Cycling: Today from 18:30 p.m. the time has come. Jens Voigt will end his career with the hour record attempt, which can be followed live on TV via Eurosport and also on the Internet via www.trekbikes.com.
We took a closer look at the wheel of the Berliners by choice. After Fabian Cancellara initially shelved the hour world record due to the rule changes, Voigt dared to step into the oval. And he can draw on the know-how from Trek.
In Grenchen he will be on a Speed Concept be on the road, which one also knows from the street area. However, the world record wheel is specified at certain points.
For example, it has narrower dropouts. These can hold a 120 millimeter hub of a track rear wheel. Voigt relies on a disc with a dial on both the front and the back. The brake mounts of the frame are filled with carbon.
In addition, Voigt uses a Shimano DuraAce-Crank with SRM but with only one blade. The 42-year-old will be traveling with a 54-14 gear ratio. The sprocket on the rear wheel was specially made by Shimano and because of the standard crank it sits a little further out than is usually the case for the track.
In addition to the technical details, Trek placed great value on the graphic design of the bike and, in Voigt's honour, immortalized two motivational slogans on the frame, which should help him when chasing laps. It says so on the top tube "Jens Voigt can beat the hour in under 60 minutes" and on the down tube "Jens Voigt doesn't normally ride in a Velodrome, because he doesn't like to lap himself."
In addition to the bike, the speed suit that Voigt will wear has also been optimized. As a helmet he gets the new Bontrager Aeolus time trial helmet. According to Trek, tests have shown that Voigt will cover around 350 to 51 kilometers on the oval with the mentioned material with an average power of 52 watts.
This would be a new world record. Will Voigt reach him? From 18:30 p.m. we will know more.