Sir Bradley Wiggins will attempt to break the world Hour record next year, after watching Jens Voigt set a new mark in Switzerland on September 18.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Wiggins said: “I want to have a go at the one Hour record next year after what Jens did last week.”
“I was a bit surprised by Jens’s decision to do it but what he did was fantastic and fully deserved. I could just go and do it next week but if I do it, I’ll only do it once.”
Wiggins has previously said that he is changing focus to track riding ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, where he is hoping to ride as part of Great Britain’s team pursuit line-up. A tilt at the Hour record would fit in with those plans.
“I want to prepare for it properly. It will give me something to get out of bed for in the winter,” said Wiggins, who had previously mentioned that he may take on the iconic challenge in June after riding Paris-Roubaix.
Wiggins is in action today (Wednesday) at the World Championships time trial in Ponferrada, Spain, where he will be looking to usurp German Tony Martin as world champion.
Voigt took on the Hour record after a rule change by the sport’s governing body, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), meant that a rider could use a bike that adheres to the UCI’s rules for a track pursuit bike. Voigt successfully and convincingly beat the previous mark set by Ondrej Sosenka in 2005, riding 51.115km.
Other riders that have expressed an interest in attempting the Hour include Fabian Cancellara, Alex Dowsett and Tony Martin. British time trial multi-champion Matt Bottrill’s planned attempt on the record was foiled after the UCI stipulated that anyone taking on the record must be part of its biological passport anti-doping programme.
More on the Hour record
Hour Record is fitting end to Jens Voigt’s career
Michael Hutchinson witnessed Jens Voigt set a new Hour Record in Switzerland
Jens Voigt sets new Hour Record
Jens Voigt closes career with new World Hour Record of 51.115km
