Not sure if I can ride 55km in the Hour, says Bradley Wiggins
Future Hour Record challenger admits he thought new holder Rohan Dennis would break the record by more this afternoon.

Bradley Wiggins admits he has “no idea” how far he is capable of riding in his Hour Record attempt scheduled for June.
Wiggins will make his bid at London’s Lee Valley Velodrome, potentially on June 6, with Rohan Dennis’s distance of 52.491 kilometres set this afternoon in Switzerland the current benchmark.
Some have tipped the 34-year-old to ride as far as 55 kilometres during his ride but Wiggins, opened his road season at the Tour of Qatar today, remains cautious in his approach.
“I thought Rohan would be capable of a mid-53km distance, then again I thought [Jack] Bobridge could do a 54km,” said Wiggins.
“People keep saying I will ride 55km, but I honestly have no idea. I’ve not done anything like that on the track before. Until I ride 30 minutes at that pace, and in that position, I have no idea.
“I think people underestimate it. That’s why I’m doing in June - I’ll have eight weeks to prepare for it after Paris-Roubaix and I’ll probably do the full distance in training just to be sure.”
Wiggins, who has not ridden on the track since the Commonwealth Games last August, added that he met former outright and Athlete’s Hour holder Chris Boardman last week to discuss his attempt.
“It helps with it being 52.5km at present, and not 55 or 56 kilometres set in extreme conditions,” added Wiggins.
“Chris said it all depends on whether I want to break it or put it out of sight, as there’s a big difference between 52.5 and 55km.
“It’s good having people go before you, you can see the mistakes they make. I was chatting to [previous record holder] Matthias Brändle about it today, too, and he said it was too hot for him at 26°C, but Boardman said I should go at 30°C.”
The World Time Trial Champion finished today’s opening stage in Qatar in the second group, 33 seco ds behind stage winner Jose Joaquin Rojas and numerous overall contenders.
He said: “I didn’t necessarily come to win the overall, it’s not the end of the world if I don’t.
“In this type of race I feel like I need a day or two to find my legs, to get used to fighting and taking risks. But I was happy with the way I felt, that’s the main thing.
“Whatever group you’re in here, it’s a hard race. You’re always fighting hard, from that point of view it’s pretty good preparation for the season.”
Wiggins said that he hopes to be able to ride the Tour de Yorkshire [May 1-3] and some Tour Series rounds for the new team he has set up bearing his name as preparation for his Hour attempt.
The UCI has previously told CW that he will be able to make the switch as of June 1, but the governing body could grant special dispensation for an earlier transfer.
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
Nick Bull is an NCTJ qualified journalist who has written for a range of titles, as well as being a freelance writer at Beat Media Group, which provides reports for the PA Media wire which is circulated to the likes of the BBC and Eurosport. His work at Cycling Weekly predominantly dealt with professional cycling, and he now holds a role as PR & Digital Manager at SweetSpot Group, which organises the Tour of Britain.
-
-
Geraint Thomas 'helps a brother out', aiding Mark Cavendish's valedictory Giro d'Italia stage win
Cavendish now has one final Giro stage win. Will he get one final Tour de France equivalent in July?
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Charlotte Kool wins final stage of RideLondon-Classique to seal overall victory
Kool edges out Dyget and Van der Duin in bunch sprint
By Stephen Puddicombe • Published
-
Want to break a track record? WattShop to give anyone the chance this September
British company to take over Tissot Velodrome in Grenchen, Switzerland to try and smash times for anyone - if you have £7,000
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Bradley Wiggins says he suffered ‘borderline rape’ during three years of 'abuse' by coach
Speaking on Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast, Wiggins says he now “hates cycling” and only ever used the sport as a distraction
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Bradley Wiggins might not be a TV pundit for much longer: 'I just want a normal job really'
Tour de France champion says that he doesn't still want to be on Eurosport in 10 years, and he thought about being a social worker
By Adam Becket • Published
-
CW Live: Chris Froome targets return to 'top level'; UCI tightens ITT rules; Strava responds to price hike criticism; Topless protesters arrested at TDU; Tributes paid to Lieuwe Westra; Scott recalls 'cracking' bikes; Toon Aerts the PE teacher
The latest news in the world of cycling
By Tom Davidson • Last updated
-
Bradley Wiggins: Abuse contributed to making me a great cyclist
The Tour de France winner is part of a new NSPCC campaign to help people spot the signs of child abuse
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Is Bradley Wiggins Rubbish on ITV's The Masked Singer? We investigate
The wheely bin character was tipped to be the Olympian by one of the judges on the Saturday night TV show
By Adam Becket • Published
-
The new UCI rule that could see Filippo Ganna’s world records tumble
A technical change will give taller riders a longer handlebar reach
By Tom Davidson • Last updated
-
Filippo Ganna smashes World Hour Record with distance of 56.792km
The Italian also beat Chris Boardman's 'best human effort'
By Tom Davidson • Last updated