Cyclist beats his own record aged 102 years old

            There are definitely no excuses for not getting on your bike after you read about Robert Marchand.

            He has just got himself another world record in a race for over 100-year-olds. He's 102 years old and he peddled at a rate of nearly 17 miles an hour, beating the old world record, which was his anyway!

            When he was 100 years old he hit the record books with a 100 km cycle round a velodrome in Lyon. His latest feat took place at a velodrome in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines near Paris.

            After completing the race, he hurried off round the track to meet and greet his supporters.

True or false?

1. The second race was in Lyon.

2. The records were set in two different velodromes.

3. No one wanted Robert to set the record.

4. Robert travelled at more than 17 miles an hour.

5. Robert made excuses why he couldn't get on his bike.

6. Robert is more than 100 years old.

7. Robert left the track quickly after he finished the race.

8. Robert has set the world record twice.

Match the words below to their definitions

definitely / excuse / record / track / supporter / velodrome

best or fastest ever done

circular path used for races

large building where people race on bicycles

reason that you give to explain why you did something wrong

someone who wants a particular person or team to do well at a sport

without any doubt                     

Which word or phrase means the same as the one in italics?

1. completing

a) the same as starting

b) the same as competing

c) the same as finishing

2. feat

a) the same as race

b) the same as achievement

c) the same as comment

3. latest

a) the same as soonest

b) the same as newest

c) the same as oldest

4. greet

a) the same as welcome

b) the same as warn

c) the same as inspect

KEY

True or false

1. False

2. True

3. False

4. False

5. False

6. True

7. True

8. True

Vocabulary

definitely           without any doubt

excuse             reason that you give to explain why you did something wrong

record               best or fastest ever done

supporter          someone who wants a particular person or team to do well at a sport

track                circular path used for races

velodrome         large building where people race on bicycles

Which word or phrase means the same as the one in italics?

1. c)   the same as finishing

2. b)   the same as achievement

3. b)   the same as newest

4. a)   the same as welcome