Victor Campenaerts wanted to attempt a quarantine Hour Record at London Olympic velodrome
The Belgian wanted to beat Wiggins' sea-level distance

Victor Campenaerts claims the UCI blocked him undertaking another Hour Record attempt that was set to take place at the London Olympic velodrome during lockdown.
The Belgian says that when he realised upcoming races were likely to be postponed during Paris-Nice he turned his attention to another Hour Record attempt.
The attempt was discussed at a time when the coronavirus situation was still unfolding and different countries had varying limitations of lockdown in place. Campenaerts has said he understands and respects the decision of the UCI.
Campenaerts set a new longest distance of 55.089km in April 2019, beating Bradley Wiggins' record of 54.526km by 563m.
Campenaerts set his record at the Velodromo Bicentenario in Aguascalientes, Mexico, which has an altitude of 1,888m, while Wiggins' was set at sea-level at the London Olympic velodrome in 2015.
>>> Philippe Gilbert fined for riding outside during coronavirus lockdown
Campenaerts cites this reason, and the fact critics always bring it up, as the reason he wants another attempt to beat Wiggins' time once more but this time at sea-level.
"When it became clear during Paris-Nice that many races would be postponed, the idea of quarantining the London cycling track for three weeks was ripe for a new attempt," Campenaerts told Het Nieuwsblad (opens in new tab).
"Since after my world Hour Record, some critics said I could only break Bradley Wiggins' record because it was at a high altitude, I wanted to beat his distance again at sea-level and on the same track."
Campenaerts left Lotto-Soudal for Team NTT at the end of the 2019 season and says his new boss Bjarne Riis was supportive of the plan. However, the two-time European time trial champion claims the UCI didn't allow the attempt as it "would not be good for the image of cycling".
"My team boss Bjarne Riis was completely behind it and we already had contact with the owners of the track. Everything would be done according to the rules of social distancing but ten days after our application the UCI did not give the green light. The reason? My attempt would not be good for the image of cycling," Campenaerts said.
London, like most of Europe, is currently in lockdown as countries attempt to combat the coronavirus pandemic. People are currently only allowed to leave their homes for "very limited purposes", public gatherings of two people have been banned and non-essential shops have been closed.
Two weeks ago Bradley Wiggins said he thought the coronavirus lockdown presented the perfect opportunity for riders, who usually had their schedules filled with road racing, to attempt the Hour Record.
“I thought for Geraint [Thomas] and guys like that, what a great time to do the Hour Record," Wiggins said in conversation with Mark Cavendish during an Instagram live Q&A. "What a bloody great opportunity to train for something and do it in a velodrome with two people."
Thank you for reading 5 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
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
-
Dr Hutch: When did bikes start to cost half the UK average wage?
Modern bikes are better, Hutch admits. But are they five times better?
By Michael Hutchinson • Published
-
Inside the first Global Bike Festival: Road, gravel and mountain biking come together in the Austrian Alps
Cycling Weekly was there to find out why hundreds of people travelled to Austria with their bikes for a weekend
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'The biggest failure would have been to have never tried': Alex Dowsett reacts to emotional Hour Record attempt
The Brit's Just Giving page has raised over £30,000 for the charity The Haemophilia Society
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Alex Dowsett falls short of Hour Record in Mexico
Briton misses out on record at the Aguascalientes Velodrome in Mexico
By Richard Windsor • Published
-
Watch: Alex Dowsett Hour Record attempt live stream
Dowsett begins his Hour Record attempt at 10pm GMT
By Cycling Weekly • Published
-
Alex Dowsett will attempt Hour Record in Mexico, UCI confirms
The British TT star was forced to abandon an attempt last year after catching coronavirus, but he will now try to retake the record at altitude
By Alex Ballinger • Published
-
Dan Bigham beats Bradley Wiggins' British Hour Record
The 29-year-old went nearly 200m further than Wiggins
By Jonny Long • Published
-
‘A lot of self doubt, but it actually wasn’t that bad’: Joss Lowden reflects on her blistering Hour Record ride
Lowden said she wants to help close the gap to the men’s side of the sport
By Alex Ballinger • Published
-
Joss Lowden's Hour Record LIVE: Updates as British rider takes on prestigious track record
Follow live updates from Lowden's record attempt in Grenchen, Switzerland
By Alex Ballinger • Published
-
‘I hope to not touch Wiggins’ power for even a second’: Can Dan Bigham’s aero gains overcome wattage in Hour Record attempt?
The aero expert and time trial specialist hopes to break the British record for 60 minutes on the track this week
By Alex Ballinger • Published