CHRIS Hoy yesterday experienced the narrowest of failures in his attempt to set a world record in the one-kilometre time trial, but persistence will see him return for another attempt at the Alto Irpavi Velodrome today.
With the Scottish cyclist's flight to La Paz from his base in Miami diverted on Friday, adding nine hours to his journey, Hoy's training plans had been severely disrupted and his patience tested.
But yesterday at the world's highest cycling track in Bolivia, he refused to be fazed by all the distractions, coming within .128 seconds of setting the world record that he so desperately craves.
The current mark for the kilo, in which Hoy is Olympic champion, four-time world champion and sea level world record holder, is a daunting 58.875 seconds, established by Arnaud Tournant back in 2001. The Scots cyclist was all too aware of the size of the challenge, with his personal best, set at sea level, of 1min 0.711secs.
But yesterday's attempt was at the famous velodrome 3417m above sea level in the Andean foothills in the suburbs of La Paz. From his standing start Hoy completed the distance in 59.103secs, an agonising fraction short of Tourant's world record.
However, for Hoy yesterday's result was merely a work in progress, as he reminded a captive audience Tournant needed two attempts to set his own record. He and his team are confident that as the Scot becomes more acclimatised to the thin mountain air he can reach and surpass the world-record speeds.
"There is a tradition of failing the first time and having wonderful success the second time," said David Hoy, Chris' father yesterday as the team plan the timing of their repeat attempt today. "I am very, very confident he will do it."
Earlier, Hoy had explained how apprehensive he was about the bid. "There are nerves at pushing myself to the limits at 3400m above sea-level and the horror stories you hear," he said. "The apprehension in some part is down to doing something I've never done before at this altitude."
Hoy's persistence is more than understandable considering the potential rewards and the setbacks he has already faced.
"The journey from hell," was how he described his trip to La Paz with the Scot finally arriving in the Bolivian capital a full day after he left Miami. His mood had not been helped by over officious airline staff complaining about his bicycles going on board.
But it was all put to the back of his mind after landing in La Paz as his focus turned to somehow making up two seconds on his personal best in the kilometre. All he needs now is a little more time.
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