hour records
Alpe d'Huez said:
Yes, I'm a little surprised no big name has attempted the hour record (track bike), especially as it hasn't moved much still, and Ondřej Sosenk broke it, and several months later popped positive. You'd think just about any big name pro TT rider could probably break 50km if they trained for it, and would like to be the first to do ever so. Still think if Chris Bordman would have tried it in his prime he could have gotten over 50km.
As to the hour performance (aero bike) Chris's distance of nearly 57km is still an incredible achievement, and I'd have to think it would take something like a doped up performance by Spartacus to topple it. Chris was completely knackered when that effort was over, and it was the pinnacle of his entire life.
Maybe a lot of these top names figure that it isn't worth the risk? To have to pass a slew of controls, knowing it's 99% likely you have to dope to ride that fast. And if you get caught, it's over - for a ride you didn't need to ride.
Interesting to note from ACoogans post on the critics have their power numbers wrong Chris Boardmans crank power was estimated at 442 Watts by his coach Peter Keen
According to Peter Keen, at the time of his hour record Boardman had a VO2max of 90 mL/min/kg, of which he maintained 90% for the 60 min. I don't recall the exact figure given for his efficiency, but it was neither low nor exceptional...his estimated power output was therefore 442 W, or 6.4 W/kg. Assuming that he did not use drugs, the question then becomes "what sort of performance is possible naturally when someone comes along who has an equally high VO2max and LT, but also has exceptional efficiency*?"
Eddy Mercx was measured at 455 Watts for an hour on a stationary ergometer. While we cannot know whether Eddy Mercx used performance enhancing drugs to do this or not we do know for certain he didn't use EPO because it was unknown in 1975. Mercx was 72Kg and 184cm. So 6.3 watts per Kg is achieved for an hour in this controlled test.
When Mercx set his hour record in 1972 in Mexico city his power output was estimated at 366 Watts. Using a model equating the effect of aerodynamic effects and reduced aerobic capacity at altitude this performance equates to an approximate 430 Watt performance at sea level.
Boardmans attempt at Mercx record on 1972 style bike was estimated at 414 Watts quite a difference in performance from his 442 achieved in superman position on the 57km/hr record
Miguel Indurain was estimated at close to 500 Watts in periods during his hour record of 53 km. Indurains performances are questionable because of his working with Conconi.
So without EPO it is possible to achieve 6.3 Watts per Kg for an hour.
There is substantial variance in output performed between a controlled lab measurement on stationary bike and comparing this to outside performance. Aerodynamics effect is difficult to estimate with body size and position etc variance of pace. Other factors with less impact affecting variance include equipment weight, rolling resistance, temparature, stiffness in equipment etc.
Given Mercx performance is over 30 years old and natural advancement along with nutrition training technique etc would mean a significant improvement on this is possible. Unfortunately because of EPO every performance in cycling seems to raise questions now.
and his doctor on the track
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