Filippo Ganna after the hour record told how he pushed his body to the limit. A result that repays him, and allows him to remove a few pebbles.
All standing for Filippo Ganna. The Italian cyclist made history, setting the new hour record. The 1996 class of Verbania on the Tissot Velodrome track in Grenchen in Switzerland crushed Dan Bigham’s previous record with 55.548 km, closing with 56.792 km to his credit. A result even higher than the best human hourly performance held by Chris Boardman since 1996.
Adjectives are wasted for Ganna who has confirmed himself as a champion, bringing back to the Belpaese a recognition that had been missing for 38 years. Talent, intelligence, but also and above all fatigue, self-denial and a spirit of sacrifice. What’s behind such evidence? To tell the story was the person concerned, who after having immediately expressed his irrepressible joy for the record also let himself go to a well-deserved relaxation, aware of having thrown his heart over the obstacle.
In the post-race interviews, the new all-Italian record-man explained how difficult it was to stay on track until the end, when even the body seemed to give way. Excruciating pain for Filippo Ganna who tried not to think, focusing only on the goal: “When I felt that the leg was there in the middle of the race, I tried to push and try to make the new record as ‘high’ as possible. I didn’t think, but the last 15 minutes have been really tiring also from the point of view of the position, my butt was quite tired and also quite open“.
Legendary Ganna! He has the record of the hour: the best human performance in history
At one point Ganna had nothing left but to pray, and also try to focus on something else. In this way he managed to close his test: “I managed to hold up well, the last 10 minutes were really too much…. I couldn’t find a comfortable position in the saddle, I was always trying to adjust. I prayed it would end because I couldn’t take it anymore. I kept thinking ‘come on it’s the last effort you make, like when you’re on the track with the guys’, but instead it was longer. In the end I was only thinking about the last laps and that it could end soon ‘”.
And the special dedication can only be for himself, and for a rematch after a few too many criticisms for fluctuating seasonal results: “The dedication? It is for myself, when you have so many against it is difficult, but making them shut up is even more beautiful. I have had many no moments, and others yes“And now, after so much effort, it is finally time to enjoy the triumph.
