Aussie ace Rohan Dennis believes he can push the UCI Hour Record mark out towards at least 52.5km when he takes on the challenge in Grenchen on February 8.
Former track star Dennis – a team pursuit silver medallist at London 2012 – will attempt his hour record at the Velodrome Suisse, with compatriot Jack Bobridge scheduled to take it on later this month.
Given the current mark of 51.852km, set by Matthias Brandle in October, could well fall to Bobridge, Dennis has instead set an ambitious target distance and feels his track background stands him in good stead.
“When I look at my experience on the track and the numbers I have been doing on the track and road, it’s within reach.
“There’s a number in my head, 52.5km. I’d be happy with that but I’m trying to push towards 53km.”
A perennial contender against the clock during the 2014 season, Dennis switched from Garmin-Sharp to BMC Racing in August and helped his new team to world team time trial success in Ponferrada.
Like Bobridge, he will kick off his season on home roads at the Tour Down Under before turning his attention back to the hour record.
A stone’s throw from the BMC Switzerland headquarters in Grenchen, the event will be public and costs 25 CHF to attend – tickets are available here.
The event is scheduled to start at 2pm local time, with doors opening two hours earlier.
Dennis’ record could be short-lived, with Commonwealth Games time trial champion Alex Dowsett scheduled to attempt it just three weeks later, but the Brit’s ambitions have been thrown into chaos after he broke his collarbone in a training crash.
A decision is still to be made on whether he will take on the challenge at Revolution on Friday February 27, after he underwent surgery yesterday (Thursday January 15).
Sir Bradley Wiggins is also in line to attempt the UCI Hour Record in the summer, as he leaves Team Sky to turn his attention back to the track for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
