Who holds the title of the fastest athlete on the planet? Many would instinctively name Usain Bolt, given his phenomenal 100-meter sprint in a record 9.58 seconds. Reading that sentence at a good pace takes about the same amount of time. But does “fastest athlete” exclusively refer to a runner? Perhaps it`s a matter of interpretation.
While Bolt is undeniably the quickest person on foot, the “unofficial” designation of the fastest athlete could arguably belong to a cyclist. For example, the Dutch track cyclist Harrie Lavreysen completed a flying 200m time trial in a velodrome in an astonishing 9.088 seconds. Although a niche world record, this achievement highlights immense raw power, strength, and speeds exceeding 80 km/h, showcasing an elite athlete`s incredible velocity on two wheels.
Three decades ago, track cyclists in this event were pushing to break the 10-second barrier. Today, much like Bolt redefined what`s possible in athletics, contemporary sprint cyclists are now focused on shattering the 9-second mark.
Earlier this year, British track sprinter Matt Richardson actually surpassed Olympic champion Lavreysen`s time in the Flying 200m by four hundredths of a second. However, this record was not officially ratified by the UCI (cycling`s global governing body) because he briefly strayed from the legal section of the track.
Drawing on this experience and newfound knowledge, Richardson is now determined not only to claim the official Flying 200m World Record but also to become the first person ever to achieve a sub-nine-second time.
British Cycling`s Bold Initiative
British Cycling is exploring innovative strategies to challenge its riders. With the World Championships later this year but no Olympics, they decided to pursue something unique. This Thursday, on a track in Konya, Turkey, three British riders, accompanied by a lean support team of just four staff, will enter an empty velodrome with the ambitious goal of securing not one, but three world records for the UK!
Matt Richardson is, of course, one of these determined athletes. The record-breaking speed he`s pursuing has made him incredibly focused, even obsessive. He shared his mindset: “I`ll be disappointed if I don`t break the nine-second barrier; I want to go under. The world record is what it is, so if I go under nine (seconds), then I take the record. I want to be the first person ever to do that. I know it can be done. I was close earlier this year, but now I have a better understanding of the track, improved equipment, and I`ll be riding at an optimal time of day.”
Richardson only began competing for Great Britain last year, following the Paris Olympics where he earned two silver and one bronze medal while representing Australia. Since then, proudly wearing GB colors (he was born in the UK), he has already secured two golds in his Nations Cup debut and three sprint titles at the British Championships.
He`s not the only Brit aiming to rewrite the record books in Turkey. Two other cyclists will attempt new one-hour world records. Para-cyclist Will Bergfelt targets riding beyond 47.569 km in 60 minutes. This C5 category record has stood for 11 years, and the British team is confident that Bergfelt`s experience and technological advancements will enable him not only to break it but to significantly extend the new benchmark.
The one-hour record is, to put it mildly, brutal. It`s physically and mentally draining, even for those who deeply love cycling. At any point during the 60 minutes on the track, an attempt can falter if the delicate balance between maintaining maximum speed and conserving energy isn`t perfectly managed.
In addition to Bergfelt`s C5 record attempt, Charlie Tanfield will challenge Italian Filippo Ganna`s formidable world record of 56.792 km in an hour.
If Tanfield succeeds in setting a new world record, he will essentially be cycling a kilometer every minute he`s on the track. He described the challenge: “I break it down into three parts: the first is getting up to speed, the second is winding it up, and then the third part, I`m pretty much at my maximum threshold for the last 30 minutes or so. It`s horrible. The last 10 minutes are just, well, horrible! I`m not sure I`ll be able to walk the next day or for a few days after that. All I want to do is my very best. If I execute it well, then I`ll be happy whatever the outcome.”
The Record Attempts Schedule
The three world record attempts by British Cycling are scheduled for Thursday, August 14, in Konya, Turkey:
- 08:00 (BST/UK): Will Bergfelt will attempt to break the C5 one-hour track record.
- 10:15 (BST/UK): Charlie Tanfield will attempt to break the men`s one-hour track record.
- 14:00 (BST/UK): Matt Richardson will attempt to break the Flying 200m Time Trial record.
