Super fast 30 for Jon

Herts Wheelers 30 - 11/06/2006 - E2/30, Newmarket

Having managed to pull himself together on the Saturday for the Rutland 25 after his midweek training accident, Jon Surtees (Cherry Valley RT) found himself lacking the strength required for the Herts Wheelers 30 on Sunday morning on the E2 course in Cambridgeshire.

The morning was a perfect ‘float’ morning for time trialling on the Cambridgeshire course around Newmarket on the A14 and saw the womans competition record narrowly missed by Julia Shaw.

After a steady start, Jon knew he was in for a hard time and found the race frustrating for him as he knew this was a good morning and would be lucky to get another chance like this on the same course to set a good time and a PB. As mile after mile ticked by, Jon was finding it hard work even on the super fast A14 and in particular the rough road surface that made up the extra 5 miles above the 25 version of the course. It wasn’t until the 25 mile mark that Jons legs started to respond and the final 5 miles saw Jon back into his time trialling best but it was too late in the event. Jon crossed the finish line in a time of 1.3.38 for 3rd place behind Ken Platts (Cambridge CC) and event winner Steve Hunt (Icknield RC). Given his lack of performance over the first 25 miles, Jon had easily lost 2 minutes and this can be seen in the time difference between himself and Ken Platts whom he beat a week earlier by a minute in the Hitchin Nomads 25.

Disappointed at missing out on 2nd place and a possible PB, Jon was happy to get through the weekend unscathed and with some quality racing in his legs he has regained the confidence boost he needed after the mid week accident.