105-Year-Old Cyclist Rides 14 Miles In An Hour En Route To A World Record

On January 4, 2017, French cyclist Robert Marchand made history by setting a new world record at the age of 105, riding 22.547 kilometers (about 14 miles) in just one hour.

Wearing a purple and yellow cycling kit, a pink helmet, and yellow glasses, Marchand completed 92 laps at the Velodrome National near Paris, a venue known for hosting elite cycling competitions.

The crowd erupted in cheers, chanting his name as he crossed the finish line, earning the record for the 105-plus age category.

Despite his achievement, Marchand felt he could have gone faster. “I didn’t see the sign telling me I had 10 minutes left,” he explained. “If I had, I would have pushed harder. Now I’m waiting for someone to challenge me.”

For perspective, the U.K.’s Bradley Wiggins set the men’s hour record in 2015, riding 54.526 kilometers (about 34 miles).

But for Marchand, it wasn’t about being the fastest. “I’m not here to be a champion,” he said. “I’m here to prove that at 105 years old, you can still ride a bike.”

Marchand’s life story is just as remarkable as his cycling career. Born in 1911 in Amiens, he lived through both World Wars, worked as a firefighter, and later traveled the world, taking jobs in Venezuela as a truck driver and in Canada as a lumberjack.

Returning to France in the 1960s, he was too busy to train, but at 68 he got back on his bike and began racking up impressive feats including rides from Bordeaux to Paris, Paris to Roubaix multiple times, and even Paris to Moscow in 1992.

At 100 years old, he set the record for the fastest 100-kilometer ride in his age group.

According to his coach and friend Gerard Mistler, the secret to Marchand’s longevity and performance is simple: a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, no smoking, only occasional wine, early nights, and daily exercise. Mistler added with a smile, “If he had been doping, he wouldn’t be here anymore.”