When Keelan Ontiveros first rolled down a grassy hill at age three, no one could have predicted he'd become a future national champion. Keelan’s father had been in the bike industry for longer than Keelan's been alive. With cycling in his DNA, perhaps his path was already set in motion.
By 12, he realized he was better at cycling than basketball, so he quit the hoops team to focus his full attention on road racing. A year later, in 2014, he traveled to the U13-14 US National Road Championships, his first national racing competition. At 14 years old, he won the criterium to become national champion, igniting his dream of becoming pro.
After training at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs and racing internationally in Belgium, he attended the University of Oregon. There, he split his focus between the national pro calendar with the domestic elite team, Expeditors, and racing for the university’s club cycling team.
Now, Ontiveros is competing for USA Cycling Division 1 school, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) Atlanta cycling team, while pursuing his master's in advertising. The Southeast Collegiate Conference has brought new challenges and opportunities. "The collegiate scene here is competitive, intense, and tight-knit," he explains. "You get to know your rivals well, which makes the racing even more fun. It's this perfect mix of fierce competition and shared experiences." Cycling at this elite level isn't for the weak-minded. With over 10,000 miles of training annually and races that require an iron resolve, Keelan knows the importance of having the right gear. This is where his partnership with Veo Strip comes into play.
"No matter the temperature—even in freezing conditions—every race I finish ends the same way: my glasses drenched in salty sweat," Keelan shares. "It's annoying and a safety hazard when my eyes start stinging or I can't see through the streaks. Veo Strip solves that problem."
As Keelan wraps up his collegiate cycling career soon, he has already picked up another endurance-oriented hobby—running. He plans to challenge himself and run his first half marathon in March… just for fun.
Whether shoulder-to-shoulder with 100 other racers at 50+ mph or grinding putting on his running shoes, Veo Strip helps keep his focus where it belongs – on the road ahead. We’re proud to support Keelan’s journey.
