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Live blog: Victor Campenaerts breaks Sir Bradley Wiggins' UCI Hour record in Mexico as he rides more than 55km, 12-year-old Hannah Killick rides Land's End to John O'Groats, +more

All today's news from the site and beyond.....
16 April 2019, 17:22
Victor_Campenaerts_Ridley_Arena_TT_1 (1)
Victor Campenaerts' UCI World Hour Record setting Ridley Arena bike

The hour record, it's not about the bike… okay, well maybe a bit. That being the case here's the piece we ran recently on Victor Campenaerts' Hour Record setting Ridley Arena TT bike… that go-faster red paint job must have been worth a few extra metres.

16 April 2019, 17:03
Victor Campenaerts breaks Sir Braadley Wiggins' UCI Hour record

Victor Campenaerts has set a new UCI Hour record in Aguascalientes, Mexico today, his distance of 55.089 kilometres surpassing the 54.526 kilometres ridden by Sir Bradley Wiggins in London almost four years ago.

Full story to follow.

16 April 2019, 16:00
He's off!
Screen Shot 2019-04-16 at 17.00.22

The power hour begins. 

16 April 2019, 15:56
Campaenaerts is about to begin his attempt
Screen Shot 2019-04-16 at 16.56.13

Currently being sprayed with some type of oil on any bits of exposed skin... presumably to make it more slippery. We're expecting he'll start any minute now, stream above. 

16 April 2019, 14:13
12-year-old Hannah Killick completes LEJOG

Hannah arrived in John o' Groats about an hour ago, and has raised over £3,000 ang counting for Wallace and Gromit's Grand Appeal and United World Schools. Head to her fundraising page here if you want to donate. Chapeau, Hannah! 

16 April 2019, 12:45
16 April 2019, 12:43
Victor Campenaerts UCI Hour Record attampt - watch it LIVE here

Belgium's victor Campenaerts is attempting to take the UCI Hour record from Sir Bradley Wiggins today - we've already had some coverage on the live blog today - and you can watch the livestream from the velodrome in Aguascalientes, Mexico, right here on road.cc (see main picture)>

According to the UCI, the livestream starts at 1655 UK time - but there seems to be some confusion about what time the LottoSoudal rider is starting, so you might want to check half an hour beforehand, or even earlier, if you don't want to miss it.

16 April 2019, 11:49
Behind the scenes of Katusha-Alpecin's biggest result this year

Nils Politt gave Team Katusha Alpecin the best result of what has been a difficult Classics campaign.
The German rider looked very strong over the cobbles, but couldn't beat Gilbert in the sprint on the Roubaix velodrome.

16 April 2019, 11:00
Extinct Rebellion update: pianists serenade protesters and passers-by, hooked up to speakers powered by bikes

It's day two of the climate protests that have seen Waterloo Bridge, Marble Arch and the area around Oxford Circus closed to motor traffic, with activists placing trees, plants and themselves in the way to make the streets traffic-free for the time being. 

16 April 2019, 10:36
"The maximum expression of pain" - Vittoria Bussi tells Bradely Wiggins about her own successful Hour Record attempt last September
Vittoria Bussi ketone vid screenshot

The female Hour Record holder sat down to discuss the feat on Eurosport's Bradley Wiggins Show, and attempted to explain what goes through the mind as you try to hold maximum power for 60 minutes: "You think about everything except cycling. If you think you are pedalling at 48kmp/h, you need to do almost 200 laps – it's too much. Your mind cannot support that. I just remember the voice of my boyfriend shouting to me the lap time, loud music, because I had a playlist in the velodrome... the sensation of pain in my leg, neck – pain everywhere, actually. Then most obviously the last minute, because [at that point] I understood I was bringing a world record, so it was really: 'Wow! Exciting!'"

On the pure pain, Bussi says: "Okay, I'm preparing for a world record, so it's normal that I'll feel pain. And it's good if I do, because then I know I'm overriding my limits. So I was searching for pain, actually. It's a change of perspective. But it really changes your relationship with pain, because you're searching for him. It's not him who comes to you and you're scared... Don't be scared of pain."

16 April 2019, 10:28
Victor is hoping to be top trumps tonight...
16 April 2019, 08:11
How The Race Was Won: Paris-Roubaix 2019

Want to know exactly how the Deceuninck Quick-Step tactics helped Philippe Gilbert to victory? Cosmo Catalano takes us through the Hell of the North.

16 April 2019, 07:55
Guess the hour record distance to win a signed jersey

With a retweet of the post above and an accurate guess of the distance Campenaerts will cover, the UCI are also giving someone the chance to win a signed jersey from the man himself. The time now seems to have been changed to 18:00 CEST, although we previously understood it was set to take place 'from' 17:30. The UCI Youtube stream is currently showing that it will go live at 4.55pm UK time.   

16 April 2019, 07:26
Victor Campenaerts makes final prep, with hour record attempt set to go ahead at 16:55 this evening

On his blog for Lotto Soudal posted yesterday, Campenaerts says: “The last days before the Hour Record attempt are not hard to fill. Three weeks ago, I could already have predicted how they would go. That is exactly what gives me peace and confidence. The tough training sessions are over; now it is important to still stimulate the muscles a bit. In terms of nutrition, it is time for carbo-loading, which means eating as many carbohydrates as possible. Fats, fibers and proteins are mostly eliminated, but even for an effort of 60 minutes, my muscles still need to be fully charged, which is at least as important as the Classics riders in Paris-Roubaix. Throughout the day, I have to take ten to twelve grams of carbohydrates per kilogram of body weight to fill my tank. ”

“The moment of truth is getting closer. My body is totally ready for it. Mentally, I am pretty relaxed due to the perfect preparation. My schedule is minutely planned. Meanwhile, my body has completely adapted to the special biorhythm: getting up at 5 o’clock and going to sleep at 8 o’clock is very easy now.”

The attempt is set to take place from 17:55 CEST (16:55 in the UK according to the latest update on the Youtube live stream) and the mark Campenaerts is aiming to surpass is 54.526km, set by Sir Bradley Wiggins in 2015. If you want to clock off early or stay late to watch the pain unfold, the link to the live stream on Youtube is here

16 April 2019, 08:01
If you're going to get hit by a car, you could do worse than America...
Miami Biscayne_Boulevard_south_end

According to law.com's Dail Business Insider, a cyclist who suffered a mild traumatic brain injury at the hands of a Porche Driver negotiated a $6 million settlement for his injuries. 

31-year-old Andy Introini was cycling in Miami Beach  on 8th November 2017, and was hit as he crossed an intersection. The driver Raymond H. Maroon Jr. allegedly made a high-speed right turn and struck Introini’s bike, sending the cyclist flying onto the windshield before slamming onto the tarmac, where he hit the side of his head. The damages were sought for medical expenses, plus pain and suffering.

16 April 2019, 07:45
Froome says "Yorkshire and cycling now go hand-in-hand"
Team Sky 2019 Chris Froome.jpg

Quoted in the Tour de Yorkshire official programme, Froome says: “Having the Tour de France start in Yorkshire obviously got a lot of people out and got a lot of people really excited about cycling. 

“And the knock-on effect that it had is just massive, to the extent where Yorkshire and cycling now go hand in hand.”

The Tour de Yorkshire takes place between 2nd-5th May, and as there's no Giro d'Italia in his plans this year, it's allowed Froome to make his debut at the event. 

16 April 2019, 07:52

Arriving at road.cc in 2017 via 220 Triathlon Magazine, Jack dipped his toe in most jobs on the site and over at eBikeTips before being named the new editor of road.cc in 2020, much to his surprise. His cycling life began during his students days, when he cobbled together a few hundred quid off the back of a hard winter selling hats (long story) and bought his first road bike - a Trek 1.1 that was quickly relegated to winter steed, before it was sadly pinched a few years later. Creatively replacing it with a Trek 1.2, Jack mostly rides this bike around local cycle paths nowadays, but when he wants to get the racer out and be competitive his preferred events are time trials, sportives, triathlons and pogo sticking - the latter being another long story.  

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19 comments

Avatar
CXR94Di2 | 4 years ago
0 likes

They chose that venue because its a fast velodrome.  The rider still havent broken Boardmans time.  All he did was make himself more aero. 

Avatar
Pilot Pete replied to CXR94Di2 | 4 years ago
2 likes

CXR94Di2 wrote:

They chose that venue because its a fast velodrome.  The rider still havent broken Boardmans time.  All he did was make himself more aero. 

How do you break someone’s time for an hour record? 

PP

Avatar
kingleo | 4 years ago
1 like

OK Campernaerts, now break the real hour record at nearly sea level - using altitude is cheating, like using performance improving drugs.

Avatar
Jackson replied to kingleo | 4 years ago
1 like

kingleo wrote:

OK Campernaerts, now break the real hour record at nearly sea level - using altitude is cheating, like using performance improving drugs.

The incumbent did it at sea level, though he did use actual performance-enhancing drugs

Avatar
AlsoSomniloquism replied to kingleo | 4 years ago
0 likes

kingleo wrote:

OK Campernaerts, now break the real hour record at nearly sea level - using altitude is cheating, like using performance improving drugs.

If it is so easy at Altitude, how come it took the 5th attempt in Mexico since the last rule changes to do it? And should Campernarts been allowed to use ceramic bearings and specific paint as well? And also the Mercyx  '72 record that was used a big benchmark for the hour was set in Mexico so it is not something new. 

Avatar
kevvjj replied to kingleo | 4 years ago
1 like

kingleo wrote:

OK Campernaerts, now break the real hour record at nearly sea level - using altitude is cheating, like using performance improving drugs.

I'm sure Campernaerts will be so upset that you think he cheated. Funny, I can't find anywhere in the UCI rules where it says you must ride at sea-level.

Avatar
Organon replied to kevvjj | 4 years ago
0 likes

kevvjj wrote:

kingleo wrote:

OK Campernaerts, now break the real hour record at nearly sea level - using altitude is cheating, like using performance improving drugs.

I'm sure Campernaerts will be so upset that you think he cheated. Funny, I can't find anywhere in the UCI rules where it says you must ride at sea-level.

I doesn't, but setting at altitude pretty much means everyone else has to as well, meaning it can only be done at limited locations. 

Avatar
JimD666 | 4 years ago
2 likes

55km.
In an hour.
Crumbs

Avatar
ktache | 4 years ago
1 like

Well done Victor.

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ktache | 4 years ago
0 likes

There appears to be a countdown, and a quick bit of maths suggests 16.55 UK time (BST?)

Avatar
peted76 | 4 years ago
2 likes

Come on Victor! 

I'm really excited to see this, oh wait, hang on, as much as the fantastic endeavor it may be, can anyone think of a more boring sport to spectate at other than an hour record?

 

..(maybe a TT)...

 

 

Avatar
Simon E replied to peted76 | 4 years ago
0 likes

peted76 wrote:

Come on Victor! 

I'm really excited to see this, oh wait, hang on, as much as the fantastic endeavor it may be, can anyone think of a more boring sport to spectate at other than an hour record?

 

..(maybe a TT)...

 

 

It helps if the commentary is good. I'm hoping we get some live stats from Xavier Disley - https://twitter.com/xavierdisley

If the I won't be able to watch the whole hour but I'm very interested in how it pans out. I think it helps one already has an interest in/experience of time trialling.

Avatar
jollygoodvelo | 4 years ago
0 likes

Quote:

The attempt is set to take place from 17:30 CET (which will be the same time in the UK)

Er, are you sure?  CET is GMT+1, but Europe, like the UK, is currently on daylight savings time and therefore (technically) on CEST (GMT+2), and still one hour ahead of the UK.

Avatar
Jack Sexty replied to jollygoodvelo | 4 years ago
1 like
jollygoodvelo wrote:

Quote:

The attempt is set to take place from 17:30 CET (which will be the same time in the UK)

Er, are you sure?  CET is GMT+1, but Europe, like the UK, is currently on daylight savings time and therefore (technically) on CEST (GMT+2), and still one hour ahead of the UK.

Apologies there was some confusion there with the timings - some sources said CET time which would be same as UK, but looking at the live stream it definitely is CEST... an hour ahead of the UK. The post has been amended.

Avatar
jollygoodvelo replied to Jack Sexty | 4 years ago
0 likes

Jack Sexty wrote:

Apologies there was some confusion there with the timings - some sources said CET time which would be same as UK, but looking at the live stream it definitely is CEST... an hour ahead of the UK. The post has been amended.

No worries - timezones and DST are the bane of my life at work, didn't want anyone to miss out  1

Avatar
dst | 4 years ago
3 likes

https://road.cc/content/news/259291-benedict-cumberbatch-slapped-cyclist...

Hmm, $6 million or getting to slap Blortybloop Crimpycrump in the face. That's a tough one.

Avatar
peted76 replied to dst | 4 years ago
1 like

dst wrote:

https://road.cc/content/news/259291-benedict-cumberbatch-slapped-cyclist...

Hmm, $6 million or getting to slap Blortybloop Crimpycrump in the face. That's a tough one.

 

In America, knock a cyclist off and they sue the shirt off your back. In Britain, knock a cyclist over and you get a slap off a big bloke called Scooby, a stern letter from the justice system (if your lucky) and the piss taken out of you on road.cc. 

 

I'd rather cycle in the UK, at least you might get saved from a mugging by celebrity crime fighter Bendydick Stinkysnatch. (Or knocked off depending on Buffalo Custardbath's mood on the day.) 

 

 

Avatar
usedtobefaster | 4 years ago
5 likes

"If you're going to get hit by a car, you could do worse than America..."

 

I'm sure the rider would rather not have the brain injury than the $6 million, and in the US that probably would go as far you might first think in covering medical bills.

Avatar
pjclinch replied to usedtobefaster | 4 years ago
0 likes

usedtobefaster wrote:

"If you're going to get hit by a car, you could do worse than America..."

I'm sure the rider would rather not have the brain injury than the $6 million, and in the US that probably would go as far you might first think in covering medical bills.

Depends on the brain injury.  It does say "minor", and a mild concussion would be a minor traumatic brain injury, so think a headache and not really with it for a day or two, and then business as usual.  I could live with that for $6M...
I was off work with concussion after a prang a few years ago, got a few hundred pounds.

On the other hand, of course, you don't get to choose quite what the injury is in advance!

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