Belgian Victor Campenaerts shatters the hour record
In the autumn of 2018, the 27-year-old Antwerp-born rider already won a bronze medal for the time trial at the World Championships in Innsbruck. After that, he turned his attention to the Velódromo Bicentenario cycling track in Aguascalientes, Mexico, where in April he smashed the hour record of former Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins by 563 metres.
The rider for the Lotto Soudal cycling team made world history. Nonetheless, he got off to a hesitant and slow start, which meant he had some catching up to do after the first few laps if he wanted to dethrone Wiggins. Realising this spurred him on. Past the halfway point, he had a considerable margin over the British record holder. In the final sprint, the steely rider drew on all his remaining strength, steamed ahead and smashed his way through the 55 km barrier.
Campenaerts’ dream had become a reality. He is now the fourth Belgian with a hour record, after Marcel Van den Eynde (1897), Ferdinand Bracke (1967) and Eddy Merckx (1972) and the 43rd rider in total. An incredible performance.
