Dennis breaks world hour cycling record

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 08 Februari 2015 | 23.01

Australian cyclist Rohan Dennis rides during his world hour record attempt in Switzerland. Source: VALERIANO DI DOMENICO / AFP

ADELAIDE'S Rohan Dennis has become the first Australian in history to break cycling's world hour record after his stunning ride in Switzerland overnight.

Just two weeks after winning the opening WorldTour race of the season the Tour Down Under on home soil, the 24-year-old claimed the time-honoured record by covering 52.491km in 209.9 laps around his BMC Racing Team's velodrome in Grenchen.

It took him until the final minute of the hour to surpass the previous benchmark of 51.852km set by Austrian rider Matthias Brandle last October, then he powered home to etch his name into the history books.

Flanked by former teammate and Australian cycling legend Cadel Evans who embraced him after his ride, Dennis joined an honour roll which includes the likes of Eddy Merckx (1972), Chris Boardman (2000) and Jens Voigt (2014) for one of the sport's most prestigious titles.

"I'm pretty tired but really, really proud, and with BMC they made it easy," said Dennis, who hoisted his bike above his head after conquering the record.

"The whole week leading into this after Tour Down Under was stressless, there was no pressure and everything worked perfectly.

Rohan Dennis crosses the line at the Velodrome Suisse. Source: AFP

"There was a lot of pain, I couldn't really enjoy it too much to be honest, I knew it was 208 laps and when I went past 208 it was just go as hard as you can.

"(But) it almost feels too easy, obviously it wasn't, but they (team) made it absolutely perfect.

"(The crowd) was amazing, there would have been a quiet patch, it would have been a bit repetitive after half-an-hour but they really got behind me, especially when they knew it was going to be a record, and I really appreciate everyone coming out and supporting us.

"It's a great event and hopefully that record stands for a little while."

Dennis' triumph came one week after his Olympic silver medal winning teammate from London in 2012, Jack Bobridge, fell 500m short when he paid the price for going too hard too early in his record attempt in Melbourne.

A physically shattered Bobridge later described the experience as the closest he'd ever get to death without dying, but vowed to do it all again along with British superstar Sir Bradley Wiggins who has indicated he will attempt the record possibly later this year.

Dennis last night had no problem with his pacing which was monitored by his coach Neal Henderson from inside the track. He sat comfortably inside the world record after 10 minutes and despite dipping slightly under his own personal schedule, was able to maintain the rage for the entire hour to break the record.

Rohan Dennis poses after breaking the world hour record. Source: AFP

The former swimmer, turned track cycling world champion who has emerged as a future Grand Tour contender on the road, went into the race against the clock aiming to ride 52.5km and got within nine metres of his goal.

Dennis called on his time trialling expertise which last year made him a team time trial world champion with BMC and Commonwealth Games silver medallist to wow an international audience which tuned in to a live broadcast of his ride.

Aside from Dennis and Bobridge, the only other Australian male cyclist known to have attempted the feat was Olympic gold medallist Bradley McGee who rode 50.052km in 1997.

McGee last month told News Corp that at the time he underestimated the toll the hour-record would take on his body and he went into a period of repeat illness which destroyed the rest of his season. But McGee had no doubt that the likes of Dennis would be far better prepared for the demands of the race and the recovery process.

Tour de France champion Evans, who rode with Dennis at the Tour Down Under before retiring on February 1 in Geelong, said he knew Dennis would have a good day when he saw him relaxed before the race started.

Rohan Dennis proudly displays the Australian flag. Source: AFP

"As well as I know Rohan, he's a little bit like me in that we're individuals, we like to be quiet and calm and that's how we get the best out of ourselves," Evans said.

"Today I was really happy I saw him calm but very confident and that is an ideal headspace to be in going in, he can concentrate and get the job done.

"The tips I gave him at Tour Down Under was my experience to pass on to him, now he's in his element here. He's a road rider but with a big track background, he's an Olympic medallist in the team pursuit, he (was) going a little bit wide on the banks but this is his area of expertise and I can't offer him much advice on that."

Dennis will now turn his attention back to the road for the European season and has set his sights on finishing the sport's holy grail, the Tour de France, this year after he debuted in the three-week epic in 2013 but lasted eight days.

WORLD HOUR RECORD

Rohan Dennis, Australia, 52.49km (2015)

Matthias Brandle, Austria, 51.8km (2014)

Jack Bobridge, Australia, 51.3km (2015)

Jens Voigt, Germany, 51.1km (2014)

Ondrej Sosenka, Czechoslovakia, 49.7km (2005)

Chris Boardman, Great Britain, 49.44km (2000)

Eddy Merckx, Belgium, 49.43km (1972)


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