| Chris Boardman is probably Britain's most succesful | | | | athletic performance of this record. |
| cyclist of all time with 3 World Hour Records, an | | | | Chris Boardman - Tour De FranceChris devoted the |
| Olympic Gold and holder of the prestiguous yellow | | | | last 5 years of his professional career to try and |
| jersey in the Tour De France. During his peak Chris | | | | suceed in the Tour De France. Chris experienced |
| was virtually unbeatable in time trials (racing against | | | | mixed fortunes. 3 times he won the opening prologue |
| the clock)Chris initially rode for one of the UK's top | | | | time trial, enabling him to wear the coverted yellow |
| amateur clubs - The Manchester Wheelers. On the | | | | jersey. However in 1995 Chris crashed in the opening |
| domestic time trial scene he won over 30 national | | | | prologue, breaking his ankle and missing most of the |
| titles including National 10, 25, 50, and National Hill | | | | rest of the season. He also crashed badly in the 1998 |
| Climb Championships. Only Scotland's Graham Obree | | | | Tour (after winning the prologue. (1998 the year of |
| was able to challenge Chris in domestic time | | | | the Festina crisis)After he set this remarkable record |
| trials.ALthough Chris specialised in time trials he also | | | | the UCI decided to change the rules about |
| turned his attention to road racing and also competed | | | | technology that could be used for setting an hour |
| in track disciplines, In the 1992 Olympics Chris was a | | | | record. Basically they reverted back to 1970s |
| gold medallist in the 4,000 metres pursuit. It was this | | | | technology when E.Merckx set the record. Rules |
| Gold medal performance that launched Chris into the | | | | included no tribars no disc wheels e.t.c. Chris decided |
| public light.In 1993 Chris Boardman broke the World | | | | to try and break this record as a final swansong to |
| Hour Record. Initially he had been planning to break F. | | | | his professional career.Riding at the Manchester |
| Moser's mark of 51.1 KM. However Graham Obree | | | | Velodrome (at Sea Level) Chris just managed to |
| managed to beat this record just before Chris's | | | | break E.Merckx record setting a mark of 49.441In |
| attempt. However unduanted Chris broke both | | | | 1998 Chris Boardman was diagnosed with a form of |
| Moser's and Obree's new record setting a mark of | | | | osteoperosis, making it difficult to train for long |
| 52.2 KM. This led to an unprecendented increase in | | | | periods at high intensity. This needed treatment with |
| the World Hour Record. Both Tony Rominger and | | | | drugs prohibited by the UCI therefore Chris decided |
| Miguel Indurain set new records taking the record to | | | | to retire.Chris Boardman says he always rode without |
| 55 KM. Then in Manchester 1996 Chris set a new | | | | the use of performance enhancing drugs because he |
| World Hour adding over 1 KM to the mark set by | | | | didn't want to damage his health. Some |
| Tony Rominger. The New World Hour record now | | | | commentators have suggested this is why he |
| stands at 56.375KM - a mark that has not been | | | | struggled relatively in the Tour when it went into the |
| broken | | | | mountains. Of course this effect is impossible to |
| Chris Boardman's World Hour Record of 56.375 KMIn | | | | quantify but Chris always maintained a degree of |
| this photo Chris is riding a position known as the | | | | honesty and integrity when many other professionals |
| "Superman " Position this is because his arms are | | | | resorted to the use of drugs (e.g. Festina team |
| outstretched. This position is particularly aerodynamic | | | | 1998). |
| but this shouldn't detract from the spectacular | | | | |