Coasting into a burst of camera flashes, a throng of reporters and a hearty roar of applause, Ed Veal offers a big smile and a quick-witted request.
“I’ll take one of those chairs,” says the no-doubt exhausted 38-year-old Barrie cyclist.
It’s a fitting first comment after his remarkable test of endurance this evening (Friday) at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre.
With a few hundred spectators and fellow riders cheering him on, Veal decimated the Canadian men’s masters’ (35-39) ‘best hour’ record — with an incredible 47.6km covered.
That toppled Ontarian Mike Nash’s previous mark of 45.95km, set in 2011.
Veal’s 190-plus laps around the 250m track — accomplished with an average speed of about 49-km an hour — wasn’t quite enough for a world record, however, as he fell about two-thirds of a kilometre shy of Australian Jayson Austin’s 2011 standard of 48.31km.
In humble fashion, Veal — an accomplished cyclist who was born in an Olympic year and is a legitimate hopeful for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Games — suggested the world record may have been a tad unrealistic.
But he attacked the night ‘hard’ and stressed that the encouragement from spectators and loved ones alike kept him “accountable.”
“Thank-you so much,” said Veal, moments before being mobbed by about a dozen young racing enthusiasts.
Dubbed #edshour, the world/national record attempt reached a fever pitch over the final five minutes — with both benchmarks still within reach — and was capped with a congratulatory round of firecracker noise spurting out the speakers.
Veal’s dizzying pace saw him at a 18.5 to 20-seconds a lap pace for the entire hour, with low volume rock and pop music fueling his ride.
Many of those rooting him on were participants for this weekend’s Ontario Cycling Association provincial championships.
The #edshour challenge gained plenty of support on social media, including that of a certain well-known former Olympian.
“Good luck @realdealveal! Wish I was there to cheer you on but I am confident that u will go further than you have ever gone before!” Tweeted Curt Harnett earlier today.
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Detail Link :
http://www.insidehalton.com/news-story/5552631-veal-handily-sets-new-national-best-hour-master-s-record-at-milton-velodrome/