The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) congratulates Victor Campenaerts on his remarkable new UCI Hour Record timed by Tissot of 55.089 km, which he set today at the Velodromo Bicentenario in Aguascalientes (Mexico), situated 1,800 metres above sea level.
The Belgian, who rides for the Lotto-Soudal UCI WorldTour team, totalled 563 metres more than Bradley Wiggins managed in posting the previous record of 54.526 km at Lee Valley VeloPark in London (United Kingdom) on 7 June 2015.
With this latest achievement, the 27-year-old Flemish rider has cemented his status as one of the world’s leading exponents of racing against the clock. A Men’s Elite time-trial bronze medallist behind Rohan Dennis (AUS) and Tom Dumoulin (NED) at last year’s UCI Road World Championships in Innsbruck, Austria, Campenaerts is Europe’s leading exponent in the event, having won back-to-back continental titles in 2017 and 2018.
Since appearing in Innsbruck, the reigning Belgian champion has focused his efforts on preparing for the UCI Hour Record timed by Tissot. Following a trial run at the Vélodrome Suisse in Granges, Switzerland, he travelled to Namibia for two months of altitude training. He then took part in the Tirreno-Adriatico on 13-19 March, his only early-season race and a UCI WorldTour event that comprises a team time trial on the opening day and an individual time trial on the last. Campenaerts flew to Mexico at the end of March to acclimatise himself and complete his preparations.
The live of the attempt can be re-watched on TVUCI.CH.
After breaking the UCI Hour Record timed by Tissot, Campenaerts said: “I am super happy, I am part of the greatest riders of the Hour Record. I thought about it for a long time. I am happy I broke the magic mark of 55 kilometers. It was super hard, I was a bit optimistic in the first 30 minutes and then I said myself I had to slow down a bit the pace, but even with that I think I was faster that Wiggins in all parts. The team gave me all the confidence I needed and it was able to answer them the right way.”
“We’ve seen a superb performance,” said a delighted UCI President David Lappartient. “Well done to Victor, who had an amazing ride and showed his consistency from the start right through to the end of his attempt, a key factor in his success. Congratulations also to his team, Lotto Soudal, and to Golazo, who gave Victor the support he needed and created a quality event around him, not least in live-streaming it for fans to enjoy. This latest feat is excellent news for our legendary event, which has attracted renewed interest among both male and female riders since we changed our rules.”
In 2014 the UCI Hour Record timed by Tissot regulations were amended to permit the use of the latest pursuit bikes. Since then, 11 men and six women have attempted to make history in this famous event.
Below are listed all the UCI Hour Record attempts made to date (successful attempts in bold):
Men
16.04.2019: Victor Campenaerts (BEL), Velodromo Bicentenario, Aguascalientes (MEX), 55.089 km (current record)22.08.2018: Dion Beukeboom (NED), Velodromo Bicentenario, Aguascalientes (MEX), 52.757 km26.07.2018: Martin Toft Madsen (DEN), Velodromo Bicentenario, Aguascalientes (MEX), 53.630 km07.06.2015: Bradley Wiggins (GBR), Lee Valley VeloPark, London (GBR), 54.526 km02.05.2015: Alex Dowsett (GBR), National Cycling Centre, Manchester (GBR), 52.937 km14.03.2015: Gustav Larsson (SWE), National Cycling Centre, Manchester (GBR), 50.016 km25.02.2015: Thomas Dekker (NED), Velodromo Bicentenario, Aguascalientes (MEX), 52.221 km08.02.2015: Rohan Dennis (AUS), Vélodrome Suisse, Granges (SUI), 52.491 km31.01.2015: Jack Bobridge (AUS), Darebin International Sports Centre, Melbourne (AUS), 51.300 km30.10.2014: Matthias Brändle (AUT), UCI World Cycling Centre, Aigle (SUI), 51.852 km18.09.2014: Jens Voigt (GER), Vélodrome Suisse, Granges (SUI), 51.110 kmWomen
14.09.2018: Vittoria Bussi (ITA), Velodromo Bicentenario, Aguascalientes (MEX), 48.007 km (current record)06.10.2017: Vittoria Bussi (ITA), Velodromo Bicentenario, Aguascalientes (MEX), 47.576 km27.02.2016: Evelyn Stevens (USA), Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center Velodrome (USA), 47.980 km 22.01.2016: Bridie O'Donnell (AUS), Adelaide’s Super-Drome (AUS), 46.882 km12.09.2015: Molly Shaffer Van Houweling (USA), Velodromo Bicentenario, Aguascalientes (MEX), 46.273 km28.02.2015: Sarah Storey (GBR), Lee Valley VeloPark, Londres (GBR), 45.502 km