Robert Marchand continues to inspire us. The evergreen Frenchman has set a new goal: breaking his own hour record in the over-100s category in January 2014, at 102 years of age.

In February 2012, Marchand rode 24.25 kilometers (15.1 miles), setting a one-hour speed record in the new over-100s category created by the UCI. Then, on September 28, 2012, the ever-green Frenchman set the 100-kilometer cycling record for the 100+-year-old category, with four hours 17 minutes and 27 seconds, at the Parc de la Tête d’Or Velodrome in Lyon.

Robert Marchand
Robert Marchand holds the record of 24.25 km in a category specifically created for him by cycling’s governing body, the UCI. He set that record on the track at the World Cycling Centre (WCC) in Aigle on February 17, 2012.

According to a report on the Velo Nation website, now he wants to try the hour record once more. National Institute of Health and Medical Research Professor Véronique Billat announced on Twitter that:

“We prepare Robert Marchand for the world record of an hour above 25 km/h in January he will be 102 yrs old. He improved his VO2max (35) and his maximal power by 10% by the strength component, especially 2.65 w/kg of full body mass with 13% fat mass.”

Robert Marchand’s hour record footage from February 2012:

The incredible French cyclist Robert Marchand (100 years old), in Aigle, Switzerland, set his hourly world record at 24,251 km on February 17, 2012! This cycling superman is a phenomenon that marvelously marks the history of cycling. His good humor and his form are good examples of sport and health in general. I filmed his feat, and I made a small 5-minute tribute video for him (with my music in the background).
Robert Marchand rides with the pro cyclists of the FDJ team.

Robert Marchand

Robert Marchand was born in 26 November 1911 in Amiens dans la Somme, France. He started cycling in 1925 when he was 14 years old, then later left France and lived in Canada and Venezuela. He worked as a fireman, market gardener, shoe salesman, and wine dealer, and competed as an amateur boxer. He returned to cycling when he bought his first bike in 1978 at 67-year-old, building up the distances and training with riders who were far younger than he was.

He finally retired from work at 89 years of age and rode the Bordeaux-Paris event around that time. He covered the 600 kilometers in 36 hours.

“Some people when they reach 80 years old, start playing cards and they stay immobile. Not me. I’ve never been able to keep still.”

M. Özgür Nevres

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