Local Cycling Standout Closes Season with Victory at Major Arizona Race

Date: November 30, 2023

Prince Edward County’s well-known senior cyclist Gordon Legge has capped off his 2023 racing season with an impressive first-place finish at the El Tour de Tucson in Arizona.

The event attracted approximately 1,500 cyclists and featured a demanding 100-kilometre course with roughly 400 metres of elevation gain. At 75 years old, Legge claimed the top spot in the men’s 71-and-over division, finishing first among 129 competitors and placing 79th overall.

Legge said he was particularly encouraged by his performance, averaging 36 km/h over the course.

“That result really boosts my confidence,” he said, noting that it reinforces his ability to compete internationally within his age group. The Tucson race marked his final competition of the year.

Looking ahead, Legge is already focused on the 2024 season, with plans to qualify once again for the World Gran Fondo Championships in Aalborg, Denmark - a competition he hopes to attend for the fourth time.

Earlier this year, Legge placed 13th in his age category at the UCI World Medio Fondo Championships in Perth, Scotland. In 2022, he finished 33rd at the World Championships in Italy, while his 2021 qualification went unused due to pandemic-related restrictions.

A cyclist for more than 20 years, Legge is a familiar presence at local and regional events, including the Ride to Conquer Cancer, the County Gran Fondo, and the Hastings Highlands Hilly Hundred in Bancroft.

His 2024 campaign is set to begin at the Cheaha Challenge in Jacksonville, Alabama, scheduled for mid-May. The qualifying ride has been shortened to 83 miles, down from 100 miles last year, while the World Championships in Denmark are set for September 1.

Legge says his goal for next season is clear: a podium finish.

“I like the idea of qualifying early,” he said. “It gives me time to plan properly for Denmark.”

He has already connected with international riders familiar with the Danish course and expects it to be more demanding than past races. Legge is also preparing for a future race in Jordan, which features a dramatic climb from 400 metres below sea level to 800 metres above, and plans to rent equipment locally for the event.