| Chris Boardman is probably Britain's most succesful | | | | mark that has not been broken. |
| cyclist of all time with 3 World Hour Records, an | | | | In this record attempt Chris rode a position known as |
| Olympic Gold and holder of the prestiguous yellow | | | | the "Superman Position" This is because his arms are |
| jersey in the Tour De France. During his peak Chris | | | | outstretched. This position is particularly aerodynamic |
| was virtually unbeatable in time trials (racing against the | | | | but this shouldn't detract from the spectacular athletic |
| clock) | | | | performance of this record. |
| Chris initially rode for one of the UK's top amateur | | | | Chris devoted the last 5 years of his professional |
| clubs - The Manchester Wheelers. On the domestic | | | | career to try and suceed in the Tour De France. Chris |
| time trial scene he won over 30 national titles including | | | | experienced mixed fortunes. 3 times he won the |
| National 10, 25, 50, and National Hill Climb | | | | opening prologue time trial, enabling him to wear the |
| Championships. Only Scotland's Graham Obree was | | | | coverted yellow jersey. However in 1995 Chris |
| able to challenge Chris in domestic time trials. | | | | crashed in the opening prologue, breaking his ankle and |
| ALthough Chris specialised in time trials he also turned | | | | missing most of the rest of the season. He also |
| his attention to road racing and also competed in track | | | | crashed badly in the 1998 Tour (after winning the |
| disciplines, In the 1992 Olympics Chris was a gold | | | | prologue. (1998 the year of the Festina crisis) |
| medallist in the 4,000 metres pursuit. It was this Gold | | | | After he set this remarkable record the UCI decided to |
| medal performance that launched Chris into the public | | | | change the rules about technology that could be used |
| light. | | | | for setting an hour record. Basically they reverted back |
| In 1993 Chris Boardman broke the World Hour Record. | | | | to 1970s technology when E.Merckx set the record. |
| Initially he had been planning to break F. Moser's mark | | | | Rules included no tribars no disc wheels e.t.c. Chris |
| of 51.1 KM. However Graham Obree managed to beat | | | | decided to try and break this record as a final |
| this record just before Chris's attempt. However | | | | swansong to his professional career.Riding at the |
| unduanted Chris broke both Moser's and Obree's new | | | | Manchester Velodrome (at Sea Level) Chris just |
| record setting a mark of 52.2 KM. This led to an | | | | managed to break E.Merckx record setting a mark of |
| unprecendented increase in the World Hour Record. | | | | 49.441 |
| Both Tony Rominger and Miguel Indurain set new | | | | In 1998 Chris Boardman was diagnosed with a form of |
| records taking the record to 55 KM. Then in | | | | osteoperosis, making it difficult to train for long periods |
| Manchester 1996 Chris set a new World Hour adding | | | | at high intensity. This needed treatment with drugs |
| over 1 KM to the mark set by Tony Rominger. The | | | | prohibited by the UCI therefore Chris decided to retire. |
| New World Hour record now stands at 56.375KM - a | | | | |