French cycling legend Jeannie Longo on Monday clinched a place to compete in her seventh Olympics at the age of 49.
The five-time world champion staked her claim with an outstanding win in both the road race and time-trial at the French National Championships last week. She finshed in 31 minutes 16 seconds, over a minute ahead of second-placed Edwige Pitel.
The 1996 Olympic road race champion has competed in every Games since women’s cycling was first introduced. She will compete in both the road race and time-trail races in Beijing.
She is one of three women selected for the French team along with Cristel Ferrier-Bruneau and Maryline Salvetat, with Pitel, who competed at the Athens Games, missing out.
Longo, who will be 50 in October, has won world titles in time-trials and road races, but her only Olympic gold came when she won the road race in Atlanta.
French women’s team:
Road Race: Christel Ferrier-Bruneau, Jeannie Longo, Maryline Salvetat
Time-trial: Jeannie Longo, Maryline Salvetat