Jack Bobridge races to pursuit record

 

Roar Rookie

By darrenandrews, 4 Feb 2010 darrenandrews is a Roar Rookie

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 Australian track cycling championships, Cycling, Jack Bobridge

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South Australian Jack Bobridge has recorded the second fastest 4km individual pursuit ride ever, and the only faster time would not be legal under today’s racing rules.

Bobridge, 20, posted a sizzling time of 4 minutes and 14.427 seconds during a qualifying ride today in the Australian Championships at Adelaide’s Super-Dome.

The only rider who has gone faster than Bobridge is Chris Boardman, who set the world record time of 4min11.114sec at the 1996 World Championships in Manchester.

But that was set using an aerodynamic stretched-out position, which is now banned.

Bobridge trimmed six tenths off the time set by Welsh cyclist Gerraint Thomas at the Manchester round of the World Cup in October last year.

The time is also faster than the Olympic record set by Britain’s reigning Olympic Champion Bradley Wiggins in Beijing.

“It is fantastic, to come here and do that today, after my form prior to January was a bit off,” said Bobridge. “To be able to set a new personal best and quickest time since the superman position is an awesome thrill.

“But to come away with the win is the goal at the end of the day.”

The ride has also given Bobridge the Australian and All-Comers records. wiping Brad McGee’s 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games time (4min16.358sec) and Germany’s Robert Bartko’s Sydney Olympic Games time (4min18.515sec) from the Australian record book.

Bobridge’s ride eclipsed a mighty effort from fellow young South Aussie Rohan Dennis, 19, clocking 4min15.764sec to earn a place in the gold medal final.

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