Day one of the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships opened to the sound of gentle waves crashing on expansive golden sands.
The sage green leaves of tall eucalyptus trees rustled in the breeze, white and yellow cockatoos flying overhead as the best amateur cyclists from over 60 nations readied for a 23km time trial.
It was easy to spot the local fans assembled at the roadside, for they were not wearing shoes. In Australia it’s socially acceptable to go barefoot at the beach, which is the backdrop to the 2025 titles. The coastline in Lorne, Victoria and along the Great Ocean Road, is expansive - and free. Here, there’s no need to wake up early and put a towel down or pay for a seat.
Bass Strait though at this time of year is still, as one person attests after a swim, “take your breath away” fresh, with only Tasmania separating the shore from Antarctica. If nothing else, it’s complimentary ice water therapy for the 2,390 amateur cyclists competing at this year’s Gran Fondo Worlds.
Testing out-and-back time trial opens Gran Fondo Worlds. Photo: Aaron Collins, NorthSouth
Riders in the morning rolled out of Lorne’s main street - which on one side is dotted with low-rise restaurants, cafes, pubs, retail shops and tin-roofed art galleries, the coast on the other - to the start ramp.
Slovenians were easy to spot, in national team kit that appeared identical to that which Tadej Pogacar recently defended his elite men’s Road World Championship title in - bright green and mean. The Canadians competing appear to have brought a cheer squad, dressed in eye-catching red hoodies accented by white maple leaves and colour-coordinated fedoras.
The women were the first to take on the out-and-back time trial course that featured bends, tight corners, rolling and steep climbs along coastal and forest roads, which demanded technical skill, concentration and speed.
They lined-up in single file behind the start ramp, taking pictures of the coastal vista to distract from pre-competition nerves and anxiety.
“It’s nerve-wracking, but in a good way because we all care,” says Australian Heidi Hunt, who placed 10th out of 17 riders in the women’s 50-54 age group with a time of 41:16.
Compatriot Gaye Lynn was the second rider to cross the finish line – as winner of the women’s 75-79 age category, securing a gold medal and the rainbow jersey of world champion.
The wind was a factor in her race, and she was glad to have to it out of the way.
“I’ve done Worlds before and I thought they’re in Australia, close to home, you don’t have to go overseas and take all your bikes,” Lynn says.
Grit: Gaye Lynn came back from a road accident to become a world champion. Photo: Aaron Collins, NorthSouth
The brave 77-year-old had a greater reason for competing though.
“I was hit by a car 12 months ago, so it was a bit of a motivation to get back,” she says. “I’m lucky to be here, and lucky to be competing. Plus, catching up with all the girls from different states is nice. You only see them at events. They’re all a good bunch of girls, so it’s lovely to be able to catch up with them and be part of the sport.”
The UCI Gran Fondo World Championships this year coincides with Amy’s Great Ocean Road Gran Fondo – a mass participation ride on fully closed roads that raises funds for advocacy group Amy’s Foundation. AusCycling recently announced a three-year partnership with Amy’s Foundation focused on reducing cyclist deaths and serious injuries nationwide.
Lynn rolls in the direction of the main street, her race done, as another Australian, Elizabeth Randall crosses the finish line in 52:17 to claim gold in her 80-84 age group. The 81-year-old is the oldest Aussie woman competing in the time trial and is also clearly somewhat of an icon. Just don’t call her Elizabeth. Growing up, her mother used to refer to her as that when she was in trouble.
“Scarred for life,” she quips.
Randall is competing in her fifth UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, ahead of an Hour Record attempt set for February next year.
“As usual I went out far too fast, and I ended up having to ease off a little bit,” she recalls.
“At some stage on the way out there’s one really tight right-hand corner and I locked the back brake twice, saved it twice, but I was a bit more circumspect after that.”
Cycling for Randall helps to, she says, keep “the crazies away” and, like Lynn, she didn’t want to miss out on a chance to compete on home roads, having previously travelled internationally.
“I’m from Melbourne. I’d have to say if this course had been in another country I wouldn’t have travelled for it because I’m not good on hills. Because it was in my own country, I very definitely wanted to do it,” she says.
“With cycling it’s really good because unlike most sports it can either be a sport, a recreation, a commute, it can be anything.”
There’s a steady stream of riders and event staff that come over to greet Randall, including Glenda Signorini, who won gold in the women’s 70-74 age group in 45:17 on a bike she bought from “Lizzie”.
“I did your bike proud, I came first,” Signorini says to her friend, before explaining a bit of her own story.
“This used to be Lizzie’s bike and it’s won a lot of championships. I said to Lizzie, I’ve got a lot to live up to because I’m very new on the time trial. This is my second race on this bike, on the time trial bike.”
Winners: Liz Randall, left, with Glenda Signorini. Photo: Sophie Smith
Signorini, 71, is not the only cyclist to have raced with something holding legacy status. Jenny Pettenon won gold in the women’s 50-54 age group in a skin-suit she borrowed from Paris Olympic Games time trial champion Grace Brown.
“Some are saying I’ve got some cheap watts there, but it fits well,” Pettenon quips.
The 51-year-old is a mother of three and has balanced a full-time job with meticulous preparation for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, her husband, Andrew, roadside with spare wheels and supplies on Thursday.
“It is very hard, and I think you get to a point where you actually can’t do it any more and that’s probably about this week, so next week is going to be a big break,” says Pettenon, whose motivation for competing was not the prize, but the process.
“I just love the process of ticking off goals, getting fit, being given a training program and punishing yourself. I like all that. Every training session, every time you make a decision to go to sleep earlier or whatever,” she says.
Machine: Jenny Penneton borrowed her skin-suit from Olympic champion Grace Brown. Photo: Sophie Smith
Morning turns to afternoon as the men’s field assembles, the sun now as fierce as the drive and determination of age-group contenders.
Marcel Eve is one of the first down the start ramp. The 84-year-old has travelled all the way from France to compete and is the oldest racer at this year’s championships. He has no competition in his 85-89 age group, and the day before his 85th birthday celebrates with a gold medal and rainbow jersey, having clocked the course in 47:27.
Eve took up cycling when he turned 60 and now has four time trial world titles to his name. He is yet to finish on the top step in the road race, but hopes to rectify that on Sunday.
“I have good results, so each time I want more results. I like to win. Without competition there is no objective,” he says via a translator.
Chapeau: Frenchman Marcel Eve become age group time trial world champion a day before his 85th birthday. Photo: Aaron Collins, NorthSouth
Australian Myles Higgins is stopped by a broadcast crew for an interview after finishing in 43:05 to beat two mates, including silver medallist Robert Braszell, and claim gold in the men’s 80-84 age group. His enthusiasm is infectious.
“Rob beat me at Wagga by four-and-a-half seconds. I wanted revenge,” Higgins quips.
The 79-year-old from Shepparton, Victoria, reviewed his bike set-up after the recent Masters and Junior National Road Championships in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, to this time eclipse Braszell by 25 seconds.
“I raced at Cairns in ’96 and got a silver [MTB] Downhill medal, I got a bronze world medal somewhere, now I’ve got a gold,” Higgins beams.
“I really worked hard. I didn’t get out of seat going out, but the last few coming in I put another 50 watts into the bike.”
Infectious enthusiasm: Myles Higgins celebrates. Photo: Sophie Smith
Asked for advice on how to stay active and approach major events, like the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, Higgins had two words: “Go hard.”
“I ride every day. When you get older you’ve got to have a few more breaks. I probably ride hard every second day, have a day off,” he says.
“Don’t stop. It’s hard to get going again.
“Competing, and going away, it’s a week away, eat out every couple of nights, ride the bike, race your mates. I’m so pumped.”
The UCI Gran Fondo World Championships continue on Friday with a team relay in Geelong. Full results from day one are available here.
UCI Gran Fondo World Championships Time Trial – World Champions
Women
19-34 🥇 Emma Ochoa (AUS)
35-39 🥇 Kim Pedersen (AUS)
40-44 🥇 Alina Mylka (POL)
45-49 🥇 Marina Letaeva
50-54 🥇 Jenny Pettenon (AUS)
55-59 🥇 Jill Seeman (AUS)
60-64 🥇 Anna Davis (AUS)
65-69 🥇 Linda Dewhurst (GER)
70-74 🥇 Glenda Signorini (AUS)
75-79 🥇 Gaye Lynn (AUS)
80-84 🥇 Elizabeth Randall (AUS)
Men
19-34 🥇 Daniel Hochstrasser (AUT)
35-39 🥇 Jari Verstraeten (BEL)
40-44 🥇 Matthew Clark (USA)
45-49 🥇 Andrew Knight (USA)
50-54 🥇 Raul Patino Delgado (ESP)
55-59 🥇 John Thomas (FRA)
60-64 🥇 Joe Spano (AUS)
65-69 🥇 Alan Nelson (AUS)
70-74 🥇 Roger Cull (AUS)
75-79 🥇 Ed Chamberlin (USA)
80-84 🥇 Myles Higgins (AUS)
85-89 🥇 Marcel Eve (FRA)
Main Image: Aaron Collins, NorthSouth