Robert Marchand, an amateur cyclist who claims to have clocked
tens of thousands of kilometres in the saddle, finished the
distance in 4 hours, 17 minutes and 27 seconds.
"I did a little better than I hoped," he said. "However the
going was tough in the last few kilometres."
Marchand, who has lived in Canada and Venezuela and whose
professional life has included stints as a market gardener, shoe
salesman and wine dealer, said he only took to cycling when he
bought his first bike in 1978.
His bid for the centenarian record was certified by the French
national cycling federation.