ON YER BIKE, BOYS!
Super-fit Rory McIlroy has challenged fellow pros to take him on at cycling challenge
IF YOU were wondering why Rory McIlroy is sporting a leaner look these days, a memorable video posted on social media on Tuesday rather gave the game away.
Curly locks flying in all directions, and absolutely drenched in sweat, the game’s No1 player had just enough breath left to issue a challenge to his peers to take him on at another pursuit while golf is in lockdown: the Peloton.
At the recent Players Championship, McIlroy admitted that although running had been part of his fitness routine, he had always found cardio-vascular training a chore.
That all changed when he invested in the pricey, high-tech exercise bike with its own video screen that allows enthusiasts to go online and monitor their progress against other likeminded souls from all across the world.
‘I like the fact it makes me earn my dinners and keeps me in shape,’ said the 30-year-old. ‘Cardio was always a problem for me, I never really liked it, but since getting the Peloton and joining that whole community, I’ve really started enjoying it.
‘I like the leaderboard aspect, the fact it is competitive in some ways, and you’re always trying to beat your last score.’
As you can imagine, he is pretty good already. Very good, in fact.
Poor old American Billy Horschel thought he had posted a decent target during his 45-minute ride, averaging 23.9mph during his 19.92 miles, and burning almost 1,100 calories.
He sent out a challenge to beat his power output of 752 kilojoules and in running parlance, McIlroy lapped him. Calling out other PGA Tour enthusiasts after his ride, the Northern Irishman, with a broad grin, said on his Instagram account: ‘Billy, JT (Justin Thomas), Charley (Hoffman) and everyone else who wants to do this Peloton thing while we’re in quarantine or social isolation or whatever you want to call it, I beat you again. The target was 800kj and I just got there. Sixty-ninth on the leaderboard out of nearly 11,500 people.
‘Grinded on this one and yeah... bring it boys.’
McIlroy was doing two or three Peloton rides a week while he was playing golf.
During the next nine weeks — at the very least — without golf, you can be sure he will step that up to fill his competitive need.
With players keen to keep in contact with their fans through social media, it will be interesting to see who takes up his Peloton challenge.
Right now, McIlroy is the man to beat. No change there, then.