Latest News | 30 November 2020
University of Derby student to take on cycling challenge
A University of Derby student is planning to take on one of elite cycling’s toughest challenges at Derby Arena next year.
Karl Baillie will aim to complete the furthest distance he can in just one hour at the velodrome in April.
The world record, which was previously held by Team GB Olympic great Sir Bradley Wiggins, currently stands at just over 55km.
There is no current British student record, but Karl, who is a Team Derby sports scholar at the university, is not setting himself a specific distance target.
The focus will instead be on performance excellence, and assisting Karl to achieve that will be classmates from his MSc Applied Sport and Exercise Science course, who will be advising him on nutrition, psychology and other key elements of his preparation.
The 23-year-old said: “This is a really exciting challenge for me and it is great to be able to involve my fellow postgraduate students at Derby in putting together a programme that can help me reach the furthest distance I can within the hour, riding at the highest constant speed throughout.
“The quality of my preparation will be vital to ensure that my performance will be optimised.”
Karl, who has been cycling competitively since he was 13, has begun training in the university’s state-of-the-art Human Performance Unit, a dedicated space based at its £10.8 million Sports Centre.
He said: “It is fantastic to have such a superb facility here at the university, with all the technology and expertise I need to be in the best physical and mental shape possible by the time of the ride.”
Dr Andy Hooton, the university’s head of sport and exercise science, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity not only for Karl but also his fellow students on the course, who will be playing an active role in helping him.
“You cannot underestimate the physical and psychological strength required to take on the one-hour ride, which has proved too tough for some of the world’s leading professional cyclists.
“But Karl’s determination to ride as far as possible within one hour underlines his belief in his own limitless potential, which is another key factor in the way we try to prepare all of our students for their lives and careers after education.”
