Last Updated on April 29, 2023
German professional cyclist Jens Voigt looks forward to breaking the iconic “hour record” set by Czech Rider in a Swiss cycling arena on coming 18 September.
The current highest mileage hour record was set by Chris Boardman in 1996 when he rode 56.375km using the now outlawed “Superman positioning technique”. In 2005, Ondrej Sosenka set the current record of 49.700 km using still lawful cycling methods.
Voigt, who is 42, announced that this cycling record is no big deal and his attempt may trigger a round of more hour-record attempts.
British 34 year old cyclist, Sir Bradley Wiggins, has also showed keen interest in attempt to break the record next year.
Riders have been allowed the use of endurance track bikes with aero bars and helmets during the one hour world record attempts, Union Cycliste Internationale announced during press release highlighting the changes made in May this year.
UCI ruled out that any attempts should be made using traditional bikes, this inhibited innovation and cancelled the World Records set by Scot Graeme Obree in 1994 and Boardman in 1996.
After the cancelling of Boardman’s record, he returned with a traditional bike in 2000, to take on the record of Belgian cyclist Eddy Merckx , and set new record of 49.441km. This event marked breaking of record after 28 years.
Ondrej Sosenka snatched the record from Boardman in 2005 when he succeeded in setting current record of 49.700km. Ondrej sosenka failed a drug doping test, which resulting in ending of his career in 2008.
Brian Cookson, the president UCI governing body was pleased to hear the news of Voigt’s attempt and called Jens Voigt one of the most popular cyclist of current era and encouraged him to attempt the record-breaking of most iconic record in UCI’s records.
The president was also noted saying that he was sure to hear news like this when UCI changed the rules to allow modern track bike designs and innovations.
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