Uploaded February 2021 | Updated September 2026, 10 hours ago
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Ask cyclists who is the greatest of all time and one name comes up over and over, Eddy Merckx. In 1972 Merckx set a record of 49.431km ridden in an hour on the velodrome. If you had three months, some of the best aero kit known to cycling and some of the best trainers in the world, could you beat the GOAT? This is the challenge amateur cyclist Oliver Bridgewood set himself in the hour of power.
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The hour record is the original race against time. 1 hour on the clock, ride as far as you can in that time. It's one of cycling's most prestigious achievements and one of it's toughest physical challenges. In 1972, Eddy Merckx, arguably the greatest cyclist of all time set a benchmark of 49.431km, using a bike and technology now considered rudimentary. Merckx's record stood for 12 years. Can Oliver Bridgewood, an amateur cyclist and GCN presenter with access to the aerodynamic technology and modern equipment beat his time? He embarks on a punishing 3 months of training set by some of the world’s most experienced high-performance coaches and prepares for what will be the hardest hour of his life.
GCN+ is the home of the world’s most thrilling live bike races, highlights, exclusive shows and epic cycling documentaries that you can enjoy live + ad-free + on-demand + interactive + all-year round.
GCN+ is more of everything you’ve come to love from GCN but taken to the next level: more entertainment, more races, more inspiration, more access, more analysis, more science and more to watch with exclusive and original long-form films, documentaries and shows.
GCN+ is cycling like you’ve never seen it before.
Sign up to GCN+ for the best cycling documentaries, shows, and adventure films. Plus live racing, highlights and analysis, all ad-free and get 50% off in February: https://gcn.eu/plus
Ask cyclists who is the greatest of all time and one name comes up over and over, Eddy Merckx. In 1972 Merckx set a record of 49.431km ridden in an hour on the velodrome. If you had three months, some of the best aero kit known to cycling and some of the best trainers in the world, could you beat the GOAT? This is the challenge amateur cyclist Oliver Bridgewood set himself in the hour of power.
Sign up now: https://gcn.eu/plus
The hour record is the original race against time. 1 hour on the clock, ride as far as you can in that time. It's one of cycling's most prestigious achievements and one of it's toughest physical challenges. In 1972, Eddy Merckx, arguably the greatest cyclist of all time set a benchmark of 49.431km, using a bike and technology now considered rudimentary. Merckx's record stood for 12 years. Can Oliver Bridgewood, an amateur cyclist and GCN presenter with access to the aerodynamic technology and modern equipment beat his time? He embarks on a punishing 3 months of training set by some of the world’s most experienced high-performance coaches and prepares for what will be the hardest hour of his life.
GCN+ is the home of the world’s most thrilling live bike races, highlights, exclusive shows and epic cycling documentaries that you can enjoy live + ad-free + on-demand + interactive + all-year round.
GCN+ is more of everything you’ve come to love from GCN but taken to the next level: more entertainment, more races, more inspiration, more access, more analysis, more science and more to watch with exclusive and original long-form films, documentaries and shows.
GCN+ is cycling like you’ve never seen it before.
