8:00pm Thursday 4th March 2010
JASON White overcame Sun-day’s awful weather conditions to finish second at the North Road CC Hardriders time trial.
The professional rider from Thundersley clocked 1hr 01min 34 secs to finish as runner up to Matt Bottrill of the I Ride RT team, who won in 59 mins 30 secs over the 25-mile course at Hatfield, Hertfordshire.
It was the first defeat for the Cycle Premier Metaltek rider following victories in his previous three outings this year.
“It was the first time trial I have done this season and the guy who won was a time-trial specialist,” said White, 37, who owns JD Cycles at Tarpots, Benfleet.
“I was not on top form, so to come in second was actually good.”
White said the road was flooded in many places which affected the time trial.
But he is hoping for better conditions when he heads to Bristol on Sunday for the 38th Severn Bridge/Felt Bicycles Road Race, a six-mile team event, with four of his Cycle Premier Metaltek team-mates.
White joined the new Cycle Premier Metaltek team this year in the Leicestershire-based professional outfit’s first season.
The 10-rider team includes world silver medal holder Tony Gibb and national team pursuit champion Andy Magnier.
White has been cycling for more than 20 years and started with the Southend Wheelers many years ago.
He then rode for a French team when he tried to make a career out of being a race cyclist.
Now he combines running his shop with racing and said: “I had 10 wins last year and rode in the Tour Series and did well and that was how I got noticed by the team.
“I was invited to join the team and already knew some of the lads in it.
White added: “I have already riden three races for the new team at Hogg Hill at Hainault and have won them all.”
His second place in Hertford-shire spoilt that sequence but White and the team have already set their sights on winning national titles in their inaugural year.
They will be competing in the city centre Tour Series, the Premier Calendar and the UK Circuit Series.
Cycle Premier Metaltek are also looking at entering a few events abroad this year, although White has two foreign trips already in his diary.
He is scheduled to ride in the Tour of Bermuda and the Tour of Majorca in 2010.
“I finished second in Bermuda last year and will be looking to win it this time around,” he said.
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