Hélène Hesters sets new track cycling world record in individual pursuit
Hélène Hesters set a new world record in the revamped individual pursuit at the Belgian track cycling championships on Saturday.
The Ghent rider clocked a time of 4:42.154 in the gold medal final against Katrijn De Clercq at the Zolder track on Saturday. The time was more than half a second faster than the previous world record held by Frenchwoman Marion Borras. The 20-year-old Hesters represented Belgium at last year's Olympic Games in Paris.
The world record is likely to be adjusted regularly in the coming weeks and months
Until last year, the women's individual pursuit was run over a distance of 3,000 metres, but this year the distance was increased to 4,000 metres, the same as the men's event. As a result of this change, the world record is likely to be adjusted regularly in the coming weeks and months.
As expected, the men's individual pursuit title at the Belgian championships went to Noah Vandenbranden. The gold medals in the sprint went to Lowie Nulens and Valerie Jenaer, who also won the national keirin title earlier this winter.
Hesters at the 2024 UCI Tissot Track Cycling World Championships in Ballerup © PHOTO CHRISTIAN ÖRNBERG/BILDBYRAN/SIPA USA
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