Cycling: Victor Campenaerts (Lotto – Soudal) did it. The Belgian broke Bradley Wiggins' hour record in Mexico today, Tuesday. The clock only stopped the 27-year-old after 55,089 kilometers.
Campenaerts has entered the history books
The European Time Trial Champion Victor Campenaerts broke Bradley Wiggins' hour record. He rode with a true masterpiece on the cycle track in Aguascalientes, Mexico 563 Meters further than the Brit in London a few years ago. Victor Campenaerts presented himself very humble even before his attempt. In an interview, he admitted that Bradley Wiggins to see the better time trialist. The Belgian saw his chance in finding better conditions in Mexico than Wiggins had in London. He wasn't wrong, because the Mexican altitude in Aguascalientes promises perfect conditions thanks to the low air pressure.
Still awaiting the official result, but one thing is sure, @VCampenaerts is the new #UCIHourRecord holder with over 55 kilometers an hour!
What a ride Victor!!! 🎉👏 pic.twitter.com/XrshprQtDb- Lotto Soudal (@Lotto_Soudal) 16 April 2019
Hourly world records by Merckx, Anquetil & Coppi
Henri Desgrange was the first driver to set a world hour record in 1893. The Frenchman was able to cover 60 kilometers within 35,325 minutes. But Henri Desgrange is not only known for this. After all, he is considered the founder of the Tour de France. He only held his hour record for a little over a year, as there were numerous attempts by other professionals afterwards. Among other things, the Swiss improved Oscar Eggs set the hour record three times between 1912 and 1914. With Fausto coppi 1942 Jacques Anquetil 1956 and Eddy Merckx In 1972 the strongest drivers also entered the list. Eddy Merckx was able to cover 49,431 kilometers and thus hold the hour record for several decades. Only attempts that were started with a classic racing bike were counted. Technical developments only partially benefited the later professionals. First the Brit Chris boardman broke Eddy Merckx's record in 2000 – by just ten meters.
Wiggins smashes the hour record in 2015
After the Czech Ondrej Sosenka In 2005, when a new hourly world record of 49,700 kilometers was set, the UCI lifted the strict regulation. Time trial bikes should also be allowed from now on. The German Jens Voigt took this opportunity at the end of his career. In the Velodrome Suisse in Grenchen, he was able to set a new record of 51,110 kilometers thanks to the newly permitted conditions. New records followed in 2015 Matthias Brandle 2014 (51,852km), Rohan Dennis (52,491 km), Alex Dowsett (52,937 km) and Bradley Wiggins (54,526km). Recently, there have been several attempts to break the Briton's hour record. Also in Mexico failed last year, for example Martin Toft Madsen and Dion Beukeboom. Also the Swiss Micah Gross was going slower. Bradley Wiggins came very close to becoming the U23 World Champion Mikkel Bjerg. At the age of 19 he reached 53,730 kilometers. The Dane will probably try again at the end of the year. Then he will against the time of Victor Campenaerts start.