Chris Boardman is probably Britain’s most successful cyclist of all time. Chris broke 3 World Hour Records, won an Olympic Gold and was holder of the prestigious yellow jersey in the Tour De France. During his peak Chris was virtually unbeatable in time trials.
As a British time triallist, I gain alot of inspiration from Chris Boardman’s career. Chris began his career racing in the same races we still ride today. Chris won many national titles including 3 hill climb championships. It was a combination of exceptional ability and great determination that enabled Chris to make the jump from a British champion to a world champion and continental pro. It is a jump very few British cyclists have made. Also in a time when drug taking was rife, I always felt great sincerity when Chris Boardman said he didn’t take performance enhancing drugs. It is revealing what one ex pro said. “At the time all pros were taking drugs, oh except Chris Boardman”. (This quote is unofficial and I can’t even remember the cyclist who said it.
Chris Boardman’s Early Career
Chris initially rode for one of the UK’s top amateur clubs - The Manchester Wheelers. On the domestic time trial scene he won over 30 national titles including National 10, 25, 50, and National Hill Climb Championships. Only Scotland’s Graeme Obree was able to challenge Chris in domestic time trials. The media helped to create a sense of rivalry between the two top cyclists of a generation; I think this rivalry was exagerated and I think it’s fair to say they both respected each other.
Although Chris specialised in time trials he also turned his attention to road racing and competed in track disciplines, In the 1992 Olympics Chris was a gold medallist in the 4,000 metres pursuit. It was this Gold medal performance that launched Chris into the public light
Chris Boardman riding to Olympic Gold in the Barcelona Olympics
In 1993 Chris Boardman broke the World Hour Record. Initially he had been planning to break F. Moser’s mark of 51.1 KM. However Graham Obree managed to beat this record just before Chris’s attempt. Undaunted Chris broke both Moser’s and Obree’s new record setting a mark of 52.2 KM. This led to an unprecedented increase in the World Hour Record. Both Tony Rominger and Miguel Indurain set new records taking the record to 55 KM. Then in Manchester 1996 Chris set a new World Hour adding over 1 KM to the mark set by Tony Rominger. The New World Hour record now stands at 56.375KM - a mark that has not been broken
Chris Boardman’s World Hour Record of 56.375 KM
In this photo Chris is riding a position known as the “Superman ” Position this is because his arms are outstretched. This position is particularly aerodynamic. Although, Chris (like other cyclists, took every aerodynamic advantage) this should not detract from the spectacular athletic performance of this record.
Chris Boardman - Tour De France
Chris devoted the last 5 years of his professional career to try and succeed in the Tour De France. Chris experienced mixed fortunes. 3 times he won the opening prologue time trial, enabling him to wear the coveted yellow jersey. However in 1995 Chris crashed in the opening prologue, breaking his ankle and missing most of the rest of the season. He also crashed badly in the 1998 Tour (after winning the prologue. (1998 the year of the Festina crisis)
The Hour Again
After he set this remarkable record the UCI decided to change the rules about technology that could be used for setting an hour record. Basically they reverted back to 1970s technology when E.Merckx set the record. Rules included no tribars no disc wheels e.t.c. Chris decided to try and break this record as a final swansong to his professional career.Riding at the Manchester Velodrome (at Sea Level) Chris just managed to break E.Merckx record setting a mark of 49.441
In 1998 Chris Boardman was diagnosed with a form of osteoporosis, making it difficult to train for long periods at high intensity. This needed treatment with drugs prohibited by the UCI therefore Chris decided to retire.
Chris Boardman says he always rode without the use of performance enhancing drugs because he didn’t want to damage his health. Some commentators have suggested this is why he struggled relatively in the Tour when it went into the mountains. Of course this effect is impossible to quantify but Chris always maintained a degree of honesty and integrity when many other professionals resorted to the use of drugs (e.g. Festina team 1998).
Links
- The Fastest Man on Two Wheels In pursuit of Chris Boardman at Amazon.co.uk
- Buy Books about Chris Boardman
at Amazon.co.uk
- Chris Boardman - Unofficial fan page with many photos of Chris Boardman from his early days
- Chris Boardman on Lance Armstrong at the BBC
- Video of Chris Boardman at 1992 Olympics
17 comments ↓
just about to buy a bordman comp need to know am i over weight at 15 and a half stone , just started out on cycles. please can you let me know.
[...] More on Chris Boardman [...]
Dear Chris, I am a model maker and a keen cyclist. I saw a report on the news about team gb cycling and how they are intending to make the fastest bike to date for the olympic games. You were explaining about the wheels wheels etc..
I was wondering if I maybe able to help in some way with perhaps something promoting team gb cycling in the run up to the olympic games (perhaps a display model of the latest ‘fastest bike’?)
You can contact me via email or on 07879647089
Ed
[...] Chris Boardman was not just a great cyclist (and of the greatest time triallist ever) he was also keenly involved in developing bike technology and pushing the boundaries of what was possible to do with a road bike. [...]
Can you give me one of your mountain bike
thank your time Danny
[...] Park Rash is one of the steepest hill climbs in the UK. The ascent is 25% around a couple of hairpins and you can really feel the steepness. It was used as the National Hill climb championship in 1991 and was won by Chris Boardman. [...]
Cannot believe the comment that Boardman is probably Britains most successful cyclist of all time. he was not in the same class as Robert Millar.The tour de france, closely followed by the tour od italy and the tour of spain are cyclings “majors” and are considered by professional cyclists to be far more prestigious than the olympics. Millar had podium finishes, Mountains jersey wins and stage wins in all 3.Boardman did not once manage to finish a tour or win a stage in any of these events. A great track cyclist , without a doubt, but greatest british cyclist? You’re having a laugh.
What did Robert Millar win apart from the odd stage? 2nd in Giro and Vuelta (’87) (’86) is very impressive though.
In breaking the World Hour Record (3 times) Boardman beat the best of world cycling - Coppi, Anquetil, Merxkx, Indurain, Rominger, Baldini - not a bad collection of cyclists.
Let us say Boardman was ‘one of the best British cyclists’ - comparisons are always difficult.
Millar won the king of the mountains in the tour deFrance ( the first English speaker to do so) and the king of the mountains in the tour of italy.He also won the tour of catalonia, tour of britain,the dauphine libere and stages in tours of Switzerland,italy, Spain and Romandie. The major tours are where its at in cycling and Boardman did race the tour several times so there is a comparison to be made.Unfortunately its not a favourable one for Boardman.
RWM Food Group is hosting a Charity Challenge to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in the Poole area of Dorset on the 16th August 2008.
20 Teams of 4 are competing in a one day a series of gruelling physical activities.
Each team will have to – Run 6Km, Canoe a further
6Km, Cycle off road for 40k and then tackle a 1.5 hour Vertical Limit Rope Climb. The teams competing come from RWM, Tesco, Somerfield, Foyle Meats etc.
More details of this event can be found on our website http://www.rwmfoodgroup.com
In order to maximise fund raising as well as personal sponsorship we are running an auction to sell to the highest bidder, signed memorabilia, books, adventure days, sporting events and anything different that will raise more money for the charity.
We are wondering if you could help and maybe donate any signed memorabilia so that we can Auction it.
All monies raised from the challenge and the auction is going to Make-A- Wish, which grants wishes for terminally ill children, which can be anything from being a postman for the day to a Disney trip.
I hope you will be able to help in some way and look forwards to hearing from you.
[...] Chris Boardman’s world hour record attempt in 1996 he set a remarkable 56.375km. Even more interestingly he went [...]
[...] World Hour Record 1996 - 56.3Km. Smashing Tony Rominger’s existing record by over 1Km. Chris Boardman also beat Miguel Indurain’s 1994 record by 3Km. Although Chris Boardman was riding the [...]
[...] Chris Boardman [...]
[...] Chris Boardman [...]
[...] observations from others like Chris Boardman, but, it is most interesting to hear Graeme speak candidly and openly about his cycling career. It [...]
Dear Chris With the run up to the 2012 olympics I am pretty sure you and /or GB cycling are already trying to design an even more aerodynamic and efficient track back than ever before.
Can I help in anyway to help, promote launch it perhaps a feature model of it or something
I look forward to hearing from you.
Apologies for the miss spelling i did mean to say ‘track bike’
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