Essential fan viewing guide for May 23rd
Time is ticking down until Ellen van Dijk takes on the UCI Hour Record timed by Tissot – in one week Ellen will take to the boards at the Tissot Velodrome in Grenchen with the dream of writing her name into the history books. Here’s everything you need to know about the big day.
What is the Hour Record?
Exactly what it says on the tin! It’s the maximum distance that a cyclist can ride in exactly 60 minutes. Attempts to break the record are recorded at indoor velodromes (banked wooden oval tracks) as there is less air resistance. Currently, Joss Lowden holds the female record with 48.405 kilometers whilst Victor Campenaerts holds the men’s record at 55.089 kilometers.
Where will it be?
Ellen’s Hour will take place Tissot Velodrome in Grenchen, Switzerland. The 250-meter track is no stranger to hour record attempts: current record holder Joss Lowden claimed the record here, in addition to former men’s record holders Jens Voigt and Rohan Dennis.
Ellen cruising in her rainbow stripes.
How can I watch it?
The event will start at 5PM CEST on Monday May 23rd. We’ll be livestreaming the entire hour right here on the Trek Race Shop website and on our YouTube channel. If you live nearby, or fancy a road trip, you can come to spectate and cheer for Ellen! Entry will be free for everyone.
Won’t it be boring to watch Ellen ride in circles for an hour?
Hell no! Ellen is the World Time Trial champion, watching her ride the Speed Concept is poetry in motion. It’s going to be 60 minutes of nerves, adrenaline and will she/won’t she tension. Throughout the hour we’ll have cutaways to explain the effort that has gone into Ellen’s preparation, equipment and clothing.
And the best bit? The familiar faces of Lizzie Deignan and Jens Voigt will be commentating live from Grenchen – between them they know a fair bit about how to suffer on a bike!
What bike will Ellen ride?
You’ll have to wait and see what the Trek engineers have cooked up…
Anything else we should know?
We have fundraising for a local charity called Greenhope whose work helps children with cancer to enjoy happy moments with their families. There will be a chance to donate online or at the velodrome during Ellen’s Hour, and we will match every donation made.
