Chris Boardman believes Alex Dowsett’s extensive preparations will help the Movistar rider break the Hour Record in Manchester tomorrow afternoon.
Dowsett has Rohan Dennis’s benchmark of 52.491km to beat on Saturday, a target that both Thomas Dekker and Gustav Erik Larsson have failed to surpass in recent weeks.
Dowsett has spent extensive time in the drag2zero wind tunnel in Northamptonshire and riding London's Lee Valley Velodrome in both training and racing as part of his Hour build-up, and fomrer record holder Boardman feels that the 26-year-old is well-placed to eclipse Dennis’s distance.
“I expect Alex to break it - a discipline like the Hour is almost his core capability,” he said.
“I've been in a wind tunnel with Alex before, and he was one of the few riders in the GB setup that we didn't have to do much with to help his position.
“He will understand the demands of the event and he's been doing his homework - that’s one of the mistakes [former Hour Record challenger Jack] Bobridge made; he had the engine to break the record, but he did his dress rehearsal on the opening night.”
Boardman added that Dowsett’s decision to stage his attempt before Bradley Wiggins’s scheduled ride on June 7 was a sensible move.
“Alex would have been foolish to wait – I expect Brad to break the record, too,” he added.
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
-
35,000 bikes to go to auction after distributor enters administration
The online auctions will begin this Friday 24 March
-
Coros Apex 2 Pro review - phenomenal battery life and finally a wrist-based HRM that works
An all-adventure Indiana Jones of a GPS watch with exceptional battery life and a host of features you may or may not find a use for in your daily regime
-
The new UCI rule that could see Filippo Ganna’s world records tumble
A technical change will give taller riders a longer handlebar reach
-
Filippo Ganna smashes World Hour Record with distance of 56.792km
The Italian also beat Chris Boardman's 'best human effort'
-
Filippo Ganna on Hour Record: 'I need to do the biggest effort of my life'
The Italian also shared more details about his bike set-up
-
Mike Burrows: the designer who influenced the bikes we ride today
A legendary bike designer and innovator, Burrows created the Lotus 108 ridden by Chris Boardman at the 1992 Olympics
-
Ellen van Dijk makes history with new Hour Record
The Dutchwoman covered 49.254km to set the new Hour Record at the Velodrome Suisse
-
Ellen van Dijk says breaking Hour Record will be difficult: 'Joss Lowden's record is a really high standard'
The Dutchwoman will attempt to break Lowden's distance of 48.405km at the Velodrome Suisse on Monday
-
Ellen van Dijk set to attempt women's Hour Record in May
Van Dijk is looking to break Joss Lowden's current record of 48.405km
-
British rider breaks junior national Hour Record
British Cycling officiated Fred Meredith's attempt as he rode a record-breaking 49.184km
