The Pinarello Bolide HR, based on the Pinarello road model on which Wiggins won the World Time Trial, was designed using the same CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) methods used to develop the Jaguar XE, which the British manufacturer claims is its most aerodynamic car ever.
Jaguar says its engineers were able to increase overall aerodynamic performance by 7.5 per cent, helping Wiggins to cover 54.526km in 60 minutes. This eclipsed the previous record of 52.937km, set by Essex’s Alex Dowsett in Manchester last month.
“Jaguar has a talented team of engineers with a great depth of aerodynamic knowledge, so we’re very proud to be able to work on this collaboration with Pinarello,” said John Pitman, principal CFD aerodynamicist at Jaguar Land Rover.
“Applying this level of engineering capability and analysis to the development of bikes is still very new in cycling, and showcases the industry-leading expertise and facilities we have at Jaguar Land Rover.”
The bike contained a one-piece titanium handlebar, created using laser sintering technology, and a specially designed frameset system to maximise aerodynamic performance. Customisations included narrowing the fork design to make it closer to the front wheel, reshaping the chainring and wheel hubs, and removing the brakes and gear levers.
Wiggins, who also won gold in the time trial at the London 2012 Olympics, becomes the fifth person in the past nine months to break the record. He also becomes the sixth cyclist to have held the hour record and won the Tour de France, joining cycling legends such as Eddy Merckx and Miguel Indurain.
Pinarello played a part in Indurain’s successful record attempt in 1994, when the Italian manufacturer developed the Pinarello Espada for the Spaniard.
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