I think a ride like that tends to attract 40 somethings. I see the same thing at brevets and double centuries. There seem to be very few riders in their 20s at those rides. Just personal observation.

The top female at my HIM on Saturday is 42. She finished in 5:05. There were two others over 40 in the top ten.

I think people may use age as a euphemism for not having maintained themselves as well as they might have liked to.

V.