Sir Bradley Wiggins set a new world record at the Olympic Velodrome in London earlier this month — with a little help from Jaguar (www.jaguar.co.uk).

The four-time Olympic champion and Tour de France winner rode a total distance of 54.526km within a 1hr time limit specified by the International Cycling Union (better known as the UCI).

A sell-out crowd of 6,000 people saw Sir Bradley beat the previous record of 52.937km, set by fellow British racer Alex Dowsett in Manchester.

The bike that the sporting icon rode for the UCI Hour Record Challenge was a bespoke Pinarello Bolide HR, co-engineered by Jaguar and Italian bicycle manufacturer Pinarello.

Jaguar engineers used the same Computational Fluid Dynamics design methods used to develop the company’s new XE model plus their advanced aerodynamics knowledge to help create an overall aerodynamic performance increase of 7.5%.

Innovations included a completely re-designed one-piece handlebar with a new arm-rest area to reduce air pressure and drag.

Jaguar and Pinarello also narrowed the fork design, making it closer to the disc-type front wheel, to enhance air-flow in the bottom-bracket area, and they re-shaped the chain ring and wheel hubs to optimise the bike’s aerodynamic capability.