A racing machine costing 60,000 euros, a perfectly fitting aerodynamic racing suit and a velodrome heated to 28 degrees: Filippo Ganna left nothing to chance in his almost unbelievable hour world record.
In the end, the two-time time-trial world champion measured 56.792 kilometers in Grenchen, Switzerland, practically smashing the old record of Briton Dan Bigham (55.548).
But “Top Ganna”, as the Italian is called, is far from enough with his speed rush. “Next time I’ll try at a different time of the season when the legs are even fresher,” said Ganna, who “suffered” but was “happy” in the end, having managed “one of the toughest challenges in the world”. to have. Next time he wants to cover more than 57 kilometers.
On May 11, 1893, hardly anyone would have thought that this mark would be reached when Henri Desgrange set the first hour world record in Paris with 35.325 kilometers. After that it just kept going: Eddy Merckx, Francesco Moser and Miguel Indurain, among others, improved the record. There were always rule adjustments from the world association. But nobody managed 56.792 kilometers.
It was no coincidence that Ganna succeeded. The 26-year-old is one of the best time trialists in the world. The Italian won the title in this discipline in 2020 and 2021 and in recent years has won numerous stages in a race against the clock in some tours. In addition, he was four times world champion in the single pursuit on the track. Number five is to follow next week at the World Championships in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines.
