'You've got to challenge yourself' – 95-year-old smashes cycling Hour Record on birthday
Peter Grandiek beat the previous best by almost 3km and had to undergo anti-doping testing
On his 95th birthday, Dutch cyclist Peter Grandiek smashed the Hour Record in the 95-99 age category. The Invercargill native cycled over 91 laps, covering 22.948km and surpassing the previous record of 20.151km set by Reg Rye in 2019 by nearly 3km. Grandiek, who lives in New Zealand, initially encountered issues with his bike seat being too far forward, causing him to worry about falling off.
The assistance of a lap recorder proved invaluable, as he could monitor his progress and push towards the 80 laps mark, which he found particularly encouraging. Reflecting on his motivation, Grandiek noted that he "thought it might be something I might be capable of," despite being twice a week at the velodrome, he wasn't always pushing his limits. He attributed his success to a positive mindset, stating, "You've got to challenge yourself."
To make his record official with the UCI, Grandiek had to undergo anti-doping testing. His celebratory plans were delayed, as the process extended beyond the record attempt itself. Grandiek, who emigrated to New Zealand in his youth, began cycling in his mid-70s after retiring from his previous occupations as a railway worker and house painter.
He has a history of challenging himself, having previously held the 80-84 age category record 11 years ago, until it was surpassed by an 81-year-old Briton. The next age category's record stands at 26.925km, set by Frenchman Robert Marchand since 2014. Grandiek plans to continue challenging himself on the bike, aiming to surpass the 100-104 category's current record.
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