COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (BRAIN) — American Olympian Evelyn Stevens will attempt to break the world hour record later this month at the newly covered Olympic Training Center velodrome in Colorado Springs. Stevens will attempt to break the record of 46.882 km set Jan. 22 in Australia by Bridie O'Donnell.
Stevens, who races for the Boels-Dolmans team, has medaled at the UCI Road World Championships five times. She has received considerable mainstream media attention during her career because of her quick progression from the finance industry to the top ranks of pro cycling.
"While attempting to break the UCI Hour Record is exciting for me and my career, I'm also proud to help shine a light on women's cycling," Stevens said. "This will be a special day, and it's an honor to make my record attempt under the new dome at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center Velodrome."
Stevens will be the first American to attempt the record since Molly Shaffer Van Houweling set the record of 46.273 km on Sept. 12, 2015, in Aguascalientes, Mexico.
The Hour Record has become newly popular since the UCI modernized and simplified the rules in 2014. The record can now be tackled using any bicycle legal for endurance track events.
UCI president Brian Cookson welcomed the news of the latest attempt. "The current Women's UCI Hour Record will be only five weeks old when Evelyn Stevens tries to establish a new mark. Bridie O'Donnell set a tough mark last month, and I am looking forward tremendously to following this next challenge," he said. "It is clear that the excitement surrounding the iconic UCI Hour Record will be just as high in 2016 as it was last year when we saw six attempts on the men's record and two on the women's record."
Stevens' attempt will begin at noon MT on Feb. 27. The event will be live streamed on the Internet, with details at usacycling.org.
