One Irish rider has already set a new national Masters hour record this week and now another is going for the world record. Colin Lynch's ride takes place on Saturday on the Manchester velodrome.
Twice a world champion and only very narrowly beaten for a Paralympic medal at London 2012, Colin Lynch will this weekend attempt to capture the world hour record.
Lynch’s bid in Manchester on Saturday comes just one week after John Madden (Dig Deep Coaching) set a new Irish Masters hour record of 45.7km on the same track.
The Irish veteran came to within 466 metres of besting the elite mark set by former international road man Tommy Evans in 1999.
Now Lynch is going for the world record in his MC2 paracycling class. That record is 41.31km and was set in 1999 by Laurent Thirionet.
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The Irish international knows the French rider well as it was he who bet Lynch by just one tenth of a second for the bronze medal at the London Paralympics in the individual pursuit.
Lynch’s left leg was amputated below the knee aged 21-years after complications following a broken foot six years earlier and a tumour being discovered on his spinal cord.
He won the Paracycling World Championship road time trial title in 2011 and the Paracycling individual pursuit track title in 2012.
On the road and racing against the clock in his world champion's kit having won the time trial title in 2011.
He is currently preparing for the Rio Paralympics and is hoping his hour attempt will help shine the spotlight on paracycling for the next World Championships in March in Italy and for the Rio Paralympics.
His hour record attempt has been in the planning stages for over a year, with dedicated training taking place over the last two months, as well as a painful hour dry run.
Lynch spent time at altitude working on his endurance during the summer and has recently spent several weeks fine-tuning his position and putting in extended periods of time riding the track in Palma.
“To be honest, I just want to get it over with,” he said.
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“It’s weighed on my mind now for so long. I really just want to get up there, do it, be successful and get it over with.”
He did a dry run in August and while he rode the first 20 minutes comfortably to target, he wilted and was delirious in the last 15 minutes.
About to launch himself into road time trial action at the London 2012 Paralympics (Photo: Brian Lawless - Sportsfile)
“I know exactly how hard it’s going to be and how much it’s going to hurt,” he said. “But I also know I can do it.”
He said going for the hour was “a different animal” compared to aiming for world titles on road or track.
“Something like this is mentally and physically tougher,” he explained.
“You have to remember why you’re doing it. You just can’t stop. You can’t take a break.
“You can’t let up and decide to go harder again. Track riding doesn’t work that way. So yeah I’m nervous but I’m also confident.
“Most paracyclists aren’t aware that these records and opportunities exist,” he added.
“So it’s not something that they would really think about doing.
"We all sit there and watch the Bradley Wiggins in the world do these records, but they don’t realise they could be having a go at it themselves.”
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