A CENTENARIAN has just completed a gruelling 90km bike race stage in five hours – saying he would have been quicker but he slowed to “wait for my mates”.

Former market gardener and fireman Robert Marchand from Seine-et-Marne, who was 100 last year, was doing a stage of the Cyclosportive Paris-Cambrai. He started at Thiescourt in the Oise at 10.30 and arrived in Cambrai, Nord, just before 15.30.

Mr Marchand, who broke the centenarian’s speed record in February by doing 24.25km in an hour, said he bikes because he likes it, not to beat records.

He only took up the sport aged 67, but has since competed internationally.

Next week he is tackling the Paris-Honfleur (207km) before doing a 100km track race in Lyon.