In an electrifying display of speed and endurance, Matt Richardson and Will Bjergfelt etched their names into the annals of track cycling history by setting world records at the Konya Velodrome in Turkey. Richardson, 26, became the first cyclist to break the nine-second barrier in the 200m flying start, clocking an astonishing 8.941 seconds. This performance surpassed the previous record of 9.088 seconds set by Dutchman Harrie Lavreysen at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Richardson, reflecting on his achievement, said, "I came here to go sub-nine seconds, and I did it. It's an incredible feeling to accomplish what I set out to do. The bike was almost steering itself, and I know there's even more potential there."

Meanwhile, Will Bjergfelt, 46, made history in the C5 classification by becoming the first para-cyclist to surpass the 50km mark in the hour record. Bjergfelt rode an impressive 51.471km, smashing the previous record of 47.569km set by Italy's Andrea Tarlao in 2014. "It hasn't fully sunk in yet," Bjergfelt shared. "When everyone was cheering, it started to hit home. Breaking the world record is a dream come true."

Bjergfelt's journey is particularly inspiring. After a life-altering collision in 2015 that left him with severe injuries, he returned to cycling and became the first para-cyclist to compete in the Tour of Britain in 2021. His gold medal in the C5 road race at the 2023 World Championships further cemented his legacy.

The record attempts were supported by British Cycling, with Richardson inspired by the speed of the Konya Velodrome, which opened in 2022. However, not all attempts were successful. Charlie Tanfield, aiming to break the iconic hour record, fell short, covering 53.967km at an altitude of 1,200m. Despite a strong start, Tanfield couldn't surpass Filippo Ganna's record of 56.792km set in 2022.

This event marks a significant milestone in track cycling, showcasing the relentless pursuit of excellence by athletes pushing the boundaries of human potential.