Mike Schofield

I have been a decent footballer and tennis player and a reasonable runner but after three knee operations, the third in 2007, the surgeon said enough was enough and to avoid all impact sports. My wife deserved a medal during that period. Whilst feeling sorry for myself I heard about the Etape du Tour and felt that I needed a challenge so after checking with the surgeon bought a road bike in October 2007and entered the Etape for 2008.

Initially my knee was sore when cycling but it soon settled down and I entered a few Sportive events as practice finishing reasonably high up the field. I ended up with a silver medal in the Etape but, with John’s help, am going for gold this year.

Last year was all about the challenge of the Etape but I found a real passion for cycling (which was a great relief to my wife) and felt that it was something I could do competitively. I went to John for some structure and purpose to my training and to find out to which discipline I might be suited. As well as a few sportives, I’m also entering a handful of 4^th cat road races, cyclocross races and time trials. My training in 2008 was really haphazard whereas this year, under John’s guidance and support, there’s been clear and steady improvement.

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