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