In a semi-serious answer...

A long time ago I went to a LAN game which had a range of players from about 10 years old to 50 or 60 years old. I was 35? so not as young as some, but about average for the players there. We all had similar equipment, blazing fast connections, so the quality of play was very good.

I was astounded by the reflexes of the kids. I could see their faces and if I had an inkling where they were on the map then I could tell when they were about to pop up (due to their eye movements leading their character's movements). So I had a "hack" so to speak. Even with that, and observing them, and knowing they had no clue I was around the corner, I couldn't kill them before they spotted me and killed me. I had to play smart against them and managed to get up to about a 1:3 win:lose ratio (I lost most of the time).

Likewise, in cycling, the young'uns have some physiological advantages, given the same level of ability. A younger version of me is much faster sprinting wise but less powerful overall and probably less intelligent. Put it this way - I placed more recently than I did in almost any year in the last decade save one or two.

Also, if you look at the results of the Cat 3s, a lot of the winners are in their 40s and 50s. They're not as quick as they used to be but they're smart and crafty and clever.

You have to make up any aging disadvantages with experience.

cdr