Jens Voigt's finest hour?

[mr sneff]

Anybody who follows professional cycling will know that veteran of 17 Tours de France Jens Voigt (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jens_Voigt) is retiring from cycling. Tonight is his swansong, an attempt to break the Hour Record (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hour_record). This is one of the oldest cycling records, simply held by the person who has ridden the furthest in one hour on a track. It's fallen out of fashion recently because the UCI has buggered around with the rules governing the record. But the rules have now been ironed out and a number of riders have expressed an interest, including Sir Bradley Wiggins, Fabian Cancellara and world time trial champion Tony Martin. First to put their head above the parapet is Jens Voigt. It sounds simple, ride as far as you can in an hour, but it's a horrendous effort and there is no second place; either you break the record or fail. Opinion seems to be that Jens stands a good chance of breaking the record, I'd like to see him succeed he's one of the larger than life characters of the peloton. He just needs to issue his order "shut up legs" on last time.
See also: Cycling Weekly (http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/jens-voigt-hour-record-im-planning-riding-50-something-kilometres-136875)
and watch the attempt here (http://www.trekbikes.com/hour_record/)

[ljubomir]

Hope he gets it!.
Jens is a true character,always makes me laugh in his interviews.

[MikeMusic]

Let's hope so
A genuine good guy our Jens

[keiths]

I saw Chris Boardman narrowly beat Eddy Merckx's reinstated record in the Manchester Velodrome in 2000 and also was in the velodrome for both of Michael Hutchinson's failed attempts.

As far as I know, no online coverage of Jen's attempt will be available in the UK as British Eurosport has exclusive rights to the live coverage here.

[mr sneff]

I saw Chris Boardman narrowly beat Eddy Merckx's reinstated record in the Manchester Velodrome in 2000 and also was in the velodrome for both of Michael Hutchinson's failed attempts.

As far as I know, no online coverage of Jen's attempt will be available in the UK as British Eurosport has exclusive rights to the live coverage here.

I think you're right about the coverage, Keith. When I started the thread I hadn't read the piece about coverage on the Cycling Weekly website. Apparently Boardman could hardly walk the day after beating Merckx's record, so Jens may be say "shut up legs" for a while :)

[MikeMusic]

The interesting bit I read was that on a solid hour of flat out exertion with no rest at all the body starts to go haywire.

Mind you Jens must have done that in breakaways

[keiths]

I think you're right about the coverage, Keith. When I started the thread I hadn't read the piece about coverage on the Cycling Weekly website. Apparently Boardman could hardly walk the day after beating Merckx's record, so Jens may be say "shut up legs" for a while :)
Yes, Boardman looked to be in a right mess when he finished - it took him ages to get off the bike and when he eventually managed to speak into the microphone that had been thrust into his face he said if anyone saw him on a bike again with a number on his back could they please shoot him!

[keiths]

Watching now online via a VPN. Appears ahead of schedule at 10k.

[keiths]

Smashed it - 51.115 km

[mr sneff]

Smashed it - 51.115 km
Amazing, I knew he had the legs, wasn't so sure how he cope with the discipline of the track. Wonder what someone like Wiggins with his track experience could do?

[keiths]

I suspect it will be advanced again fairly soon - it's really an initial benchmark as the UCI rule changes moved the goalposts. I think the time trial specialists and track riders will be able to beat Jens' distance.

[MikeMusic]

Well done Jens

Who's next ?

Tony Martin or Spartacus, Tom Boonen even ?

[Wudge]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bx3OtWxCUAMFpoS.jpg

[MikeMusic]

Yes !

Jens deserves that more than any sportsmen I can think of