Eternal bike racer and multiple world champion Jeannie Longo, 63, added another victory to her palmares on Saturday, 30 April at UCI 66 Degrés Sud in Perpignan, France.

The Olympic champion and thirteen-time world champion not only won her 60-64 year-old female category in the 125 kilometer race, but she also crossed the finish line as the first female, earning that overall title and a front row starting bib at the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in September.

Sandrine Lobre (50-54F) finished second, just three seconds behind Longo and Valerie Chavant (55-59F) earned the final podium step. The field included women not even half the age of Longo.

Afterwards Longo sheepishly told L’Independant, “It was not easy for me today, I haven’t trained much lately. I especially came here to accompany my husband.” 

While Longo now plans to participate in the gran fondo world championships, unfortunately, her husband failed to finish the race and will now have to qualify elsewhere if he is to also participate in the world championships.

In the 125km men’s race, Florian Dagorne (35-39M) won with a time of 3:38:52. Louis Vaissiere (19-34M) finished second and Aymeric Bardoulat (19-34M) was third.

After winning the time trial the previous day, a youthful Loick Dussol (19-34M) won the 165 kilometer gran fondo race in 4:37:28, nine seconds up on Hugo Drechou (19-34M) and almost three minutes ahead of Antoine Lamy (19-34M).

For the women’s 165 kilometer race, Aline Marguet (19-34F) claimed the top podium step with a time of 5:18:03. Celine Schuller pipped Florence Le Gallic for second.

Over 1200 athletes participated in the UCI Gran Fondo World Series event.

Complete 66 Degrés Sud gran fondo, medio fondo and time trial results HERE.

Photos: 66 Degrés Sud