Ineo Grenadiers rider Filippo Ganna has confirmed that he will take on the hour record in a matter of weeks. Following on from Dan Bigham’s successful attempt earlier in the year, Ganna will now try to beat his Ineos colleague in Grenchen on 8th October 2022.
Dan Bigham pushed the record up to 55.548km in beating Victor Campenaerts’ former record. The Ineos Grenadiers Performance Engineer fulfilled a long-term goal by finally beating the record after a missed unofficial attempt the year before due to not being on the blood passport system.
The odds are that Filippo Ganna will set a new hour record on the 8th of October 2022. The 2-time world time trial champion has a proven record of being one of the fastest riders against the clock currently.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge, even though it’s going to be an hour of pure suffering. It will be interesting to see how my body holds up, and just how far I can go – it’s a chance to really test your physical and mental limits. To undertake a prestigious event like this is an important step in my career.
I have been training on the new Pinarello bike and it’s super-fast – I love it. It’s another step on from the already high level we have with our equipment. The Team puts so much energy and effort into these projects, and our partners, from Pinarello and the new prototype bike, to a fully customised skinsuit made by Bioracer – they’ve done their part so now it’s my turn. I’m going to feel really good stepping into that velodrome. Mentally that’ll already give me some extra metres.”
Filippo Ganna
As usual, sponsors help to make the hour record a reality, with a large amount of kit and research going into each record attempt. Pinarello will let Ganna use the same adapted Pinarello Bolide F that Bigham used and BioRacer will also be putting forward their Katana skinsuit.
“We have been building towards this exciting event during the last year. There have been so many layers of thought gone into the planning of this event so we can ensure Filippo arrives at the start line in Switzerland with the best equipment for the greatest chance of success. When it comes to taking on events like this we leave nothing to chance – constantly refining what and how we do things is part of the genetic makeup of the INEOS Grenadiers team. It’s inspiring to work alongside some of the best brains in the business. It’s that kind of care and consideration that shows our athletes how much we want them to do well.”
Rod Ellingworth