What exactly is age? For Roy Lopez, it is nothing but a fictional limit, just a number with no real power. At the age of 73, he proves that the true measure of vitality lies in the power he puts on his bike as he achieves serious cycling goals for the first time in his life.
This weekend, Lopez lined up with 859 fellow cyclists for the 50-mile race in Unbound. The course, which was actually 90 kilometers long, included 90% rocky but fast gravel, undulating rollers with a total of 600 meters of climbing and a mud hole.
Lopez overcame it all with a smile, crossing the finish line in 3:09:58 and achieving an average speed of 28.47 km/h. Not only did he take victory in his 70+ age category, but he also finished 53rd out of 590 men.
“It means everything,” said an overjoyed Lopez as he held his wooden plaque after the awards ceremony. This victory is a visual anchor for him, a motivation to continue striving for progress and exploring his limits.
“I gotta tell you, I’m just getting started. I don’t know where those boundaries are.”
Meet Roy
(Image credit: Yuri Hauswald)
Lopez is a semi-retired real estate agent from Centennial, Colorado. His passion for cycling began in his youth in Cuba, where he raced around the neighborhood on a Schwinn singlespeed bicycle with his brother and friends. Over the years he evolved from exploring the great outdoors and chasing roadies on a hardtail mountain bike to getting fast on a road bike, finally finding the ‘best of both worlds’ in gravel riding in 2018. Every bike brought new adventures and – despite falls – a deeper love for the sport.
“The bicycle is everything. The feeling of not just freedom but just joy. I mean, people always say I smile when I drive, and I say, ‘Yes, because I feel it!'” Lopez says.
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After a 45-year career in the real estate industry, Lopez decided to work less, freeing up time to get serious about his cycling.
“When I work, it’s 150%. When I cycle, it’s the same. But it was very difficult to do both,” Lopez explains.
“I do about seven to eight events a year. This is the first time I decided, if I’m going to go to these things, I might as well win something. This year is the first time I’m trying to see where the boundaries are.”
His journey into competitive cycling began six months ago, catalyzed by the Rapha Festive 500 challenge. Since then he has entered into a ‘contract between himself and the bike’, throwing himself into training with his heart and soul.
Lopez is on a CTS training regimen and has taken opportunities like the Trans Rockies Gravel Royale camp in Patagonia, Arizona to learn from the pros. One of these pros is Gravel Hall of Famer Yuri Hauswald, who mentored Lopez this spring and even surprised him by showing up at the starting line of the Unbound 50, ready to join him on the Kansas adventure.
“We got along great, and he kind of took me under his wing,” Lopez says. “Yuri is a perfect example of an ambassador in the gravel wheel world; giving selflessly and helping others. He taught me a few things about gravel and gear, which was great. I needed it because I was quite a novice.”
Lopez discovered that training works, regardless of age.
“Age means nothing. It’s about the attitude and the work. Dedicating yourself is essential if you want to participate in a race,” he says. “Do I get tired faster? Sure, it happens. So you’re just compensating for the reality of your age, but don’t let age be the barrier. It’s never too late. You don’t know your limits until you test them.”
Lopez enjoys the learning process and gets genuinely excited about the training and the progress he has made.
“The student’s ears are completely open. My eyes are open. If I could just become a professional cyclist, that would be a dream come true,” he jokes. “If a nursing home wants to sponsor me because of my age, hey, go for it, I’ll do it. I just love it. It’s just the sheer joy of being able to go out there and be competitive and ride.
“The ultimate benefit is that your health improves, both physically and mentally. The older you are, the more benefits you will gain from cycling at whatever level you choose. If you need an electric bike, buy an electric bike, but just start pedaling. And then don’t stop pedaling.”
The future is ambitious
The starting line of the 50 mile event: Yuri Hauswald, Anne-Marije Rook and Roy Lopez
(Image credit: Yuri Hauswald)
Looking ahead, Lopez has ambitious plans. He aims to participate in more races, starting with the Maratona dles Dolomites, a 150 kilometer road event with 4,000 meters of climbing. From there, he’ll attend “a few fun events” to round out the year, but his serious sights are already set on Unbound 2025.
“I’m totally excited about planning gravel races in 2025. Unbound Gravel 100 miler is a must; But I’m seriously considering the 200 miles,” he says. “I believe this is the first year Unbound has offered the 70+ category for the 200, and I don’t believe a 70+ has finished the 200 race this year. I learned that by doing what hasn’t been done yet, you can stand out from the crowd.”
Giving back is also a big part of Lopez’s cycling goals. He previously donated 67 bicycles to 67 children with health problems in a regional hospital in the Dominican Republic. Now he looks at cyclists his own age.
“By the time I’m 75, and hoping to win more races, I’d like to start promoting cycling later in life,” he says.
We look forward to following Lopez’s journey and seeing how far his determination and spirit will take him during Unbound 2025 and beyond.