Cyclist Charlie Tanfield fails to surpass Filippo Ganna's UCI Hour Record, set by the Italian rider.
British Cyclist Charlie Tanfield Attempts UCI Hour Record
British cyclist Charlie Tanfield recently attempted to break Filippo Ganna's UCI Hour Record, but fell short of the mark. The attempt took place at a venue in Konya, Turkey, located at 1,200m altitude.
Tanfield's bike for the attempt was a specially designed Hope-Lotus HB.T bike, which he used to cover a distance of 53.967 km. This distance is 750m higher than the velodrome in Grenchen, Switzerland where Filippo Ganna set his record of 56.792km in 2022.
Despite falling short of the record, Tanfield's effort ranks as the seventh furthest Hour Record of all time. The 27-year-old cyclist employed a 'negative split' strategy during his attempt, starting at a steady pace and gradually increasing his speed. However, he began to slow slightly around the 38-minute mark.
Tanfield's preparation for the attempt was extensive. He spent time at altitude in Andorra and carried out turbo trainer sessions in a tent in his garden at a temperature of 45°C. He also wore a new skinsuit during the attempt.
Tanfield's distance is about 1.58 km shorter than Dan Bigham's British national hour record of 55.548 km. Bigham's record is still 1.244 km short of Ganna's world record. Tanfield's performance places him as the fourth fastest Brit, behind Bradley Wiggins, Alex Dowsett, and Dan Bigham.
Tanfield won a silver medal as part of Great Britain's team pursuit squad at the Paris Olympics, and is looking to continue his success in the world of cycling. Meanwhile, another impressive feat was achieved by para-cyclist Will Bjergfelt, who became the first para-cyclist in history to break the 50km barrier in the C5 UCI Hour Record. Bjergfelt rode a distance of 51.471km, breaking an 11-year-old record.
| Rider | Distance Covered (km) | Record Type | |----------------|----------------------|------------------------| | Filippo Ganna | 56.792 | UCI Hour Record (World)| | Dan Bigham | 55.548 | British National Record| | Charlie Tanfield | 53.967 | Attempt at UCI Hour Record; 4th fastest Brit | | Will Bjergfelt | 51.471 | C5 UCI Hour Record (Para-Cycling) |
Tanfield's attempt at the UCI Hour Record was a testament to his dedication and hard work, and he can be proud of his impressive performance. The world of cycling eagerly awaits his next challenge.
