“Hello, this is the world hour record holder’s voicemail.” You will hear this message for a while if Victor Campenaerts doesn’t answer his phone, because Alex Dowsett bit his teeth on the world hour record of our compatriot. But with Filippo Ganna there is still a dangerous privateer on the coast, Campenaerts realizes. “The question is not whether he will break it, but by how many meters.”
At 534 meters, the British Alex Dowsett fell short to steal the world hour record from Campenaerts. The record holder watched in suspense at home with his father and friends.
“Certainly the first half of the record was very exciting,” says Campenaerts. “After that there was a little more relief. When he was 10 seconds behind my schedule, I knew. I never stopped during my world hour record, so it is difficult to close another 10 seconds.”
Did Dowsett make mistakes? “His first 4 rounds were very fast, then I was a bit shocked,” Campenaerts admits. “After that he kept my pace for quite a while.”
“He made few mistakes. He drove with balls – that should also be the case with a record attempt – but then exploded. When you break the record, the euphoria prevails. I think with Dowsett the disappointment must be huge, and the physical pain hits very hard.”
I certainly would have given it to Dowsett, but I’ll give it a little more to myself.
Campenaerts looked at the record attempt with mixed feelings. “If Dowsett had broken it, I would certainly have awarded him the record,” said Campenaerts. “He’s a cool guy and it could have been the pinnacle of his career.”
“But of course I also hoped that I could keep the record a bit. I certainly would have awarded it to him, but I give it to myself a little more.”
However, the circumstances seemed somewhat in favor of the British speed rider. “He was already a world hour record holder and had prepared himself for 2 years. Moreover, the technology did not stand still.”
“These are marginal gains, but they can still make a few meters difference. It did not help and that proves that I have set a good record. And of course I am proud of that.”
And now waiting for Filippo Ganna…
After the world hour record attempt, Campenaerts does not immediately feel the itch to take his chance again. “I have changed my career. I am less concerned with time trials.”
“If I tried again now, I would have a hard time breaking my own record. Besides, I don’t have to, because the record is still in my name.”
The question is: how much longer? Because world champion time trial Filippo Ganna has the record in his head. “I fear that if Ganna makes an attack, it is not a question of whether he will break it, but with how many meters,” says Campenaerts.
“Ganna is an athlete of a different level than me or Dowsett. He is the best time trialist of the moment, maybe even the best ever. He is also the best chaser on the track. If he gives it a try, we will looking wide-eyed.”
Campenaerts and Dowsett made each other sweat
On Instagram, Campenaerts sprinkled some praise for Dowsett. “I was honored to see Dowsett give it his all. Much respect for the fight you put in. You made me sweat for a long time.”
“You made me sweat for an hour,” Dowsett joked in his reply. “You’re a class rider, I couldn’t have done more.”
