Lowden smashes Hour record

Perfect pacing makes historic effort look easy, reports Vern Pitt

- Vern Pitt

To a spirited, if small, round of applause, British rider Joss Lowden set a new women’s Hour record in the Tissot Velodrome in Grenchen, Switzerland, last Thursday.

The Drops-Le Col rider covered a distance of 48.405km in the alloted time to smash the record of Italian Vittoria Bussi set at 48.007km in 2018.

So strong was it that she also beat the best human effort record of 48.159km set by Jeannie Longo in 2000 using the now banned ultra-aero superwoman position.

Lowden paced her effort perfectly and after the first few laps, when she found her rhythm, never dropped below record pace and only looked mildly troubled by the effort during the final 10 minutes. She becomes the first British woman to hold the record.

As she pulled to a stop on the apron and saw the distance, she remarked, with tongue firmly in cheek, that maybe she was “a bit lazy”.

Her overwhelming emotion upon finishing was relief. “The last few days after the Worlds have been stressful,” she said. She added she had enjoyed the experience too, though. “I’m not the most gushy emotional person, anyway. I’m pleased that it has been fun. I’ve had a good day, I think everyone’s been cheerful, it’s been a nice atmosphere.”

Low-key event

The small Swiss town of Grenchen where the Tissot Velodrome resides is used to hosting record attempts. It’s where Rohan Dennis and Jens Voigt both set Hour records, and banners depicting them hang in the rafters. Lowden’s image is now set to be added to them.