The evergreen Lowveld cycling legend, Walter Thornhill (72), won a bronze medal at the 2025 Masters Track World Championships, despite two serious injury setbacks prior to the event.

The champs were held in Roubaix, France, from Monday, October 6 to Saturday, October 11.

Thornhill competed in the 70- to 74-year category.

He said it had been a challenging year, from a completely torn Achilles tendon early in February to a broken rib and impaired shoulder just four weeks before the champs.

“After the broken rib, I told Kobus Maree, our local physiotherapist and attendee of the Beijing Olympic Games: ‘If there is the slightest possibility to ride, then I want to.’ I trust Kobus implicitly. He is a triathlete, understands the psychology and what it takes to compete,” said Thornhill.

“Maree said: ‘Raise your left arm, use the other to assist.’ He acknowledged: ‘I can strap your shoulder, but a rib is a rib; after three weeks the pain is less but four to six to heal completely. However, I suggest only light exercises until the competition.’ That was all I needed – the green light.”

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Thornhill added that at a mini training camp in Roubaix two weeks prior to the championships, he couldn’t stand out the saddle, the pain of the rib and shoulder injuries was just too great. “So, the deception was not to tell any of my competitors about my condition – my laconic response always was ‘just great’, but of course things leak out,” Thornhill said.

But race he did.

In the three-lap sprint quarterfinals on Thursday, Thornhill progressed to the semi-finals with a win over Jacques Butter of the Netherlands. He faced eventual gold medallist, Marc Dangleterre, of France in Friday’s semi-finals. The Frenchman won and Thornhill raced for bronze that evening.

In the bronze-medal sprint the Lowvelder faced Frenchman, Pierick Girault – two three-lap sprints and a decider if necessary.

Thornhill won the first by 0.674 seconds and the second by 0.060 seconds, claiming the bronze medal.

Thornhill’s other world champs results:
• 5km scratch race: 12th
• 500m time trial: 4th
• 10km points race: 11th
• 2km pursuit: 11th.