Five senior members of the Sutherland Shire Cycling Club have qualified for the 2017 World Masters cycling titles in Albi, France this month.
Launched in 2011, the UCI Gran Fondo World Series is a series of UCI-sanctioned road races held all over the world with two events in Australia. Throughout the season, some 15 events qualify the top 25 per cent in each age group for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships.
Just like the open titles, the age group winners of the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships are awarded the UCI World Championship rainbow jersey – the most prestigious jersey in cycling.
Colin Kneale is the novice of the group after only taking up cycling three years ago at the age of 67 and who is happy just to experience the event.
Four-time World Masters champion Gaye Lynn is back for her third titles having won the road and time trial rainbow jersey at the 2013 and 2016 races. She has been riding 450-kilometres per week in preparation and is joined by her husband, Malcolm.
France is Trevor Hyde’s fourth worlds and the self-sponsored Grays Point athlete knows exactly what to expect as the state and Sydney road age champion with plenty of racing under his belt.
Alex Law from Maianbar is the youngest rider in the bunch contesting the 50-54 year division and hopes there will be some co-ordination in the Australian teams.
“Unlike other cycling races there are no teams at the worlds. You ride for yourself and your country,” Law said.
No matter the individual results, Kneale said riding competitively at any age is an achievement.
“I’ve made many friends and love getting out there and riding through the Royal National Park for training,” Kneale said.
“I'm just happy to have the opportunity to compete against riders from all around the world.”
The road race courses will start from the the heart of the Episcopal City, taking the circuit of the Bastide houses and medieval-walled cities. The international field for both races will pass along the river Tarn before exploring the vineyards of Gaillacois. From there it will start towards the heights of the Grésigne, which joins the steep valley of the Aveyron. They will greet the walls of Cordes, the pearl of houses, elected in 2014 "favorite French village", before joining the Circuit of Albi, host for decades of sporting and popular events in the Albigeois.
The individual time trial is a circuit of 22.5 km. The course is situated on the west side of the capital of the Tarn, is mainly flat and has a mid-term climb that will widen the gap and test conditions of all the riders.
The course will start and finish at the Circuit d’Albi motor racing ground, with great memories in the history of the Tour de France of the victory of Roger Pingeon in 1968 and especially the fierce duel that indulged Eddy Merckx and Luis Ocaña at the 1971 Tour the day before the tragic fall of the yellow jersey in the descent of the Col de Mente.
