Wiggins reveals details of hour attempt
Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins is on track to take a run at the hour record next summer, and he'll likely do it in Mallorca
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
Bradley Wiggins (Sky) always does things his way, so it shouldn’t come as a complete surprise that the 2012 Tour de France winner is mapping out an unconventional calendar for the coming season.
The Sky rider has already confirmed that he is turning his focus back to the track, with the ultimate goal of striking gold during the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games to close out his racing career.
But first comes a run at Paris-Roubaix and an attempt at the hour record.
According to a report in the Diario de Mallorca, Wiggins has already mapped out details, and wants to take on his hour-record attempt in July or August, most likely on the Palma Arena velodrome in Mallorca.
The newspaper reported Wiggins agreed with Joan Llaneras, the former Olympic champion who now runs the Mallorca velodrome, that he would make his hour attempt on the Spanish island.
Wiggins has strong links to Mallorca, where he often trains, and owns a vacation home. The news came following a party at his favorite haunt, Tolo’s in Port de Pollença, that celebrated Wiggins’ world time trial title won in September.
The report cited a conversation between Wiggins and Llaneras to draw up plans on how to take on the hour record.
At his last major press conference after winning the time trial title, Wiggins confirmed his intention to challenge the hour record.
“Give one good effort, prepare for it specifically, and really do it right,” Wiggins said in September. “This time next year, it will be less than one year from the Olympic Games, so I will be in full track mode. I cannot imagine I will make the trip to American for worlds next year [in Richmond, Virginia], and post-Rio, I will not go to Qatar. I will be 37. I will be old enough to race masters. This will be the last one.”
The hour record was already on Wiggins’ horizon before the latest surge of interest in the historic mark. Jens Voigt revived the hour record effort, setting a new mark in September, only to be bettered by Matthias Brandle, who rode 51.852km in October.