerDot & Strava for Global Cycling Challenge
May 23 2020 - NEWS: Keegan Swenson smashes Phil Gaimon’s Everest record by 12 minutes
May 22 2020 - NEWS: Strava moves to become a Paid Subscription Service
Mar 21 2020 - NEWS: Rumours French police use Strava to fine cyclists for riding outdoors
Mar 21 2020 - NEWS: $5,000 prize for the QOM on iconic Old La Honda Californian climb
Dec 05 2019 - NEWS: Box Hill voted best climb in the world by Strava Cyclists
Nov 05 2019 - NEWS: Strava Art Celebrating 30 years since the Fall of the Berlin Wall
Dec 10 2018 - NEWS: UK Cyclist spreads festive cheer with Strava Santa
Dec 03 2018 - NEWS: Strava data confirms huge Boom in North American cycling
Oct 15 2018 - NEWS: Missing Trek-Segafredo's DS Steven de Jongh found unconscious in a ravine
 
Tag: hillclimb
 
Dec 01 2024 - NEWS: Gran Fondo Champion takes Mortirolo and Alpe d'Huez KOM's from Pro's
Sep 20 2024 - NEWS: Eckhouse and Skilsky fastest at Sold-Out Mount Baker Hill Climb
Jul 24 2024 - NEWS: The 2024 Mt. Baker Hill Climb is SOLD OUT
Mar 15 2023 - NEWS: Mount Baker: Cycle up the most Scenic Climb in the U.S. this Fall
Mar 22 2024 - NEWS: Enjoy all that the Northwest has to offer at the Tour de Whatcom
Sep 20 2023 - NEWS: Phil Gaimon breaks Mount Baker Hill Climb Record
Aug 23 2023 - NEWS: Phil Gaimon gunning for Mount Baker Hill Climb KOM
Oct 26 2022 - NEWS: Red Bull Bay Climb Celebrates Community and Cycling in San Francisco
Oct 15 2022 - NEWS: Red Bull Bay Climb Returns for Heart-Pounding Fifth Anniversary!
Sep 15 2022 - NEWS: Mt. Baker Hill Climb postponed due to Forest Fires
Mar 11 2022 - NEWS: The Killer Climb with a Closed Road: Mt. Baker Hill Climb is Back!
Aug 13 2022 - NEWS: Huge increase in the number of cyclists returning to the Mountains
Mar 21 2020 - NEWS: $5,000 prize for the QOM on iconic Old La Honda Californian climb
Sep 23 2019 - NEWS: Rain and Cold didn’t dampen Mount Baker Hillclimb Spirits
Aug 02 2019 - NEWS: Mt. Baker Hill Climb Registration Still Open with Special Discount Code
May 15 2014 - RESULTS: Wachusett Mountain Hillclimb
May 17 2025 - EVENT: Crank the Kanc
Jun 07 2025 - EVENT: Whiteface Mountain Uphill Bike Race
Sep 14 2025 - EVENT: Mt Baker Hill Climb
Oct 04 2025 - EVENT: Adamstown Dirty Dozen Hill Climb