Bring on 2012!
Jack Bobridge – defending national champion in the discipline – rode the third fastest time ever in a sizzling qualifying ride over four kilometres. He posted a time of 4:14.427, knocking six tenths off the time set by Welsh cyclist Gerraint Thomas at the Manchester round of the World Cup in October last year.
It’s also faster than the 4:16.304 time set by Britain’s reigning Olympic Champion Bradley Wiggins during his gold medal ride in Athens.
The only rider who has gone faster than Bobridge over the distance is Boardman, who set the world record time of 4:11.114 at the 1996 World Championships in Manchester. That mark was set using the aerodynamic ‘Superman’ position that has since been banned, which means Bobridge is effectively the fastest rider in the world over four kilometres under the current rules.