Recently, the performance of veteran bike racing athletes who transcend age has drawn attention. The saying, "Time is unbeatable," seems irrelevant in front of these athletes.
▲ A legendary figure from the cycling club, Inchihwan
A representative athlete showcasing remarkable skill in the special class is Inchihwan (17th batch, S1, Gimpo). Born in 1982, he is currently 42 years old and comes from a non-professional cycling background. In the past, he was a formidable cyclist in the cycling club scene, even winning a stage in the Tour de Korea Special competition.
To become a professional athlete, he enrolled at the bike racing training center as the top student in 2009 and graduated with top honors, finishing first in the graduation race. More than 15 years later, he is still ranked among the top in the special class. However, in this year's second half grading assessment, he dropped down to S1, giving up his spot among Korea's top five bike racers in the super special class.
Nevertheless, he is still ranked 7th among over 500 bike racing athletes and has recorded a win rate of 42%, an alliance rate of 65%, and a triple alliance rate of 74% this year. Remarkably, nearly half of his winning strategies have been executed through solo efforts such as leading and overtaking.
▲ The counterattack of the young, Kim Youngseop and Kim Baeyoung
Among the 78 special class athletes, the oldest is Kim Youngseop (8th batch, S1, Seoul individual), born in 1975, making him 50 years old this year. Despite this, he is consistently mentioned as a candidate for third-place finishes, skilled in marking and chasing, with a triple alliance rate of 44%. The 47-year-old Kim Baeyoung (11th batch, S2, Gwangju individual) also continues to maintain consistency as a 22-year veteran with skills in marking and chasing.
Born in 1980, Kong Minwoo (11th batch, S3, Gapyeong) is currently 44 years old and showed high-level skills with an alliance rate of 56% and a triple alliance rate of 78% in the first half of the year. He was promoted back to the special class for the first time in three years after the grading assessment at the end of June. Also showcasing determination is Kim Mincheol (8th batch, A1, Gwangju), born in 1979 and currently 45 years old. He exhibits excellent bike handling skills, employing various strategies such as leading, overtaking, and chasing, achieving an alliance rate of 57% and a triple alliance rate of 73%, leading to his promotion to the special class.
▲ Park Jonghyun faces off against younger athletes
The oldest athlete in the upper class, Park Jonghyun (6th batch, A3, Chungnam Gyeryong), does not shy away from direct confrontations with younger athletes. He showcased his legendary capabilities with a bold leading strategy in race 7 during the 15th round in Gwangmyeong (April 13), achieving odds of 43.7 for a single win, 142.3 for a double win, and 453.9 for a triple win. Park Jonghyun asserted, "Even now, I undergo the same level of training as young athletes. There is absolutely no reason to feel daunted by age."
Choi Kyung-seok, editor-in-chief of the forecast site Choi Kyung-ryun, noted, "The activities of seasoned veterans may stem from their superior bike handling skills, but above all, it's due to their thorough self-management. It is their determination that has led to the current state of bike racing."
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