ELLEN!!! Your new UCI Hour Record Holder!
"This whole project has been so amazing for me" - Ellen van Dijk wraps off successful Hour Record assault
Track CyclingMonday, 23 May 2022 at 21:00
Joss Lowden set a strong time last year in the Grenchen velodrome, however her time did not stand for a long time as Ellen van Dijk today soared to a new time that sees the bar set even higher in the women's field.
“In the beginning, I was a bit nervous, but under control I think. I did exactly what we wanted to do. In the first half-hour, I was around 18.1-18.2 [seconds per lap] and that was well under the pace I knew I needed to ride, so I thought if I don’t slow down too much and don’t go over [18.5] then I should have it," the Dutch rider said after her mythical ride. Ever since it's start it became clear that the 35-year old had the pace to beat the record of Joss Lowden, after months of preparation and the form of a lifetime - alongside the investment and technological focus on every single aerodynamical gain, which every year is taken a step further.
"At 45 minutes I thought ‘Okay, I need to accelerate’ and I thought I was accelerating, but I was actually slowing down. Then the time started to tick down really really slow. I have to say," she added. Halfway through the Hour, it was no longer a matter of if, but how much van Dijk would beat the record by. With the thought of future attempts at the record, the goal was always to set the maximum distance; and that came at a whopping 49.254 kilometers over the 60 minutes.
She detailed her last minutes on the track: “Everything became a little blurry, especially at the end, and I was not so straight anymore. I was just so happy when I heard that it was over. This was all I had for today and I am very happy I broke the record!”
“This whole project has been so amazing for me, the whole build was such a great experience. I couldn’t wish for more support from Trek, it was really, really the best I have ever had,” van Dijk said, in praise of her team who supported her throughout this journey. “During the ride, I thought about the whole team, everyone who put some much into this, and I need to give everything for all their work and time and everything. In the end, all I can say is: Ride bikes, have fun, feel good," she concluded.
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