Olympic silver medallist Matthew Richardson is gearing up for one of the most ambitious challenges in track cycling — breaking the 200m flying lap world record in a bid to become the fastest cyclist of all time.
The Australian sprint sensation will make the attempt next week at a specially organized event by British Cycling at the Konya Velodrome in Turkey — one of the world’s fastest indoor cycling tracks due to its high altitude and favorable conditions.
The current world record of 9.088 seconds, set by Dutch cyclist Harrie Lavreysen at the 2024 Paris Olympics, stands as the benchmark. To claim the title, Richardson must average over 79.2 kph — and ideally, become the first person in history to dip below the nine-second barrier.
“It’s not just about beating a time — it’s about redefining the limits of human speed on a bike,” said Richardson ahead of the event. “Everything we’ve done in training is building toward that one perfect lap.”
Richardson won silver in the men’s sprint at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and has since become one of the sport’s most formidable sprinters, consistently pushing the envelope in terms of power and precision.
Joining him in the historic bid are two British riders:
- Charlie Tanfield, who will attempt to break the UCI Hour Record, currently held by Italy’s Filippo Ganna at 56.792 kilometers.
- Will Bjergfelt, a decorated para-cyclist, will make his attempt in the C5 category, aiming to set a new mark in the same hour-long challenge.
British Cycling officials have said the velodrome conditions and athlete preparation give this event a genuine shot at multiple records being rewritten.
Cycling fans around the world will be watching closely, as history could be made on the Turkish track — and Matthew Richardson could etch his name in the record books as the fastest cyclist ever recorded.
