German cyclist Jens Voigt has broken the world hour record after covering 51.115km in 60 minutes in Grenchen, Switzerland.
The 43-year-old, who broke Ondrej Sosenka's record of 49.700km set in 2005, retired from professional cycling as soon as he completed the attempt.
"I went off a little too fast at the start and I had a bad spell after the halfway mark, but the support of the crowd and knowing that this was my last race meant that I could finish strongly. I gave everything in the last 20 minutes," Voigt told reporters.
"I saw Chris Boardman beating the record in 2000 and I said to myself, 'What a great way that would be to finish my career.' Thirty-three years of cycling behind me. This was my last attempt. I'm in so much pain ... but what a way to retire."
Voigt has called time on 17 years as a pro, during which he won the Criterium International five times.
Written by
Joe Sharratt
Joe Sharratt
