There's not too much about Jonathan Hall on internet. But there should be.
Jonathan Who? Yes, while many could be forgiven for asking that question, it is worth mentioning one greatest and least-celebrated athletes in multi-sport and pro cycling history. A fixture on Heiko Salzwedel's fledgling Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) road program of the early to mid 1990s, Jonathan sure was a bright prospect. A useful climber and time triallist, Jonathan and his fellow AIS teammates were a dominant force in the 1994 Rapport Toer. That year's race was an assembly of some of world cycling's future stars. Jan Ullrich, Tyler Hamilton, Chann McRae and Kevin Livingston were amongst a high quality field. Credited with a 3rd position on one stage of South Africa's now defunct national tour, the Jonathan survived a puncture on the treacherous Du Toit's Kloof to finish inside the top-10 on overall GC.
But the talented Aussie could also run, and re-surfaced a few years later on the Powerman duathlon circuit. These were heady times for the run-bike-run sport, and there was much crossover between pure cyclists who could run and vice versa. Greg Von Holdt was another such example – an international level cyclist with the running talent of a gazelle. Guys like Greg, Jonathan and the American Keith Casserly were – and still are – a rarity. And that's why Jonathan's story is so interesting.
By 1997, Jonathan was resident in Gernika. He had immersed himself in the Basque culture, dividing his time racing for Federico Echave's elite amateur cycling squad with his part-time duathlon career. He was dominating the European duathlon scene but really wanted to turn pro in the peloton. A blowout performance on the bike in Zofingen that year raised eyebrows, even though he limped to an anonymous finish through the mountainous 30km run. But the World Championships later that year were a completely different story.
Held in his adopted hometown of Gernika, Jonathan literally left the opposition in a different time zone, pedalling his Softride beam-bike to a four minute lead over 40km and "jogged" the final 5km to a resounding victory. An impressive finish in the World Time Trial Championships followed shortly after, as did a professional contract with Festina for 1998.
While Jonathan's road racing career unfortunately fizzled out a few years later (Festina raced him sparingly), his sheer athletic range is perhaps unparalleled. Now a coach, he is using his years of experience to help guide others. But one can't help wondering what might have been.
