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Sylvain Chavanel "seduced by idea" of attempting to break Sir Bradley Wiggins' UCI Hour Record

French rider wanted to make attempt next month - but planned dates coincided with team meeting for IAM Cycling

Sylvain Chavanel says he is “seduced by the idea” of trying to beat Sir Bradley Wiggins’ UCI Hour Record and would have liked to attempt it next month – but his IAM Cycling team wouldn’t let him.

The six-time French time trial champion is returning to the track in Bordeaux next month for the national championships, where he will ride the individual pursuit.

He had planned to attempt to break Wiggins’ Hour Record of 54.526 kilometres, set in London in June, in Switzerland between 10 and 15 June.

– Sir Bradley Wiggins smashes the UCI Hour Record

However, IAM Cycling – which the 36-year-old will leave at the end of the season to join Direct Energie, the current Europcar team which is changing sponsor – is holding team meetings between those dates, which Chavanel is required to attend.

"They would have wanted me to bring forward my attempt,” he told L’Equipe.  “But this kind of project requires special preparation and I do not want to take the record lightly.

“I do not really know what I am capable of but I really am seduced by this idea."

As things stand, any attempt now looks likely to take place in next year.

“If this idea has crossed my mind, it’s because it’s a serious one and I don’t want to do just anything,” he continued. “It’s necessary to find the opportune time.”

For now, he’s looking forward to a longer than usual post-season break on Guadeloupe.

“There, it will be a nice winter break, longer than the short breaks I’ve taken these last few years,” he added.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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RobD | 8 years ago
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Possibly a bit of a dark horse for breaking the record, while everyone's been talking about Cancellara and Martin there's probably a few others that might stand a chance if they focussed the season around it.
If he stands a chance it'd be good coverage for Direct Energie

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Leviathan | 8 years ago
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Good Luck - in Ray Winstone voice.

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