Cancellara Hour Record Attempt

[Anonymous]

This might be a dumb question but to you have to do it in a velodrome or can you find a flat piece of road and try to make the attempt. Also is the velodrome the only place that gives you a legitimate shot at breaking the record?

if you can find 60k of perfectly flat, even road, with no wind and no gradient you are more than welcome to give it a go...

 

[Anonymous]

Obree was going to try for Sosenka's distance again this year, but passed.

Has he officially passed?

I remember seeing his bike for it. Extra long top tube so he could stretch out, and something like a 67 tooth big chain ring...

Would of been cool for him to have a crack, but perhaps he did a few all out practice runs and realised it wasn't to be...

 

[auscyclefan94]

Just give the record to FC now. He is just so good.

 

[Anonymous]

Just give the record to FC now. He is just so good.

i completely disagree...

yes he has the time trial power, yes hes the best on the road..

but can he translate that the aero position on the track, and does he have the mental focus... it really could go either way

i wouldnt put a large amount of money on either way..

 

[karlboss]

Merckx did it on an outdoor track, so you can have wind, and in australia we have a 90 mile stretch of dead straight road, don't know what condition its in. To answer the question, it must be on a velodrome.

 

[Anonymous]

In one of the other hour record threads, it was discussed that to go for the record could potentially ruin a season. There was discussion that the preparation for the record could take months, and that for someone like FC, at an age where post start to peak in their road careers, it could be a big mistake.

My question, why not do it 2 months after the worlds in 2010?

Would this be enough time to get used to the track bike?

He will already have a strong base fitness from the road season, plus the strong TT training from the worlds TT. Surely he could build from that, a solid 2 month progressive training schedule (indoors of course), based purely on the track bike. He seems to run a very long season anyway..

Then have a crack at it in late november on an indoor circuit?

This way, if he stuffs it up, no problem. He can just consider it off-season cross training, and not damage his 2010 or 2011 season on the road, because this was an off-season goal... better yet, the gains from the training may even help for his 2011 goals...

 

[Kingsley A]

The final hour!

Whilst I believe that Spartacus could probably beat either Hour Record, I do think he would have to make too many sacrifices to look at attempting it in the near future. He would likely have to give up on road racing and concentrate entirely on the velodrome for the best part of an entire season in preparation.

Around the time of the last Olympics, I remember watching a documentary called "THE FINAL HOUR", recording Boardman's successful attempt at the UCI record in 2000. It was repeated around the end of this year's Tour on ITV4.

Two things struck me from it. First, the immense dedication over of prolonged time that Chris put in and secondly who as a result of his success, British track cycling started to attract funding for the first time ever and now seems to be spilling over onto the road.

Cancellara wouldn't have the lack of support Boardman had. Chris build his own bariatric chamber using plastic bags and masking tape, in a spare room of the house he shared with his wife and kids! He also made the attempt right at the end of his career just before he made the jump to being a broadcaster.

It took a lot of time and dedication to a singular goal for Boardman to gain this record and he wasn't competing anywhere else whilst he did so. I admit to knowing nothing about Sosenka but suspect he went through similar trials and showed similar dedication. Dimspaces's earlier posts about mental toughness and mind numbing also ring true to me.

TBH, I suspect Fabien is just talking about a nice to aim for at the moment, especially if the rumours that have appeared on there boards in the last couple of weeks that he is going to BMC in 2011 and trying to become a GC contender are true. If he does want to go for GC or remain the best road TT'er in the world he won't go for the hour record in the short term, but just as Boardman made it his final hussah, I see no reason why Cancallara couldn't do the same a few years down the track.
________

PS. Re: The Final Hour link posted above. The documentary I have seen fitted a 1 hour time slot including commercial breaks. I have just posted the fist relevant link I found from Google (no WWII or Nazis!) but it does seem that I have only seen an abridged version of a 107 min documentary.

 

[karlboss]

I don't think he could break boardmans superman record. Doesn't have the flexibility for the position and like the 4000 pursuit, it can be seen there is a significant advantage to it.

 

[flicker]

Spartacus

Sorry Dim, I wasn't following Boardmann when he took the hour.
Basically I dumped cycling @ 25 after I quit riding.
Eddy was my favorite. Anyone who can beat the Hour deserves incredible respect. I can only imagine the pain and monotony and focus it takes, seeing footage of Merckx in Mexico. Merckx was the best cyclist I have ever seen.
Seeing Cancellera in the 2008 Tour stage pulling with Voight and the rest of the CSC team before Sastres' big win....I figure Fabian can win anything he sets his mind upon. Also watching him in Bejing.... this years worlds....his Roubaix victory past.
Fabian is a draft horse and he will stomp it out the hour when the time is right.
To interject I saw someone looking like him wearing fishnet stockings in the Castro district on Halloween costume gala 1977 San Francisco.
I prefer champions to be clean cut and Professional. Not like Halloween in the Castro at its pinnacle.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I would agree that I think he's better off going for the UCI (track bike) record, if he is comfortable in that tuck. When Boardman started training for that record he felt he would top 50km. But it's harder to sustain than one thinks, he truly was at the end of his career, and barely beat Merckx record.

When Chris set the Aero record, he was in the pinnacle of his life physically (Superman!), and put in a tremendous effort that day, afterward said he was completely exhausted at the end, and his back was killing him for the last several km. Considering all this, despite his having a treat aero tuck, I'm not 100% convinced Spartacus could top this record, which has stood for 13 years now. I think he's better off going for the UCI record.

I would also think Canc would have to prep his season late, making sure not to peak in July or even September. But race there to get the fitness. Then, in between that time, work on the track as possible. Then when the season on the road is over, shift to the track and focus for two months like a laser to peak in one specific week in probably November, and give it a shot then, with this being his main goal for the season. Not the worlds, not the Tour or Vuelta, not anything else.

I will say this, considering how dominant he was at the World's this year, just completely crushing everyone, if there is anyone in this era who could do it, it would be him.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Graeme said last month he would be passing on the hour record attempt this year because the bike wasn't meeting his expectations for this ride, and life, family, age were getting in the way. He didn't seem to have any regrets from what I recall. Just that it was time to move on.

 

[flicker]

Spartacus

I disagree, I think Spartacus needs to race the Vuelta before hour record standard bike.
He then needs to rest and motorpace road and track and eat a specific diet.
Then he goes for it and breaks the record. 2-3 weeks training.
He will suffer and probably be in major pain for 2 -6 weeks after.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Well, that is pretty much the traditional way, the way Merckx (Moser, Indurain, Rominger, etc.) did it.

 

[python]

Around the time of the last Olympics, I remember watching a documentary called "THE FINAL HOUR", recording Boardman's successful attempt at the UCI record in 2000. It was repeated around the end of this year's Tour on ITV4.

hence my avatar

.. as a result of his success, British track cycling started to attract funding for the first time ever and now seems to be spilling over onto the road.

agree with the statement about british track cycling but spilling over onto the road is less evident. brits have always had one road tradition (an obsession really) time trialling. much less road racing.

It took a lot of time and dedication to a singular goal for Boardman to gain this record and he wasn't competing anywhere else whilst he did so.

so true. and note that armstrong despite the public intentions never attempted the hour - neither version. it takes a lot to break the record particularly on the track. as i said earlier, cancellara may find it more difficult than some fans.

 

[R.0.t.O]

I don't think the long periods of adjustment are really justified. Rominger had a decent road season in 1994 (won the Vuelta, Paris-Nice, Tour of the Basque Country and was UCI World Cup series winner), jumped onto the boards in October, fell off on his first few laps on Monday and set the then world record six days later. His training had been time-trial focused since August, but then Cancellara, Wiggins and others do this already anyway in prep for the Worlds.

The main issue is that the UCI have wrecked the Hour by splitting it in two.

 

[Offtheback]

The hour record is pure. Pure class.
No outside influences, no wind, no rain, no bad start time, no distractions.
With the U.C.I. equipment limitations in place, it is the best way to compare riders between generations. It is nothing to watch and at the same time it everything to watch. Pain, Power, Mental Discipline and Focus.
I am in awe of any rider that can even have the conversation of attempting a crack at the Hour.

Amen to that. Boardman's book about the Hour says it all. A killer of an event.

 

[yakko!]

Anyone notice today that Obree isn't going to make his attempt?

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/graeme-obree-dumps-hour-record-plans

It's a shame - being an "old guy" - it would have been nice to see him go.

Here's something interesting on cancellara vs. zabriskie duel - I'd pay lots for a seat to see that show!

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/2236/Cancellara-and-Zabriskie-eye-hour-record.aspx

 

[Cloxxki]

I tried to find an Obree thread, and came here. I feel for the guy. Such a true cycling lover, and great inventor. That's what cycling is about for me. I have huge respect for the guy, and feel for him that he's suffering medical-mentally.
While it's great that's he's doing it all alone, he might take advantage of some fellow nutcase friends to tackle technical and aerodynamical challenges. Surely he'll set some long-lasting age group records some time in the future? I'd be honored to undertake my own attempt to attack one of his record, a decade after he sets one. I love hour records, it suits my body, even if the effort itself and the training required doesn't suit my mind. OK, please let him set some 3000m and 4000m age group times then. I'll be sure to come up with an equally nutty bike to try and better it.

I met Obree on a bike exhibition once, he was marketing his own carbon handlebars and extentions. Great fellow, and throroughly believed in his products. I hope to hear much more (good) from the guy, one of cycling's great in my opinion, an idol.

 

[ExRower]

I think Obree should push through with it, just to see what he can still do on the bike.

 

[Cloxxki]

I think Obree should push through with it, just to see what he can still do on the bike.

I can see how mentally, it would be unhealthy for him at this point. I'd love to see though, what exactly the problem with his bike is, and if I could figure out a way around it. I'm a sucker for bike geometry and how it can transfor a ride. Just slightly different fork is the difference between a winnen and a loser.

 

[Anonymous]

I can see how mentally, it would be unhealthy for him at this point. I'd love to see though, what exactly the problem with his bike is, and if I could figure out a way around it. I'm a sucker for bike geometry and how it can transfor a ride. Just slightly different fork is the difference between a winnen and a loser.

i cant actually think of anything better than obree regaining the hour record... even if cancellara did do a boardman and take it one week later..

id certainly be buying tickets to go watch..

 

[ak-zaaf]

i cant actually think of anything better than obree regaining the hour record... even if cancellara did do a boardman and take it one week later..

id certainly be buying tickets to go watch..

I still hope some other pro's give it a go. I think there's at least 15 guys who can beat Sosenka's record if they put a little training in it.

 

[Anonymous]

I still hope some other pro's give it a go. I think there's at least 15 guys who can beat Sosenka's record if they put a little training in it.

name those riders..

i think cancellara can possibly, i also think someone like geraint, if he forgets the road for a year can possibly look at it, he may not have the power but his technique is probably the best in the world and he improves more and more every time he gets on the bike..

certainly cant name another 13

 

[ak-zaaf]

name those riders..

i think cancellara can possibly, i also think someone like geraint, if he forgets the road for a year can possibly look at it, he may not have the power but his technique is probably the best in the world and he improves more and more every time he gets on the bike..

certainly cant name another 13

My respect for this record is so little because of the current holder. It's not about beating the hour, it's about beating a meth-head
If someone like Canc beats it by 1cm, it will become the 'holy hour' again.

For the sake of the discussion I'll get flamed by saying that close to home the following riders (if trained properly) would have a good shot at Sosenka's distance: Boom, Mouris, Westra, Moerenhout, Devolder, Hoste, Summeren, Boonen.
15 was a low estimate.
Get my point?

 

[Anonymous]

For the sake of the discussion I'll get flamed by saying that close to home the following riders (if trained properly) would have a good shot at Sosenka's distance: Boom, Mouris, Westra, Moerenhout, Devolder, Hoste, Summeren, Boonen.
15 was a low estimate.
Get my point?

nope.. thats only eight.. you said fifteen...