Victor Campenaerts sets new world record of one-hour distance on bike

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Victor Campenaerts, a Belgian racing cyclist from Lotto–Soudal, set a new world record of 55.089 kilometers for distance cycled in one hour at the Aguascalientes indoor velodrome in Mexico on Tuesday.

"I am also happy that I could break the magic 55 kilometers. I was optimistic in the first 30 minutes, but it was important then to set a slower pace. I slowed down a little bit, but I think in every part of the race I was still faster than Wiggins," said Campenaerts.

This record was previously held by Sir Bradley Wiggins, the first Tour de France winner of Britain and the five-time Olympic Champion, who finished the race with 54.526 kilometers in June 2015.

Wiggins sent his congratulations to Campenaerts by tweeting: "Chapeau Victor my man."

Belgium's Victor Campenaerts breaks the hour record at the Velodromo Bicentenario in Aguascalientes, Mexico, April 16, 2019. /Reuters Photo

The International Cycling Union (UCI) Hour Record challenge is simple. The cyclist starts at zero speed at an indoor velodrome, rides for an hour and then has his or her total distance calculated. Since the UCI changed the rules on aerodynamics application on bicycles, breaking 55 kilometers seemed like "mission impossible."

Campenaerts chose to do the challenge at a location of 1,800 meters altitude, where thinner air should reduce air resistance but also harm the cyclist's athletic performance. To overcome the latter, Campenaerts has been sleeping in simulated conditions of 3,000 meters above sea level to increase the red blood cell count of his body.

Moreover, the bike Campenaerts was using did not have any gears or brakes to make it lighter. The frame ensured that he could take an identical riding position to his usual road style.

Though experts were claiming that the altitude alone could give Campenaerts 1,500 meters of advantage over Wiggins, no one had ever broken Wiggins' record at the Aguascalientes velodrome until Campenaerts did.