Huub-Wattbike set individual pursuit track record at sea level
The trade team have taken the fight to national squads – and have now set a new record
The British Huub-Wattbike track team continue to break the mould by setting a new individual pursuit sea level record.
John Archibald, brother of Scottish track star and Cycling Weekly columnist Katie, set a new fastest time for the men’s individual pursuit at the Swiss Track Cycling Challenge on Wednesday.
The Huub team have been shaking up track cycling by competing against the world’s best national track teams as a trade outfit.
Last week the squad took their first major win at the UCI Track Cycling World Cup in London, beating the Belgian squad in the team pursuit.
>>> Nine reasons to try track cycling this winter
Archibald set a time of 4:10.177 for the individual pursuit, knocking four 10ths of a second off the time of previous holder Jack Bobridge.
The sea level record is just three seconds slower than the overall world record, set by American team-mate Ashton Lambie in August.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Lambie, who set the record in Mexico at the Pan-American Championships, joined Huub-Wattbike last month 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.
The Derby-based team, who sarcastically refer to themselves as citizens of Derbados – a reference to their trade status in a field dominated by national teams – is made up of Harry Tanfield, Dan Bigham, John Archibald, Jacob Tipper, Jonny Wale and Lambie.
Archibald’s sea level record puts him second in the all-time list of the fastest 4000m individual pursuit times.
He sits ahead of Australian Bobridge, Britain’s Chris Boardman who set his record in 1996 and Charlie Tanfield’s time from the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane.
The individual pursuit may have been pulled from the Olympic Games but the track cycling competition over four kilometres is still contested at the UCI Track World Championships, National Championships, selected World Cup rounds and other international and national competitions.
Thank you for reading 20 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
Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers. Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
-
'I'd love to be an F1 driver': Get to know GB track sprinter Emma Finucane
World sprint champion tells Cycling Weekly about her earliest Olympics memories, drinking coffee in Jakarta, and her passion for F1
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'I felt like I was the worst rider in the bunch' - Simon Carr dispels doubt with longest ever solo win at Tour of the Alps
Brit triumphs from lone 45km breakaway, after days of battling allergies
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Great Britain qualifies full track cycling squad for Paris Olympics
Team GB will now select up to 16 riders to compete across the sprint and endurance events
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'My legs are screaming' - 17-year-old stuns with two gold medals at the British Track Championships
Sam Fisher enjoyed a dream day with victories in the team pursuit and scratch race
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'I'm in shock' - 16-year-old school student wins medal at British Track Championships
A-Level student Henry Hobbs rode a blistering kilometre time trial to earn a spot on the podium
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Olympic hopeful Will Perrett dazzles at British Track Championships
27-year-old gains three laps to win points race in style, on a night when para-cycling national records tumbled
By Tom Davidson Published
-
‘I was expecting to be 7th or 8th’ - retired pro takes shock victory at British Track Championships
Pete Mitchell soared to a national title on his racing comeback
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Great Britain collect best ever medal tally at ‘fantastic’ European Track Championships
Performance director Stephen Park hails squad after claiming 14 medals
By Tom Davidson Published
-
GB claim team pursuit gold at the European Championships in important Olympics scrap
Men’s quartet move closer to Paris qualification with victory over Denmark
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Katie Archibald clinches Track Champions League title in London
Brits in form on final weekend as Archibald, Dylan Bibic, Harrie Lavreysen and Ellesse Andrews win overall leagues
By Tom Davidson Published