Scottish apparel specialist Endura is joining Bridie O’Donnell as a technical support partner – as the Australian time trial specialist prepares to take on the UCI Women’s Hour Record in Adelaide next January.
O’Donnell will challenge Molly Shaffer Van Houweling’s (USA) world record mark of 46.273km set at altitude in Aguascalientes, Mexico, in September 2015, who bettered the previous distance of 46.065km set by Leontien Zijlaard-van-Moorsel (The Netherlands) also in Mexico in 2003.
Bridie O’Donnell has represented Australia at three UCI Road World Championships and made twelve podium appearances at Australian and Oceania Championships in the past decade. The 41-year-old physician has been training for the attempt for twelve months since the UCI simplified the regulations for the record by authorising the use of bikes that comply with the regulations for endurance track events.
Endura brings extensive knowledge of aero speedsuits to O’Donnell’s project, working in conjunction with Simon Smart of Drag2Zero, carrying out extensive work at the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 wind tunnel and utilising the facility’s high tech equipment to maximise aerodynamic efficiency.
Apparel developed for Movistar Team’s Alex Dowsett’s successful challenge to the Men’s Hour Record has been further refined in the months since and the Scottish company will be producing suits for use in January at its cutting edge facility in Livingston, Scotland.
Bridie O’Donnell said “It’s going to be a massive challenge now that Molly [Shaffer Van Houweling] has set a new world mark of 46.273kms, but I believe I’m on target and the team around me has supported and encouraged me to no end. Everything’s going to plan, and I’m hoping for a big crowd in Adelaide as it’s being staged during the Santos Tour Down Under.”
Jim McFarlane, Managing Director and Endura said, “We’re very pleased to be helping Bridie take on the Women’s Hour Record next year. The development work carried out with Simon Smart has already proved itself at the very highest levels of time trialling, IRONMAN and on the track with Alex Dowsett earlier this year; and we continue to refine the technologies and techniques to help make all of our supported athletes faster.
“The aerodynamic benefits of our partnership with Drag2Zero are now being made available to all riders with the launch of our triathlon range and introduction of Drag2Zero speedsuits to our WT Custom Clothing collection.”
