Cycling: Te Awamutu's Jaime Nielsen aiming for record

OLYMPIAN cyclist Jaime Nielsen wants to set the record straight at Avantidrome, Cambridge on Friday evening. Photo/GUY SWARBRICK

Te Awamutu Sports Cycling Club's double Olympian Jaime Nielsen wants to put herself into the record books this week when she takes on the gruelling one-hour record at the Avantidrome in Cambridge on Friday.

Nielsen is taking advantage of the post-Olympic year to complete this rare event, which dates back nearly 150 years.

The 31 year old will be the first female in New Zealand to attempt the one-hour ride. She expects to complete more than 160 laps.

"It's something that has intrigued me for some time," says Nielsen. "After Rio I was unsure what I wanted to do and this has given me something different to focus on.

"An Olympic campaign is all-encompassing and there's huge pressure. Of course the Olympic event for me is the team pursuit, and while I love training and racing with my teammates, this gives me the opportunity to do something for myself.

"If it goes well, then we will reschedule an official attempt at a world record in the future." The one-hour record dates back to 1876 when Frenchman Henri Desgrange, first organiser of the Tour de France, set the world record in Paris at 26.508kms on a penny farthing.

Most of the current world best times have been set at altitude, with the current women's world mark at 47.980km set in the rarefied air of Colorado in 2016 by American Evelyn Stevens. The best sea-level distance for women was the previous world best of 46.882km by Australian Bridie O'Donnell in February last year.

"I've only been training specifically for this for two months so it is a bit of an unknown but I would like to think I can get to that mark. Anything more would be a bonus."

Because Nielsen only decided on this venture in late May,it was too late to lodge with UCI as an official World Record attempt, although she would be thrilled if she threatened Stevens' mark. If she completes the one-hour attempt it will become an official New Zealand record, with Nielsen to undergo official drug testing post-race and Cycling New Zealand providing full support from its commissaires and race officials. The best time at the Avantidrome was in 2015 by Waikato multi- Masters World Champion Jim McMurray who set a world best time in his 55-59 years age group of 47.733km.