In a discipline traditionally dominated by national squads, the Huub–Wattbike riders continue to make their mark on the track.
John Archibald set a new individual pursuit national record and rode to the second fastest time in history at the Manchester Velodrome on Friday (January 25).
During the first session of the National Track Championships, Archibald set a 4-09.584, besting the time he set in Switzerland last month of 4-10.177.
>>> Fastest individual pursuit times in history
Archibald, the older brother of track star and Cycling Weekly columnist Katie, now holds the second and third fastest times in history.
He is quickly closing in his moustachioed American team-mate Ashton Lambie, who set a blistering 4-07.251 at the Pan American Championships in Mexico last year.
The Huub team have been shaking up track cycling by competing against the world’s best national track teams as a trade outfit.
A NEW BRITISH & SEA-LEVEL WORLD RECORD FOR @jjzarchibald! 🇬🇧
He smashes his own records and qualifies fastest in the men's 4km individual pursuit! 👌#TrackChamps #BritishRecord #WorldRecord pic.twitter.com/rgWm1DiV5u
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) January 25, 2019
Last month the squad took their first major win at the UCI Track Cycling World Cup in London, beating the Belgian squad in the team pursuit.
What makes Archibald’s record even more impressive is that he’s now just two seconds off the world record held by Lambie, despite the former setting his record at sea-level.
>>> Katie Archibald column: A born-again bike rider
Lambie, who set the record in Mexico at the Pan-American Championships, joined Huub-Wattbike last year and contributed to the squad’s pursuit gold in London.
The Mexican track sits at 1,888m above sea level and regularly sees fast times set on it’s boards, but Lambie’s recent ride was blessed with near perfect conditions as several other US national records were set at the same competition.
Derby-based team Huub, who sarcastically refer to themselves as citizens of Derbados, is made up of Harry Tanfield, Dan Bigham, John Archibald, Jacob Tipper, Jonny Wale and Lambie.
The national individual pursuit final takes place during Friday evening’s second session.
