By Daniel Etchells

Movistar Team rider Alex Dowsett will attempt the world hour record in round five of the Revolution Series on February 27 ©Getty ImagesBritain's Commonwealth Games gold medallist and three-time British time-trial champion Alex Dowsett is to attempt to break the world hour record on February 27 as part of the Revolution Series' fifth round in London's Lee Valley VeloPark on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. 

The 26-year-old Movistar Team rider will attempt to usurp current record holder, Matthias Brändle of Austria, who set a mark of 51.852 kilometres at the International Cycling Union's (UCI) 200-metre Aigle velodrome in Switzerland on October 30.

Interest in the hour record was rekindled following the UCI's decision to unify the regulations for the event, which in the past had "athlete" and "absolute" records; the former performed on traditional round-tubed track bikes without aerodynamic aids, while the latter allowed aero aids such as helmets, disc wheels and aerodynamic monocoque frames.

The rules introduced by the UCI in 2014 allowed riders to attempt the record on bikes which comply with current track pursuit regulations.

A unified UCI hour record was set by Germany's Jens Voigt at the Velodrome Suisse in Switzerland on September 18 before Brändle raised the bar just 46 days later.

Dowsett is motivated to set a new record and in doing so raise awareness for the Miles for Haemophilia campaign, a condition which the Maldon-born cyclist has had since birth.

Austria's Matthias Brändle set the world hour record at the UCI's 200-metre Aigle velodrome in Switzerland on October 30 ©Getty ImagesAustria's Matthias Brändle set the world hour record at the UCI's 200-metre Aigle velodrome in Switzerland on October 30 ©Getty Images




"Things like the Commonwealth Games, the Olympics, the Tour de France and World Championships hit home with the general public, but I truly had my eyes opened during my off-season this year when I travelled around Europe with the Miles for Haemophilia campaign," said Dowsett.

"As a young haemophiliac things were tough, even more so for my family than I.

"There was only a predicted gloomy outcome, talk of wheelchairs, crutches, joints fused in place or replaced, a far cry from the Alex you see before now."

UCI President Brian Cookson welcomed Dowsett's attempt, which will take place at the same venue a day before that of fellow Briton, 10-time Paralympic gold medallist, Dame Sarah Storey to set a new benchmark for the women's hour.

"I am delighted that an experienced time triallist such as Alex Dowsett is attacking the UCI hour record just months after Matthias Brändle's tremendous performance on the UCI World Cycling Centre velodrome in Switzerland," said Cookson.

"After Brändle's new record, I said that I was convinced that many other riders would try to add their names to the prestigious list of legendary UCI hour record holders, and Alex did not wait long to announce his attempt."

Contact the writer of this story at daniel.etchells@insidethegames.biz


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