CYCLIST Gavin Lancaster is hoping for a positive result when he heads to France for the Gran Fodo World Championships in August.

Lancaster qualified for the event in Albi after finishing in the top 20 at the Gran Fodo event in Cambridge a fortnight ago.

The 45-year-old, who is from Old Town, says he was shocked to learn he had qualified but concedes it was something he was working towards.

“To be honest, I think the qualification was a surprise, but I have been building for the last six months to try and hit the qualification standard,” he said.

“We had a pretty robust training plan at the start of the year to get me into decent condition for last weekend and all the stars aligned.

“Cycling is like any athletic event. There are a lot of things you can’t control in the race, like crashes, the weather and mechanicals.

“Luckily, I managed to avoid all of that and finish in the lead group which is good.”

The Swindon cyclist has a long history of competing on the bike as he first started in his teenage years in triathlon, before switching to cycling 10 years ago.

Lancaster will compete in the Masters discipline while he is in southern France and admits the intensity is still there despite the category he is in.

“I’ve always been very competitive on the bike, whether that is sandwiched between a swim or a run or just by itself,” said the 45-year-old.

“I’m competing against guys who are my age group, which is good because as you get older recovery takes a bit longer, but it is still quick.

“There are some really fast 45-year-olds.

“You do get some former professionals on these races and you know straight away because of the size of their legs.”

The race takes place later this year on Sunday, August 27, just north of Toulouse, and Lancaster is more than aware it will be an entirely different race when he gets underway.

“It is a difficult because where Cambridge was relatively flat, Albi is in the Pyrenees region so it will be a different kind of race,” added Lancaster. “As soon as we hit the first climb I would expect the race to split, it is typical Tour de France stuff, the mountains are where the climbers come out.

“If I can stick with the lead group as long as I can then I’ll see how I go. I’ve been climbing quite well this year so I am quietly confident I can get a decent result there.”