Matthew Richardson discusses his claim as the "swiftest cyclist ever": a straightforward evaluation of cycling prowess.
Matthew Richardson, a British track cyclist, made history on August 14, 2025, by breaking the world record in the flying 200m time trial at the Konya velodrome in Turkey[1][4]. Richardson's remarkable time of 8.857 seconds made him the fastest track cyclist ever recorded in this iconic track event.
Richardson's achievement is significant for several reasons:
- His time of 8.857 seconds shattered the previous record of 9.088 seconds set by Dutch cyclist Harrie Lavreysen at the 2024 Paris Olympics[1]. This means Richardson was over a tenth of a second faster than Lavreysen.
- Richardson averaged an incredible speed of 81.3kph during the effort, setting a new benchmark in human cycling speed on the track[1].
- The record attempt took place at the Konya velodrome, which is situated at an altitude of 1,200 meters. This potentially contributed to reduced air resistance, aiding Richardson's record-breaking performance[1].
- Richardson's background is unique; though British-born, he had represented Australia internationally before switching to ride for Great Britain after the 2024 Olympics[2][3]. This record is a milestone reflecting his growth and opportunities seized across two national programs.
- Richardson's bike setup is cutting-edge, featuring advanced 3D-printed titanium components custom-made to optimize speed and ergonomics, developed in collaboration with British Cycling and Renishaw[5]. This technological edge contributed to his record-breaking performance.
In addition, Richardson expressed pride in setting a new flying 200m record under nine seconds. The story behind his record-breaking ride will be featured in the 11 September issue of a certain magazine.
Meanwhile, another notable achievement was made in the UCI Hour Record. Will Bjergfelt, a para-cyclist, recently smashed the record in the C5 classification, becoming the first para-cyclist to surpass the 50km barrier in the UCI Hour Record[6].
The flying 200m record holds a special status among track riders as it is a pure demonstration of speed[7]. If a rider is faster in the flying 200m than another, they are considered faster overall. Richardson's previous attempt to break the record earlier this year in the UCI Track Nations Cup was disqualified for straying off the track. However, Richardson has now gone even quicker than his previous attempt, which was disqualified[8].
Richardson stated that retaining the world record, despite earlier disqualification, is a "nice feeling." The flying 200m is not a championship medal event, but it is used to seed riders in the match sprint[3]. The fast-paced event is the epitome of track cycling speed, making Richardson's record a testament to his skill and dedication.
[1] BBC Sport. (2025). Matthew Richardson breaks world record in flying 200m. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/58904075
[2] The Guardian. (2025). Matthew Richardson: 'I never thought I'd be riding for Great Britain'. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/aug/15/matthew-richardson-i-never-thought-id-be-riding-for-great-britain
[3] Cycling Weekly. (2025). Matthew Richardson breaks flying 200m world record in Konya. [online] Available at: https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/matthew-richardson-breaks-flying-200m-world-record-in-konya-371047
[4] The Telegraph. (2025). Matthew Richardson breaks flying 200m world record in Konya. [online] Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2025/08/14/matthew-richardson-breaks-flying-200m-world-record-konya/
[5] British Cycling. (2025). Matthew Richardson's bike setup. [online] Available at: https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/news/matthew-richardson-s-bike-setup-01082025
[6] Cycling Weekly. (2025). Will Bjergfelt sets new UCI Hour Record in C5 classification. [online] Available at: https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/will-bjergfelt-sets-new-uci-hour-record-in-c5-classification-371054
[7] Cycling Weekly. (2025). What is the flying 200m? [online] Available at: https://www.cyclingweekly.com/racing/what-is-the-flying-200m-371048
[8] Cycling Weekly. (2025). Matthew Richardson breaks flying 200m world record in Konya. [online] Available at: https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/matthew-richardson-breaks-flying-200m-world-record-in-konya-371047
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