Fabian Cancellara and his Trek team is keeping quiet on the hour record for now but they will decide soon, perhaps tomorrow (Saturday, May 17). Cycling's governing body, the UCI, cleared the way yesterday for 'Spartacus' to try to set a new mark.
"I can't say anything yet," Trek general manager, Luca Guercilena told Cycling Weekly this morning at the Giro d’Italia. "No comment."
Guercilena will likely be in touch with Cancellara and Trek to determine if they have enough time to prepare a endurance-style track bike and train to beat the record. Part of the American bicycle manufacturer’s concern is that it has enough time to take advantage of the event's marketing potential.
When Francesco Moser broke his record, Enervit used it to launch its energy drinks and products. Trek would like to make the most of the occasion. If Cancellara goes ahead with the rumoured August 3 date, then it has less than three months to do so.
Guercilena explained on Tuesday, they "are considering" to postpone the record attempt until this winter. He added, "the most important thing is having the record to beat."
Yesterday, the UCI said that Chris Boardman's 56.375-kilometre record – along with other marks set in extreme positions – would stand. However, the number to beat is 49.700 kilometres that Ondrej Sosenka set in 2005. Under the new rules, cyclists would no longer have to make record attempts on a traditional bike in the Eddy Merckx position.
The Trek team must now meet and decide with Cancellara where, when and how they are going to attempt the record. A decision could come as early as tomorrow.
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"The first idea was to make it in early August," Guercilena said on Tuesday. "Time is passing quickly. We have to make a decision soon."
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
