What’s age, actually? For Roy Lopez, it’s nothing however a fictitious restrict, a mere quantity devoid of true energy. At 73, he’s proving that the actual measure of vitality lies within the watts he pushes on his bike as he tackles critical biking objectives for the primary time in his life.
Over the weekend, Lopez lined up with 859 fellow cyclists for the 50-mile race at Unbound. The course, which truly measured 55 miles, included 90% rocky however quick gravel, undulating rollers totaling 1,900 ft of climbing and one mud pit.
Lopez conquered all of it with a smile, crossing the end line in 3:09:58 and averaging a powerful 17.47 mph. In doing so, he not solely clinched the victory in his 70+ age group but additionally completed 53rd out of 590 males. It was his second win of the season, following taking the 60+ age group victory at Wild Horse Gravel in Might.
“It means all the things,” mentioned an overjoyed Lopez as he clutched his wood plaque following the award ceremony. This victory a visible anchor for him, a motivation to proceed striving for progress and exploring his limits.
“I gotta inform ya, I am simply beginning. I do not know the place these limits are.”
Meet Roy
(Picture credit score: Yuri Hauswald)
Lopez is a semi-retired realtor from Centennial, Colorado. His ardour for biking started in his childhood in Cuba, the place he would race his brother and buddies on a Schwinn single-speed bike across the neighborhood. Over time, he developed from exploring nature and chasing roadies on a hardtail mountain bike to getting speedy on a highway bike, finally discovering the ‘better of each worlds’ in gravel driving in 2018. Every bike introduced new adventures and – crashes however – a deeper love for the game.
“The bike is all the things. The sensation of not solely freedom however simply pleasure. I imply, individuals at all times say that I smile once I experience, and I’m like, ‘yeah, ‘trigger I really feel it!’,” Lopez says.
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After a 45-year profession in actual property, Lopez determined to work much less, releasing up time to get critical about his biking.
“Once I work, it’s 150%. Once I bike, it’s the identical factor. However attempting to do each was actually tough,” Lopez explains.
“I do about 7 or 8 occasions a yr. That is the primary time that I made a decision, you recognize, if I’m going to go to those issues, I’d as properly win one thing. This yr is the primary time that I’m attempting to see the place the boundaries are.”
His journey into aggressive biking began six months in the past, catalyzed by the Rapha Festive 500 problem. Since then, he has made a ‘contract between himself and the bike,’ throwing himself into coaching wholeheartedly.
Lopez has been following a CTS coaching schedule and has seized alternatives just like the Trans Rockies Gravel Royale camp in Patagonia, Arizona, to be taught from the professionals. One in every of these execs is Gravel Corridor of Famer Yuri Hauswald, who mentored Lopez this spring and even shocked him by showing on the Unbound 50 begin line, able to accompany him for the Kansas journey.
“We obtained alongside nice, and he sort of took me below his wings,” says Lopez. “Yuri is an ideal instance of an envoy to the gravel biking world; unselfishly giving and serving to others. He taught me a couple of issues about gravel and gear which have been superior. I wanted it as a result of I used to be sort of a novice.”
Lopez found that coaching works, no matter age.
“Age means nothing. It’s the perspective and the work. Making use of your self is important to inserting in a race,” he says. “Do I get drained faster? Certain, it occurs. So that you simply compensate for the fact of your age, however don’t let age be the barrier. It’s by no means too late. You don’t know your limits till you take a look at them.”
Lopez enjoys the training course of and will get genuinely enthusiastic about coaching and the progress he’s made.
“The coed’s ears are fully open. My eyes are open. If I might solely turn out to be knowledgeable bike owner, that might be a dream come true,” he jokes. “If a nursing dwelling desires to sponsor me due to my age, hey, go for it, I’ll do it. I simply adore it. It’s simply that pure pleasure of having the ability to get outside, be aggressive, and experience.
“The last word profit is to enhance your well being, each bodily and mentally. The older you might be, the extra advantages you’ll understand by biking at no matter stage you select. When you want an electrical bike, get an electrical bike, however simply begin pedaling. After which, don’t cease pedaling.”
The Future is Formidable
The beginning line of the 50-mile occasion: Yuri Hauswald, Anne-Marije Rook and Roy Lopez
(Picture credit score: Yuri Hauswald)
Trying forward, Lopez has formidable plans. He goals to take part in additional races, beginning with the Maratona dles Dolomites, a 150k highway occasion with 14,000 ft of climbing. From there, he’ll attend ‘”a few enjoyable occasions” to complete the yr, however his critical sights are already set to Unbound 2025.
“I’m completely stoked about planning for gravel races in 2025. Unbound Gravel 100 miler is a should; nonetheless, I’m significantly contemplating the 200 miles,” he says. “I consider that is the primary yr Unbound has supplied the 70+ class for the 200, and I don’t consider any 70+ completed the 200 race this yr. I’ve realized that by doing what’s not been completed, that may set you other than the group.”
Giving again is an enormous a part of Lopez’s biking goals, too. He beforehand gifted 67 bikes to 67 health-compromised youngsters in a regional hospital within the Dominican Republic. Now, he’s cyclists his personal age.
“By the point I’m 75, and with hopes of profitable extra races, I’d love to start out selling biking at a sophisticated age,” he says.
We sit up for following Lopez’s journey and seeing how far his willpower and spirit will take him at Unbound 2025 and past.
