Update, 8th October: Filippo Ganna has set an incredible new Hour Record, riding 56.792km in 60 minutes, 1.244km further than teammate Dan Bigham.
'To arrive at this amazing goal is fantastic for me, and all the Ineos Grenadiers staff who worked for a long time to arrive at this result,' said Ganna.
'This morning I was thinking about just trying to break the record by one metre, but in the end I said why not try to do a new unified record. This result is amazing. 56.792 kilometres is not bad.'
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'Next time maybe I'll try in another part of the season with fresher legs and we can go higher again. This result is amazing. Now I'm thinking about recovery and trying to celebrate together with everyone here.'
Previous record holder and Ineos Grenadiers teammate/colleague Dan Bigham said, 'A massive kudos to Filippo for that historic ride. I know the commitment, determination and work that's needed to put in a performance like that. It's fantastic that this ambitious project came together on the night.
'Having my record beaten by Filippo was always part of the plan and it's great to have such a deserving teamate as the new record holder.'
Original story continues below…
Filippo Ganna will attempt to break the UCI Hour Record at 7pm BST this Saturday 8th October at the Tissot Velodrome in Grenchen, Switzerland.
The Italian, who has been hotly tipped to put the record out of sight for a few years, will be looking to break his Ineos Grenadiers teammate/colleague Dan Bigham’s current mark, who set a new distance of 55.548km in the same velodrome in August.
Ganna has won multiple World Championships in the individual time-trial on the road and individual pursuit on the track, so should be well suited to the challenge.
‘I’m looking forward to the challenge, even though it’s going to be an hour of pure suffering,’ says Ganna. ‘It will be interesting to see how my body holds up and just how far I can go. It’s a chance to really test your physical and mental limits. To undertake a prestigious event like this is an important step in my career.’
How to watch Filippo Ganna’s Hour record attempt
Ganna’s Hour record attempt will be broadcast in English from 18:45 BST on Ineos Grenadiers’ YouTube, Facebook and TikTok as well as on the UCI’s platforms and on GCN+ with commentary from Jez Cox and Michael Hutchinson.
There will also be Italian coverage on Eurosport 1 Italy and RAI Sport Italy.
Filippo Ganna’s Hour record bike
Ganna will be riding a very special new bike for the attempt, the Pinarello Bolide F HR 3D. It’s a ‘world first’ 3D printed frame customised for Ganna and has some rather crazy looking humpback whale-inspired aero wrinkes on the seat tube and seat post.
The bike will be paired with Most bar extensions, Princeton Carbonworks Track Special wheels, WattShop Cratus aero crank and chainring, Continental GP5000 TT tyres, an Izumi Kai chain and Fizik Ares TT saddle.
Photo: Pinarello
‘Constant innovation and research are the foundations of success if you want to build the fastest time-trial bike for the track,’ says Fausto Pinarello. ‘From Miguel Indurain’s world Hour record to the recent gold medals in the team pursuit in Tokyo, Pinarello has always set the gold standard in this segment.’
Filippo Ganna’s Hour record kit
Ganna will be wearing a Bioracer Katana skinsuit and Epic overshoes, and a Kask Bambino Pro Evo helmet fitted with an Aero Pro Visor. There will be Italian flags on his kit and helmet, with ‘Top Ganna’ on his back.
Unless stated otherwise all photos: Ineos Grenadiers
