BMC Racing Team’s Australian rider Rohan Dennis breaks the hour record with 52.491 kilometers (32.616 mi), beating Matthias Brändle’s record by over 600 meters, at the Velodrome Suisse in Grenchen, Switzerland.

Dennis used a 56×14 gear ratio while setting the new hour record. The previous record was 51.852 km (32.22 mi).

Rohan Dennis breaks the Hour Record
Rohan Dennis breaks the Hour Record: Riding on the Swiss track in Grenchen, the Australian rider was clearly faster than the previous record-holder, Austrian Matthias Brändle. He covered 40 kilometers in 45 minutes 26 seconds and continued to push his limits all the way until the hour mark. Although his average speed dropped slightly inside the last ten minutes, he had enough in hand to succeed.

The Australian was already ahead of Brändle’s pace even in the first kilometer, and after 20 minutes, his average speed was 52.6 km/h. By the halfway mark, he was even faster: 52.7 km/h. He continued to increase the page, by the time he reached the 40-minute mark, his average speed reached 57.8 km/h.

Finally, he passed Brändle’s 51.852 kilometers with over 90 seconds to spare, and from there, it was simply a matter of how much he could add to the record. He completed the hour with 52.491 kilometers (32.616 mi).

“I am pretty tired but really, really proud. BMC made it easy. The whole week leading into this was very stressless. There was no pressure. It was perfect for me. It almost felt easy, although it wasn’t. It is great.”

Rohan Dennis' Hour Record BMC bike
Rohan Dennis’ Hour Record bike: a customized BMC TrackMachine TR01. Dennis used a Shimano Dura-Ace crankset with an SRM power meter. The gear ratio was 56×14. The regular TrackMachine TR01 was designed for optimum aerodynamics within a velodrome, taking advantage of the constant zero-degree yaw wind and lack of crosswind interference. Highlights of the ‘SubA’ aero design include an integrated hinge fork, 3:1 teardrop truncated tube shapes, and flow disrupting ‘tripwire’ technology.
The p2p (position to perform) triangle concept stem allowed this aero advantage to be utilized in harmony with varying rider positions. The stock bike also weighs just 6.45kg, which BMC has had to increase to 6.8kg to meet UCI regulations.
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Related: Rohan Dennis breaks the fastest Tour de France Time Trial Record

Australian cyclists Jack Bobridge, Rohan Dennis, and Dutchman Thomas Dekker tried to break the Hour Record within a few weeks, between 31 January and 25 February 2015. Dennis was the only one of the three to set a new record, and in doing so was the first rider to cover more than 52 kilometers (32.3 mi).

Rohan Dennis breaks the Hour Record – full replay

BMC Racing Team Rider Rohan Dennis to attempt Hour Record in Grenchen, 8th February 2015.

Sources

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