Gran Fondo World Champs: ‘There is a sense of pride and achievement’

Things didn’t quite go to plan for Stuart Heseltine at his first UCI Gran Fondo World Championship in 2019.

Lining up in Poznan, Poland, in a new Australian kit, Heseltine was ready to tackle the 151km course. He was excited to wear the green and gold and test himself against other riders in his age category from across the world.

But as can be the unpredictable nature of bike racing, about 50km in Heseltine was caught up in a crash and ended up in a ditch. Battered and bruised, he got back on his bike and continued to battle on for another 50km. But it was around the 100km mark that he had to call it quits.

Now, four years later, the 62-year-old is ready to have another crack at the UCI World Gran Fondo Championship in Glasgow, Scotland in August, after qualifying at Amy’s Gran Fondo where he finished 8th in his age category (60-64).

And he has his sights set on a top 20 finish.

“I’m hoping to go better than I did in Poznan. That was a pan-flat course.

“It will be interesting to see what the parcour (course) is like, hopefully into the hilly region to the north,” Heseltine said.

“I prefer a punchier course - not massively steep but with about 1500m of climbing over 130km.”

Lining up for Australia on the world stage was a great thrill, Heseltine said.

“You buy the Australian kit and you stand on the start line and there is a sense of pride and achievement,” he said.

“The atmosphere is great; you are talking to riders from California and Mexico - it’s a real international community.”

This time around will be particularly special, with the Gran Fondo being run as part of the Cycling World Championships, which brings together 13 different cycling disciplines including road, track and mountain biking competing for rainbow jerseys across two weeks.

Heseltine is planning to soak up the full atmosphere of the first ever event of its kind, having bought tickets to a number of events as a spectator.

“We have booked all flights and accommodation early,” he said.

“I have family in the UK so we are planning to support some locals too. We have bought tickets to the Downhill at Fort William, a track session and we will support local rider Darren Hicks and also the BMX Freestyle so hopefully we will see Logan Martin too.”

Heseltine is no stranger to racing. He races locally with the Adelaide Hills Cycling Club and in 2022 finished in the top 10 in the Nationals Masters Gran Fondo at Mt Buninyong. He has also taken part in the Tour of Bright.

Ahead of Worlds in August, Heseltine has also signed up to a nutritionist and a coach to help with fuelling and with specifics of his performance.

“I never really stop (training). I do about 350km a week with a number of well-known bunch rides around Adelaide. Tristan Saunders, the winner of the Melbourne to Warrny, and Sophie Edwards do those rides and with NRS riders there it pushes you to go harder.”

Beyond worlds, Heseltine says he has plenty more racing in his legs.

“I’m only 62 so there is still plenty of years ahead of me. You always say this will be the last race, but it never is.”

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The UCI Grand Fondo World Championship Road Race

Date: August 4

Host regions: Perth & Kinross

Course: TBC

The UCI Gran Fondo World Championship Individual Time Trial

Date: August 7

Host regions: Dundee & Angus

Course: TBC

Find out more about the UCI World Championships here