French centenarian claims cycling record

FRENCHMAN Robert Marchand entered the cycling record books in the one-hour event yesterday, three months after celebrating his 100th birthday.

Marchand rode 24.251 kilometres around an indoor track to establish the first-ever hour performance in the 100-years-plus category.

“I could have gone faster but I didn’t want to,” said Marchand, who was given clearance by his cardiologist in France to make the attempt at the International Cycling Union (UCI) track in Aigle.

“I’m not playing at being a champion,” he said. “I just wanted to do something for my 100th birthday.”