Townsville’s Allan Jefferson closes in on Race across America glory

It’s a gruelling test that causes bodies to break down, thoughts to stop and agonising pain – and Townsville’s Allan Jefferson could be about to win it.

IT is a gruelling, two week endurance challenge that demands everything from it’s competitors.

Townsville endurance athlete and air rescue crew officer Allan Jefferson knows what it takes better than anyone on the planet.

After spending seven days and 14 hours atop his bike over the past nine days, he’s not only still in it, but jostling for first place ahead of an expected finish sometime on Saturday.

Team manager Greg Huppatz is directing the action from a car following behind his 54-year-old athlete and is awed by the progress so far.

“We’ve got 233 miles to go at the moment, and just over 6000 metres of climbing still to go,” Huppatz said.

“There’s still about 20 per cent of the entire race’s climbing is still in front of us, so there’s still a big push from Allan to go. He’s had a massive day today, when we left at 2am this morning, Nicole Reist was in front by 76 miles and he overtook her.”

After a short rest, watched over by his crew, it was soon time for Jefferson to get back on the bike and onto the road.

Liking the look of this #RAAM2022 map. Townsville cyclist Allan Jefferson holding a narrow lead in the RAAM solo rider class.#Townsvilleshinespic.twitter.com/nM7CgQa89B

— Scott Edwards 💉💉💉 (@SEdwards0108) June 24, 2022

“We’re very close to home now. We’ve been passed by her (Reist), so we’ve slipped back into second by a few miles. We’ve got another 230 miles to pull that back, but there’s some monster climbing and descending to come.”

After considering pushing through to maintain the lead, Jefferson’s team elected to rest their athlete ahead of another gruelling stint as he pushes through Maryland and onto Washington D.C. where the ride will ultimately finish.

“We knew he didn’t have the legs, or the headspace, he was starting to fatigue,” Huppatz said.

“We couldn’t push him any longer than we had. Once we get him dressed and back on the bike, we’ll be looking to roll through from here to the finish.

Allan Jefferson is treated by his team during a stop.

“He’s still very with it, he knows where he is. He’s proven to be an absolute beast, he’s had some massive days.”

Other riders have been documented forgetting what day it is, and one has even had to call the race off due to rhabdomyolysis, a breakdown of muscle tissue that can prove fatal if left unchecked.

“Allan’s went through the hurt locker, he’s had some issues, but we’ve got him back through it. His legs are strong, his mental game is there and he knows of all the support he’s got backing him at home.
“There’s thousands of messages from all over the world from people following him, spurring him on.”

Originally published as Townsville’s Allan Jefferson closes in on Race across America glory