A Reflection on Two Races, One Year Apart

Gary Moller
Jul 7
6 min read

(First published 23rd June, 2025: updated 7th July)

At this year's UCI Masters Mountain Bike World Championships, I once again lined up on the exact same course we raced in 2023. Conditions were as good as identical—same course, same rocks and roots, same weather, and even the same start time—down to the minute. A perfect setting for comparing performance from one year to the next.

My preparation had been solid. The field of riders, though smaller than last year, was strong and familiar—including two men I’ve raced against several times over the past ten years. Among them was Marcello Bartolozzi, who also raced last year and again finished second.

Because I was racing against Marcello on the same course, in near-identical conditions, this presented the perfect opportunity to compare my healthy ageing efforts with a consistent control subject—Marcello. Same terrain. Same rival. Same event. One year apart. The differences are worth reflecting on.

In 2023, I won in 50 minutes and 19 seconds. This year, I finished in 49 minutes and 2 seconds—over 76 seconds faster. That’s a 2.5% improvement year-on-year, which is rare at my age. Most men in their 70s are just hoping to hold steady, let alone get faster.

No Showboating – Just Smart, Safe Racing

About five minutes into the race, I had the lead. From that moment on, I decided to ride strategically. No unnecessary risks. I took the safer “B-lines” and avoided the more technical “A-lines.” The goal was simple: ride clean, stay upright, and finish strong.

I rode well within myself—not because I couldn’t go faster, but because the smarter option was to secure the result without error. And in truth, the margins could have been greater had I raced all-out.

What About the Rest of the Field?

This is where the numbers start to say something deeper.

Marcello Bartolozzi, a long-time competitor and a respected figure in Masters cycling, finished 1 minute and 41 seconds behind me in 2023. This year, that gap widened to 3 minutes and 26 seconds. Same course. Same distance. Just one year apart. Three minutes or more ahead is a long way when on a bicycle.

I was told before the race that Marcello had returned this year determined to win. He arrived in Cairns weeks in advance to prepare. That speaks volumes about his intent, commitment, and professionalism. He wasn’t turning up for a ride—he came to race.

Roger Cull, another well-known name in international Masters cycling, also returned. He’s no newcomer—he holds multiple titles, victories, and records over a long, successful masters career. In fact, Roger had entered last year but was forced to withdraw after suffering injuries while practising on the course. So for him, this was a comeback.

This was also my third time racing against Roger and Marcello in mountain bike events—and the third time I’ve come out ahead.

Neither of them were going to be push-overs. I was under no illusions—I had my work cut out for me. These were serious competitors who know how to race. I had to be smart, focused, and fully prepared.

In this race, Roger finished 6 minutes and 26 seconds behind me—13.13% slower.

And let’s be clear: these men are not average competitors. They are among the toughest roosters left —survivors of decades of tough competition. Most of the rest have retired, faded out, or been worn down by time, injury, or illness. These are the few who remain—and they’re formidable.

Which makes the widening margins all the more meaningful. This raises some questions.

A Sign of the Times?

These results aren’t just about podium places. They point toward something broader.

Over the past few years, I’ve been quietly observing what seems to be a growing divide. While some athletes are maintaining or even improving, in response to their training, most are not. They’re struggling with recovery, falling to injury, withdrawing from sport altogether. The fields are shrinking. Performances are slipping. And it’s not just age—we’d expect only about a 1% decline per year at this stage of life. What I’m seeing, overall, is faster than that.

Just one thing: as you read this article, bear in mind that I have no idea of the vaccine status of the people I compete against - I am merely reporting observations across the board, and giving plausible reasons for these worrying trends. Of course, it is my hope that medical researchers will take these observations and speculations from the "front line" and delve much deeper. That's what should happen.

A seasoned water-sports athlete recently told me:

"I have never known so many swimmers and surfers having or had surgery. Like their bodies breaking down. Never ever seen this much before."

I believe the primary reason for the noticeable acceleration in the decline of health and resilience, beyond what is typically expected from ageing alone, is the gradual degradation of mitochondria. This degradation is primarily caused by the mRNA-generated spike protein, and to a lesser degree, by the infection itself. This accelerated mitochondrial degeneration is a result of administering an experimental gene therapy to nearly the entire human population. Read this article to understand the critical role of mitochondria for health and longevity:

https://www.garymoller.com/post/mitochondria-101-the-powerhouses-of-life

Bear in mind, as well, when considering what I am saying here, that not all jabs were, or are alike. Some people have been harmed, while, hopefully, most haven't. Clearly, some vials of the jab were more potent than others, whereas others, presumably most, might well have been saline. I can see this effect with the people who are contacting me for help, with there being clusters of adverse effects in, the Hutt Valley, for example, but very few in Central Wellington by comparison. In one case two people got their jabs at the same time from the same vial and both developed rare heart problems within 24 hours. This kind of thing cannot be dismised as mere random coincidence, although doctors and officals are dismissing these cases as such.

Here is the evidence of Subtle Harm to the Body's Energy System!

The healthy subject's laboratory results in the chart below indicate good mitochondrial health by the two green lines being well apart.

Graph with colorful lines indicating VO2, VO2/Kg, RER, HR, VEVO2 data trends over time. Speech bubble reads "Healthy Person." Yellow background.

Here are the charts for two chronically unwell people. Their results are evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction. Their onset of chronic fatigue and other symptoms (heart and neurological) coincided with the COVID spike protein mRNA injection - not the infection, although getting that as well is a factor to be taken into consideration. In these cases, the two green lines, unlike for healthy subjects, are almost merged, indicating mitochondrial inflexibility:

Two side-by-side line graphs labeled Case A and Case B, displaying colorful data trends with text annotations. Yellow background.

(Contact me by email if you want to learn more about how to get this test done for yourself, or a loved one.)

I don’t claim to have all the answers. But what I do know is this:

Resilience matters. Mitochondria matter. Food matters. And protecting our DNA—our Godscript—matters more than ever.

I’ve made it my mission over many years to live and promote what I now call the Freerangers way:

Respect the body
Honour the ageless truths
Let food be medicine
Train with purpose
Rest with intention
Avoid unnecessary toxins
Protect and nourish the mitochondria
Stay strong. Stay supple
Stay close to nature
And above all—trust the body to heal

This approach works. Not just in theory—but in the real-world test of mountain bike racing at the highest level, year after year.

Conclusions

This article is about paying close attention to what really matters, and good health is right up there.

I’m deeply grateful to still be racing, still improving, and still finishing strong. But I’m also noticing that many of my peers are no longer on the start line, and I feel sad about that. They haven’t lost their passion—they’ve lost their resilience (mitochondrial?). And that, to me, is something worth understanding and addressing.

This year’s race was, to be honest, the easiest win I’ve had at this level. That’s not meant to diminish the effort of others—it’s said with humility, and a healthy dose of concern.

Because, if the fittest and most seasoned athletes left standing are slipping faster than from ageing alone—what does that say about the rest of us?

The answer isn’t fear, or denial of the evidence - evidence not just from the laboratories and clinics, but also from the sports fields, and the workplaces. The answer - the best response - is positive action.

Let’s support each other. Let’s speak honestly. Let’s ask the tough questions, and share the hard-won truths. Let’s protect our health, preserve our resilience, and pass on what works.