I was excited when Lorne was selected as the venue for this year’s finals. It’s a part of the world that I love and know well. The time trial course looked appetizing too, 23km with a couple of significant hills that would contribute to about 330 metres of climbing. The setting would be magnificent, heading out and back to Lorne along the spectacular Great Ocean Road.
I was lucky enough to check out the course last year whilst in Australia, next I needed to qualify. That got done in Prats de Mollo in the foothills of the Pyrenees in April. I won my age group on that day so my place in the final was sealed.
My preparation for Lorne was perfect. Lots of good miles in the legs in September. Carolyn and I travelled to Australia 10 days before the event and spent leisurely days in beautiful Port Fairy. The perfect place to fine tune my TT position too and turning a few heads with the locals who’d probably never seen such a weird cyclist with his odd looking bike and helmet.
We arrived in Lorne a day before the event and just enough time for an evening recon of the course. This was crucial, each hill on the course had a fairly technical descent down the other side and knowing the lines to take and where to ease up or brake would be important.
For a combination of reasons I chose to ride a modified road bike for the event instead of a full on time trial bike. My road bike is lighter and handles better than a TT bike. By adding TT bars and a rear disc wheel I’d got a pretty good compromise between aerodynamics, lightness and good handling.
The startlist was published, 40 riders all aged 55-59. We would set off at 30 second intervals and I’d be the 14th rider. The field had plenty of Australians as you’d expect. One of them was a powerful rider, Brendan Byatt who would start 30 seconds after me. I’d ridden with him before and knew what he could do.
Other age groups raced in the morning and our slot was just after midday. A mild, gusty wind was waiting for us. With the tenuous nature of the course that wind would hit us from every angle during the race.
Before racing we had to have our bikes checked. This is strict in TT races. UCI staff would first scan the bikes for motors, then use laser measuring on jigs to determine if our bikes conformed to the geometry regulations. Once bikes were checked there was no escape! We were shepherded to the start ramp and no possibility to modify our bikes.
My time approached, I didn’t have high expectations. I knew Brendan had just come second in the Australian Nationals a couple of weeks before and another rider in the field, Ben Arnott, had won that event. It was quite an intimidating environment. Most other riders had full on TT bikes and looked the part.
Onto the start platform. My bike is held, I clip in and take deep breaths as the count down comes. Off I go, quickly down onto the TT bars and staying low and narrow. Having Brendan chasing me was scary, I laid down a few too many watts in that first kilometre and then settled down to more sustainable pace. Still going hard though, I’d rather blow up going too deep than getting to end wishing I gone harder. As I pass a crouched photographer I realise I’m making a lot of noise. I’m a bit of a grunter and gasper when I’m on the limit, a cycling equivalent to Monica Seles perhaps. Not a nice sound but at least it shows I’m trying. 4.5kms of rolling terrain passes and then the first of the bigger hills.
I’ve got no idea how I’m doing, the numbers are good and I’m feeling strong but I daren’t look back to see if I’m getting caught. I keep looking ahead, I’m gaining on the the next rider. Into the climb, this will be a 5 minute effort over 2.5kms. Just steep enough to warrant a change to the small ring. My recons were useful for this, I know exactly where I’ll be switching gears. All goes well, solid power up and over the top, 340 watts for just over 5 mins, my previous weeks of riding and training had prepared me well with lots of 3-5 minute efforts.
Down the other side, full steam ahead, still on the TT bars for most of the descent, just one right hander that requires a gentle dab on the brakes but the other bends can all be ridden. Really good lines and not losing any speed. After the descent we’d ride a couple of kilometres of flat before turning around to ride the same road back. Once I turned I’d see where I was compared to other riders.
The turnaround brings me almost to a standstill, back up to speed and heading home. I glanced at my head unit, a little over 16 minutes out, on course for about 33 minutes. As I turn I can’t see anyone behind me. I’ve put time into Brendan. It seems quite a while before I see him coming the other way. I think I’m going well.
Back onto the climb, a 4 minute effort from this side. I’m catching riders who are struggling to maintain momentum on the climb. I end up passing several riders here, I must be doing well. I pass them fast and it feels good. It’s a painful 4 minutes, I’m almost trying to treat the top of this as a finish line, knowing that I’ll get some repite on the descent. My nine minutes on the two climbs is my best chance to gain time on everyone else, I need to exploit every second here. The last minute of the climb lasts an eternity, I top out and the pain is replaced with concentration for the descent
Down we go, no braking required for any of the corners as long as the lines are good. Back to sea level, just 4.5 kms to go now over three little rolls. I’m still feeling strong, when I glance at my speed and power numbers they still look good. I’m fighting for every second. I pass a Norwegian rider with a couple of kms to go and that helps motivate me even more.
Every second counts, on the final roll I push hard and manage 700 watts for a few moments to get me over. Last 500m, stay low and strong, fight to the line. Over the line and quickly searching for a place to collapse and keel over! I’m spent, totally empty. People are asking how I went and I can’t speak.
The breath comes back, Carolyn is there and seems to think I’ve done well. A UCI lady scurries over with her ipad with live timing, ‘well done, your leading!’. I’m stunned, I know there’s another 25 riders to finish but I still didn’t expect to lead. ‘There’s another rider who has turned 7 seconds quicker than you’ as she looked at the intermediate checkpoint. Turns out that rider is Ben Arnott, pre race favourite according to a few of the other riders.
Knowing that, I’m already resigned to getting beaten but still excited that I’m in with a shout of a podium place. Carolyn gives me my phone and I frantically try to access the live timing as riders continue to finsh. I’m still leading but Ben’s not finished yet.
Matthew Keenan, the voice of Austrialian cycling, is commentating for the event and he approaches me, ‘you’re in the hot seat John!’. ‘Where’s my Recaro seat, like they have on the telly?’ I reply!’.
A few minutes later and the same UCI lady rushes over, ‘you’ve got it!’. ‘What?!!!’ ‘Ben’s finished 4 seconds behind you, everyone left on the course is way behind you at the split, you’ve got this!’
I’m in shock, I’m shaking, I’m about to be confirmed as a fucking World Champion! I’ve wanted this for so many years and it’s happening!
I’m overwhelmed by the whole thing, I’m in disbelief, I really didn’t think I could win this.
Very quickly I’m assigned a chaperone, Charlie. He has to escort me to drug testing! I’ve joked for years that I’d love to be good enough to warrant a drug test, and that’s happening too!
Matthew Keenen grabs me for an interview then and I spill out my international story to him of being a Brit who got French nationality and is married to a girl from just down the road in Port Fairy! That interview will most likely be a part of an SBS TV program on the event being aired in Australia next week.
When looking at all my stats later I’d be super happy too. I reckoned on the course taking me about 34 minutes and an average speed of around 39kph. I shaved a minute off my estimate and averaged 40.5kph. That, combined with good power numbers, showed I’d really got the best out of myself. For context, the World Champion in the youngest age group, 19-35, managed 30 minutes and an average of 44kph.
I make the long slow journey with Carolyn and Charlie to the drug testing offices. This process would end up taking me nearly 2 hours while I tried to get enough water in me to provide enough urine sample for them! Delighted to witness the testing process though, and the credibility it brings to the event.
Tests done, podium ceremony next! I’m on cloud nine, I’m stunned. I’m going to have the French National Anthem, the Marseillaise, playing for me soon and I don’t know all the words! I learnt them for my French Nationality tests a couple of years ago but I need a bit of hasty revision as I look up the lyrics on my phone. I want to sing a bit of it at least!
Into the holding tent for all the medal winners. The podium is set next to the beach in Lorne, a glorious setting for my proudest cycling moment. Matthew Keenen is the master of ceremonies and just says all the right stuff to add to the atmosphere.
Up I go with Ben in Silver next to me and Timo Heiskanen from Finland in Bronze. I fumble my way into a jersey I’ve been waiting to wear for many years, the coveted UCI rainbow jersey.
‘Pull the zip up more’ the presenter prompts me.
A nice bouquet of Aussie natives to hold as the Marseillaise is played for the second time today. Marcel Eve won France’s other gold today…..in the 85-89 year old category!
I can say I’m a World Champion! It feels very good indeed! I’m immensely proud. I’ve worked so passionately at my cycling over the years to get the very best out of myself and this is a fabulous reward. I’ve had many amazing experiences and achievements on a bike but a World title had eluded me until now. To put that right in a beautiful part of Australia, on Carolyn’s patch, has been very special. I’m certainly not giving up cycling or anything but I do have a wonderful, content feeling of completion and getting a job done. It’s 20 years since the day I was inspired to buy a road bike after watching the Tour de France go past my house. Now, at last, I’ve got the pot of gold and rainbow that I’d dreamed of ever since.
Vive la France, vive l’Australie and vive le vélo!
Full results: Male 55-59 – Time Trial – UCI Gran Fondo World Championships – Time Trial (2025) | MultiSport Australia