Centenarian breaks his own cycling hour record – in pictures

The 102 year-old receives a push for the start. Despite a promising early start in the sport, Marchand never turned professional Photograph: Ian Langsdon/EPA

Robert Marchand was born in 1911 in Amiens, during the first world war, close to the front line Photograph: Ian Langsdon/EPA

Here, he pedals slowly but steadily along the côte d'azur (the blue line that runs along the inside of the velodrome). The UCI made the category of a centenarian's hour record specially for him, two years ago, where he set his record of 24.1km Photograph: Ian Langsdon/EPA

Marchand returned to cycling at the age of 67 in 1978, and has completed numerous sportives, including Paris-Roubaix, the Marmotte, and the Ardechoise Photograph: Ian Langsdon/EPA

Marchand's new record, set at the age of 102, stands at 26.925km Photograph: Ian Langsdon/EPA

His record was set at the new national velodrome at Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, which the Federation France Cyclisme (FFC), hopes will be the base of a national professional team, in the mould of Team Sky Photograph: Ian Langsdon/EPA

Marchand celebrates with onlookers as the new record is set Photograph: Ian Langsdon/EPA