British Olympians and Para-Cyclists Aim to Shatter Track Cycling World Records
A group of three accomplished British athletes, including Olympic and para-cycling champions, are set to attempt breaking three track cycling world records this month. Their efforts will take place at the Konya Velodrome in Turkey on 14 August, where they will push their limits in pursuit of historic achievements.
Matt Richardson: Chasing the Flying 200m Record
Double Olympic silver medallist Matt Richardson is focused on breaking the record for the fastest flying 200m lap. His goal is to achieve a time under nine seconds, a milestone that has never been reached before. During the Paris Games, Richardson briefly held the record but was soon surpassed by his rival Harrie Lavreysen, who set a new benchmark of 9.088 seconds.
Richardson, who previously represented Australia before switching to the UK last summer, has long viewed this challenge as a personal mission. He described the rivalry with Lavreysen as one of the closest in the sport. “It’s a race between Harrie and me to be the first person to do it,” he said. “Once someone goes sub-nine seconds, they’ll be the first person to do that, forever.”
The velodrome in Konya, which hosted a round of the UCI Track Cycling Nations Cup earlier this year, offers an optimal environment for such an attempt. The steep banking allows riders to gain more speed, while the high altitude contributes to lower air density, reducing resistance. Richardson believes this makes the location ideal for a flying 200m effort.
Charlie Tanfield: Targeting the Men’s Elite Hour Record
Charlie Tanfield, a Paris team pursuit silver medallist, is aiming to break the men’s elite Hour Record. Currently standing at 56.792km, the record has not been challenged in recent years. Tanfield hopes to make a significant impact, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the sport.
Will Bjergfelt: Breaking the C5 Hour Record
Para-cyclist Will Bjergfelt is targeting the men’s C5 Hour Record, which has remained unchanged since 2014 when Andrea Tarlo set a distance of 47.569km. Bjergfelt, who suffered life-threatening injuries in a car accident in 2015, has shown remarkable resilience. After returning to racing, he won a world silver medal in 2019 and a world road race title in 2021.
Bjergfelt’s goal is to become the first para-cyclist to exceed 50km in an hour. “I want to inspire people to get involved,” he said. “If you have an impairment or a disability, there’s so many amazing things you can do. It shouldn’t hold anyone back who has aspirations.”
Balancing his training schedule with a full-time job as an aerospace engineer, Bjergfelt acknowledges the physical and mental challenges of the Hour Record. “We did relative tests in May up in Manchester, and after around 40 minutes my hand became quite numb,” he explained. “That’s going to be interesting, pushing through the different barriers that you get.”
Equipment and Preparation
All three athletes will be using customised equipment designed to maximise performance. They will ride Hope-Lotus Olympic bikes from the Paris Games, along with tailored skinsuits. Bjergfelt praised the advancements in technology, stating, “It’s the fastest bike I’ve ever ridden on the track. Technology has moved on so far since the Hour Record was set in 2014. It’d be wrong if I didn’t really smash the record to bits.”
Richardson remains confident about his chances. “Nothing’s ever a done deal, ever, but I’m pretty confident that I’m in a really good place to get the job done.”
As the event approaches, the world will be watching closely to see if these athletes can etch their names into the history books. Their efforts not only aim to break records but also to inspire others and demonstrate the power of determination and innovation in sports.