A member of the Canadian National Cycling Team will attempt to break a world record and a national record at the Milton velodrome in April.
Ed Veal, 38-year-old cyclist from Barrie, is trying his luck at setting a new world record for the ‘best hour performance’ in the masters men’s 35 to 39 cyclist group, and the ‘Canadian hour record’ at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre on April 10.
“It’s scary to a lot of people, scary to myself,” said Veal. “You’ve got to be a little crazy…”
Last year, Veal broke Canadian records for the 4,000-metre team pursuit and individual pursuit and it was these feats that inspired him to go for the world record.
The current ‘best hour performance’ record was set in 2011 by Australian cyclist Jayson Austin, at 48.31 km in one hour, while the Canadian hour record of 45.95 km is held by Mike Nash, set in 2011.
“I am confident I am going to set a world record,” said Veal.
Andrew Iler, one of Veal’s supporters and coaches, couldn’t agree more. “I think he’s really going to push himself and yes, I think he’s got a really good shot at setting a new mark.”
A late bloomer to the world of cycling, Veal told the Champion he never really had an affinity for the sport until his neighbour “badgered” him into it when he was 26.
“He wouldn’t leave me alone, he was relentless,” Veal recalled, noting that the first time he went out, he was hooked.
With a seemingly natural ability for the sport, Veal worked his way up to mountain biking. He was told that in order to be fast on a mountain bike, he had to train on a road bike. Veal competed locally in Ontario tournaments and won the Ontario Cup Championship three times in four years.
Once again, Veal had to be convinced by others that he should take the next step and apply for the national team.
“I really wasn’t thinking outside of the little local scene. I was just happy being the local fast guy,” he said.
Veal made the team at age 37 and spent all of last year competing in several international tournaments, including the Commonwealth Games in Scotland.
Iler said of Veal: “He’s a natural. He lifts himself to a higher level for big competitions.”
Veal will be 39 in August and his next oldest teammate is 24. But the world-renowned cyclist says that he uses his age as inspiration.
“Because I started late I still feel like I have a lot of stuff in the tank.”
And he’s going to showcase what he’s got in front of an audience at the velodrome.
“I want to be all in,” he said.
The ‘best hour performance’ is one of the most prestigious cycling records, with some of the biggest names in the sport having held it, including the first director of the Tour de France, Henri Desgrange and all-time cycling greats Fausto Coppi, Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Francesco Moser and Miguel Indurain.
“Cycling Canada should be looking at this as one of the most exciting events we’ve ever had,” said Iler.
Regarding his record-breaking attempt, Veal “hasn’t been preparing that much.”
“I’m confident I can do this without much specific training towards the hour. It’s one of those things, a hard man’s kind of event. You can’t prepare for it, you just go and do it,” he said.
In order to pursue his dreams as a cyclist for the national team, Veal had to leave his job as a cycling coach in two indoor training studios he owns in Barrie and Vaughan. In addition, his age makes him too old to receive funding from the National Cycling Association.
Fundraising efforts have been started on his behalf by members the Les Domestiques Cycling Club. For those who wish to contribute to Veal’s record-breaking attempt, visit his Indiegogo campaign at https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/all-or-nothing--7.
Veal has been to the velodrome several times for the Canadian National Track Championships and for cycling camps and describes it as “world-class.”
The event will take place between sessions of the Provincial Cycling Championships on April 10 at 4:45 p.m. and will be open to the public.
The amateur cyclist will be a participant in this year’s Pan-Am Games and hopes to compete at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
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