Victor is going the distance

He claimed first place in the recent Welsh National 12 Hour Time Trial in Aberdovey – falling just six miles short of the course record.

The Wem-based rider won with a distance of 286 miles, short of the 292 mile record.

Chetta, who cycles for Mid Shropshire Wheelers, is in just his third season of cycling and is a regular in long-distance time trial events.

He has won the Shropshire all-round title for two years and competes across 10, 25, 50 and 100 mile events.

His latest major event was the gruelling Mersey Roads 24 hour, a national day-long event – the only of its kind still on the calendar.

It was the 39-year-old's second crack at that format, after he landed third place with 507 miles in 2016.

And the lab technician, who works in Shrewsbury, went one better this time around despite riding in the worst possible conditions for endurance events.

This time 497 miles was recorded in torrential rain as Chetta took the runners-up position to three-time consecutive winner Michael Broadwith, who managed 530 miles at the event, which began in Prees and finished on a nine-mile circuit near Wrexham.

"I will pleased to get silver as there is a progression," admitted the time trial racer, who clocks up 300 miles training across six days per week.

"Hopefully next year I can progress again. We'll see.

"We were riding through the night and all of the roads were flooded. Half of the riders abandoned.

"My dad David and Brian Morris, of Mid Shropshire Wheelers, gave me so much support. They gave up a night's sleep to stand out in the rain passing me food and bottles."

Cycling has not always been his passion. Chetta was into body-building at the gym but dropping dumbbells for handlebars a few years ago and have built an impressive record since.

"I quite enjoyed long-distance running in school," he admitted. "I was quite competitive in the gym lifting weights. It's being competitive with myself really. I think I've still got a few years left to improve.

"I never really expected to win these national events. It was just about seeing how far I could take it. People were noting how I did on long rides with high average speeds. They were saying I was talented."

One of his biggest supporters is father David, who described his son as 'very dedicated' to long distance time trialing.

The cyclist's new-found talent is lost on his father, whose other son David competes in ultra marathons – races longer than standard 26 mile marathons.

"It was totally new to him three years ago," admitted father David. "I don't know where they get it from.

"I hated running, they both came into their respective sports late.

"Victor was a good schoolboy athlete. He was with Oswestry Olympians Athletics Club in his teens.

"But he's had to work incredibly hard at the cycling. He clocked up 8,000 miles of training alone last year. It's non-stop."

The rider's display in last season's 24 hour event was a momentous occasion for the amateur rider as he broke the Shropshire record for the distance set by renowned local rider Morris.

Mid Shropshire Wheelers lifetime member Morris, 77 and from Pontesbury, held the record for some three decades. He has also played a big part in the progression of Chetta, supporting him throughout his development in the sport.

"Brian and Dave Mellor (of Dave Mellor Cycles in Shrewsbury) have both been very supportive and have given me great advice." added Chetta.

Following his 286 mile haul in the Welsh 12 hour event. Chetta made it two from two at the West Cheshire 12 hour TT this weekend in adding to last year's victory, where he secured the win by five miles to his nearest competitor – clocking up a total of 282.

He fell short of the personal best he was hunting for, but Chetta was again ahead of the field after clocking a provisional distance of 280.91 miles.

Morris, 77, from Pontesbury, has been a part of the Wheelers since 1954. He doesn't race anymore, but receives a huge amount of satisfaction in offering advice to Chetta.

"He's come on leaps and bounds in two or three years," said the former 24-hour record holder. "Long distance is his forte and the amount of miles is absolutely amazing.

"He's got an inner-toughness as well. He's very focused in what he wants to do and has got all the modern gadgets, parameters and goodness, alien to an old-stager like me!"

"With a bit more thought and planning he could be looking at winning the event rather than being second to the same guy. There's potential there to improve and really challenge.

"Twenty-four hour riders are like a fraternity, a bunch of brothers, they help one another.

"I like helping Victor. He's such a nice bloke, there's no edge to him. He threw a few tantrums in night of the 24 hour! When you're looking after somebody, you need to be shoulder to cry on and a bully at some stage and raise them when down."

On losing his record, Morris added: "It's about time it went! I'm pleased someone came along able to beat it. My ride was good in its day but things progress."