Breaking the Hour: Dan Bigham | INEOS Grenadiers | Behind the scenes

One year on from Dan Bigham's epic UCI Hour Record attempt, we take an in-depth look at the dedication, preparation and execution required to break one of cycling's most prestigious records.

[@francesco5254]

As an Italian I will always cheer for Ganna, but there is something about Dan's dedication to find every subtle performance improvement that fascinates me. Sure he is genetically speaking a top athlete, but in some way, he is less "superhuman" than Ganna. He is all about pure efficiency. He is not particularly tall or particularly full of muscles. He rides in an extreme aero position to compensate for his power deficit with respect to his more powerful competitors. During races, he always gives it all, sometimes maybe even a little bit too much. He is always so focused, so determined, yet so humble. I have great respect for him and for what he achieved.

[@danbigham6184]

Thank you, that really means a lot! 🙏🏼

[@Flashback_Jack]

Pinarello is the best looking track bike out there, followed by France's Look.

[@velobey7832]

Being tall and having lots of muscles are not directly affecting your performance in time trial like this. It is lungs, veins, O2 uptake, get out of Co2 efficiently and yeah HEART and resistance against mental fatigue. There is no guy in top 10 who is not riding in extreme aero position.

[@christellelemaire9749]

Super ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@JACOPOMORTILLA]

Fully agree with that ❤

[@ellipticalsoul]

"you're only fast because you're aero" is a funny criticism, if it was that easy we'd all do it haha

[@bitchoflivingblah]

For me he's up there with Graeme Obree, both mavericks, both men who had to fight the system, who the system (British Cycling & UCI) tried to break and failed, who triumphed through sheer will, determination and ingenuity.

[@stricardo1]

If Dan hadn't broken the record he knew that he had done everything that he could to break it - which is why he did break it. A truly inspiring performance. Chapeau!

[@dantelobue]

Such an incredible documentary. What an incredible scientist and athlete. Well done! Hope to see a documentary like this on Gannas

[@INEOSGrenadiers]

🙏

[@emilegoguely4032]

Ganna's would be a lot less interesting, I'd still watch it

[@jimhansen5395]

They just did Ganna less than a year ago...

[@ethangodridge6833]

What a guy and what a team effort and performance.

[@philipk4475]

Dan is an absolute legend of the sport. What an achievement for a "mere" mortal!

[@chrispyy606060606]

Brilliant video. We’ve now gone from marginal gains to microscopic gains. Love the discussion on core temp, warmup protocol etc. Those aero sleeves/undershirt was interesting too.

[@molokocycling]

I've been following Dan's story for years, what an inspiration. A humble legend who's very happy to share his knowledge - unique in the cycling world.

[@federicomurero]

Beautiful to see! Thanks for sharing it! Great job Dan, you've made it seem effortless

[@urbangardan1]

Congratulations and thank you for this - can't wait to see how far you go in Mexico!

[@andyashton3605]

Great insight and amazing to watch Dan break the record

[@JustinRoy-jb8rf]

Incredible! Well done to Dan and his whole team

[@galibierfinebikewear]

Loved this and as a fella with 30 years racing, learned loads, so thanks

[@iangreenstreet1407]

Very interesting- amazing the amount of work and detail involved

[@stevewood255]

Great insight, an amazing performance 👏

[@velobey7832]

Absolute dedication and commitment. Bravo

[@CatManDoSocial]

Fantastic. Thanks for sharing that. Amazing athlete and seems like a great person to boot. Bravo.

[@user-ds5km3mt6j]

Great insight, an amazing performance . Congratulations Dan! Well deserved and well done!.

[@johnevans6399]

Thank you, lve learned so much more about the process snd about a charming youngish man, Dan Bigham.

[@crypto_que]

Congratulations Dan! Well deserved and well done!

[@BreakawayB]

🤩This is the best video I’ve stumbled upon all week.

[@dancostanza]

The ruthless execution of a true professional.

[@mvp_kryptonite]

Fantastic effort and congratulations! Enjoyed the watch and keep the gains going

[@Darkswatt21]

What an amazing guy and documentary. Being a follower of this absolute monster of Dan since the truly missed days of the Huub Wattbike track team I can only say Chapeau for this ride you are truly an inspiring man (not forgetting Johnny as well) and really opened the aero gates for me. I am amazed to see what you were actually doing before evey world tour team in terms of aero innovations. Huge congrats for this ride and actually on the recent track world's too ! You'll get this Italian one day !

[@AlexDowsettOfficial]

Great documentary, really enjoyed that!

[@nigelgittins]

Wow. Love Dan. Down to earth yet driven by numbers. Can call himself a world record holder❤🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@BenjiNaesenTV]

That paint suit looks like absolute torture.

[@KonnoOC]

The skin suit on the other side looks dope

[@INEOSGrenadiers]

Dan can certainly attest to this!

[@riyadhkhamis1335]

Amazing work, and his dedication to the sport is remarkable,,

[@peterderidder9922]

Now it is gana's turn ! this is a great performance well done Dan , lots of respect ! ! ! !

[@richardcarr6493]

WOW HE DID MAKE IT LOOK EASY but that was his dedication to stay consistent efficient from start to finish GREAT JOB DAN !!

[@1unsung971]

OUTSTANDING discipline. Wonderful appliance of science. BRAVO TEAM, BRAVO.

[@colinthemystic]

A tale straight from the Bhagavad Gita. Surrender to the process and let the chips fall where they may. Even surrender to the end goal and focus only on what you can control. A true inspiration.

[@themonkeycagers]

I have maybe watched this video 20+ times I pick up on some new details every single time.

[@jean-jacqueslavigne3109]

What a tremendously impressive performance. Kudos to the entire team. That how we get rockets to the moon and Moser look slow (and slow, never he was!!)

[@mortigard]

That's pretty inspirational stuff! It makes me want to get out and ride my bike!

[@thewhitecarrot]

Watched the intro. Liked it already!

[@stephensmith3704]

What an incredibly insightful documentary. So many things that the 'average joe' wouldn't even consider: core temp, aero sleeves, sweat suit training etc... Today's Obree perhaps 🤔 A phenomenal achievement from Dan, chapeau 👏👏

[@tomwellby2394]

amazing good on ya , up there with the greats

[@jayel27]

Well done! Congrats! 🚴🚴🚴

[@firsthippy]

Love the Hour Record and seeing Dan's approach. But those drops of water on the helmet man, I winced, so many watts! :D

[@beermonster1234]

This was a great video, and congrats to Dan yet again but woah… 2kg of ice slush 😵

[@alisonwilks302]

Absolutely brillian!!! I will be channelling you tomorrow on zwift❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@willisnjim]

Amazing. Thanks for sharing. So crazy seeing yr training and prep. Congrats!🎉

[@TriathlonDan]

This. Was. Mint. I feel the same way about the Via Gelia KOM, 6 years time it'll be mine ;)

[@normalmrniceguy2746]

Congratulations!!!

[@ryanriversSES]

Such a legend!

[@user-uo9gj7bs1s]

From all the riders that have had the privilege to ride on a Velodrome as I did in the early 60s at Reading outdoor Velodrome on my fixed wheel Claud Butler, ( very well done a prestigious record, fantastic

[@wanderalmeida9584]

Greatness 👏👏

[@ironmantooltime]

Pretty much how I get ready for every ride really, couple of pints of slush and I'm out the door 🤘

[@INEOSGrenadiers]

Yep, watch out for brain freeze though! 🥶

[@mtzlolp]

what was the slush - assuming some sort of energy powder mix @@INEOSGrenadiers

[@RudiDwiHartanto]

absolute brilliant mind, that johnny wale chap

[@michaelhotten752]

Dan is an absolute hero.

[@parichitbagga]

Your career/results may not be on the top end of the sport, but your persona, ability to inspire and hard work ethic are beyond anyone else. Put this behind.

[@FlaminalLow]

So cool!

[@stevefox7469]

Great doco.

[@barmouthbridge8772]

Presumably other nations have their own secret squirrel clubs. The British (Obree) have this historical link to time trialling perhaps in a way other cycling nations don't. This I reckon partly led to the innovation from the likes of Mike Burrows with his ground breaking TCR design for frames that became the norm. Then Graham Obree really started the focus on aero that then led to Boardman and his superman position that got so much progress and attention the UCI banned it. This chap is the new standard bearer for innovation. It's to be applauded.

[@matejlieskovsky9625]

Even before Obree, UCI banned recumbents for being too aero. The human-powered hour record is a lot higher than the UCI one.

[@keithbreaux612]

Remarkable effort! I disagree with his trainer saying Dan is average.

[@MarcoTrillion]

Freaken! Awesome!

[@jeronimosuarez7957]

Unreal! 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@secretagent86]

BRavo Dan, in history books forever

[@paulsolon6229]

He did it Way to go

[@wattswheelhouse]

"You're only fast 'cause you're aero" Whoever said that is currently eating heaps of slush, trying to be half as fast as Biggles.

[@johnnyboy4711]

so close in WCs against Ganna,i was gunning for him!

[@petercotterill5105]

I have seen nobody who looks as aero as Dan. Half man, half bullet

[@itsianwood]

Amazing feat but such a pity he only held the record for 7 weeks, ...after all that effort! Couldn't Ganna have given him 6 months to bask at least! :-)

[@robatkins6432]

as far as i understand it they knew when Ganna was going to do his record atempt and did this record before him on purpose!

[@kr7epj4x]

​@@robatkins6432my understanding was that they did this as a bit of a test run for Ganna, it's all the same sponsors so it's not like they pulled a fast one, I think they wanted Dan here to iron out all the little testing, then transfer all that knowledge to the absolute specimen that is the Italian to knock it out of the park, which he ended up doing.

[@filda2005]

@@kr7epj4ximagine the preassure for Ganna if he fails after all this and that they did for him

[@broersporco]

It all looks so easy . But so mutch hard work on everthing. All the dedecation into it . Chapeau!!

[@tednruth453]

What a pro! 😊

[@sasha371]

An Obree of the current day!

[@dana5865]

Simply it is an hour of valiant torture.

[@simondavis697]

Fair play to that man!

[@markash4987]

Dan represents everything that made this country punch above its weight for so long. Engineering prowess, can do attitude, change mindset and grit. Love it

[@danbigham6184]

Thanks!

[@secretagent86]

The world championships 4 km vs filipo was totally mind bending awesome

[@whinerayarries3783]

What an inspiration for an “average guy” to do this. Wow!

[@frafoz]

I love watching humans break their limits whatever those are!

[@jonb3311]

Gallons of Slush! Surprised his bonce didn't split in half with the pain.

[@edwin.jansen]

Wondering how you are going to know where the corner starts in that position.

[@SeatSniffer2000]

bro had the record for 1 month. Filippo Ganna also supported by Ineos smashed his record by like 1.2km. very shortly after.

[@simonwilton3546]

Wonder how far Wiggins would have got with that perfection of position etc.

[@branislavtrninic4505]

If Mr. Merckx had such facilities, prep, budget, etc, the lot of you'd be in his dust, Moser, Boardman, Ganna, you, the lot

[@darinsteele7091]

some serious core strength is needed to hold that position for that lol

[@readrepairs]

Incredible. What was the decision not to have a bigger audience?

[@danbigham6184]

To enable pure focus on the task at hand.

[@andrewsterne3138]

Was Ganna doing all of this? For some reason i just imagined he hopped the bike and gave it a rip haha

[@fang_uk]

Respect Dan! #DanTheMan

[@montauta]

I wanna watch Poggi try the HR

[@joskoevoet9569]

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@danielsiapin]

I'd be interested to know who has the record for 1 hour and 1 minute

[@NielsDeBoeck]

INEOS Grenadiers

[@oosbando]

What's the music? Please

[@adamcoatham]

“You’re only fast ‘cos….. you’re absolutely f’ing RAPID!!” Great video and a great journey - longer director’s cut now please 😁

[@TopShelfTennis]

What was his NP for the hour?

[@MedicRN]

Pinarello...best bikes ever

[@peterneumann7145]

Why was the velodrome empty ?

[@danbigham6184]

To allow me to focus on the effort without distraction from my three key controllables.

[@tristanwatson55]

Mega

[@alisonleach1552]

Well done have a cup of tea

[@kixigvak]

Since we're speaking English here,..,how far was that in miles?

[@paulwall5706]

👍🇺🇸👍

[@Morhaw]

Anybody know if the UCI have set a temperature for the velodrome? Surely it would benefit the riders to have a colder track?

[@jebewok8118]

Velodromes are usually heated because riders need warm muscles to function optimally (hence warm-ups), so a cold velodrome would be pretty unhelpful

[@Morhaw]

@@jebewok8118 thanks for the info, what about when the rider is going all blazes? Could the temperature be dropped then? He spoke a lot about having to adjust to the heat

[@jebewok8118]

@Morhaw I'm not entirely sure, but the challenge is keeping core temp low and muscle temp high (using the rider's energy to heat up the muscles would be counterproductive) so I'm guessing that cooling down the velodrome would be unhelpful, or maybe they do do that? I'm not sure. Another point might be that heat correlates with air density.

[@Morhaw]

@@jebewok8118 you want lower air density so you can move through it faster? That’s why they do a lot of these hour records at altitude

[@jebewok8118]

@@Morhaw exactly

[@paulsolon6229]

I do not understand: how did the rider know where he was, up or down on record? Why did someone not walk the track during the hr to show him how far up or down he was?

[@danbigham6184]

Verbal communication from my coach each lap with my lap split, then every 5 minutes on my overall pace relative to the plan.

[@paulsolon6229]

@@danbigham6184 well I don’t understand. Each lap you got split? That’s too much info. Rather approx every 2-3 laps how many secs/distance up or down on record. Isn’t that what o Ritter did, have someone standing and moving on inside lane track to show visibly where rider was vs record. Anyway you know what you are doing obviously so the info was given rt way for you. Is it too much confidentiality/team secrets/hard work over a yr or more to give away to a nobody to ask What wheels What tire pressure What width What chain, didn’t Wiggins spend 13,000 pounds on his chain? Who was your chief mechanic? Did you have race bike and train bike? Bottom bracket? Hubs? Both from that danish? ti company? Cranks? Ti? Crank length? Gearing? Front chain ring manufacturer? Size? Hand made? Handlebar manufacture. One off? Helmet? Pedals? Shoes? Bioracer suit? Can’t you beat Ganna if you go to Aquascalientes? will team disallow that b c they want him to have record. Why didn’t you go to recent worlds tt? Why don’t you do worlds pursuit? Do you not lift weights? I think you strech a lot, do you lift? I go for 100 mile record again, once healthy, v sick and v injured, on a tri bike b c it’s not uci record

[@secretagent86]

I think the actual distance is estimated by some sort of average of the last two laps?..is that right? I wish they would go i to this in detail

[@lukefarren3409]

Tester!