The Tour de France is skewing younger than ever, but can the peloton’s elder statesmen still cut it at the sharp end? James Shrubsall explores what it takes to age gracefully as a Grand Tour racer

• Dudley almost wins fairytale TT • ...

TT Legend John McGuinness MBE in MCN every week

The 39-year-old Welshman is the oldest rider at this year’s Tour – can he bow out with a stage win?

TOP STORY

Fairy tales can come true, and the UK experienced a purple patch early on in the century with two home-grown grand prix title winners.