Jack Bobridge - World Record holder - 4k Individual Pursuit Picture: Cycling Aust|Regallo

COMMONWEALTH champion Jack Bobridge shattered the individual pursuit world record at the national titles yesterday, becoming the fastest-ever track cyclist over 4000 metres.

The South Australian rode a time of four minutes, 10.534 seconds at Sydney's Dunc Gray Velodrome to lower the ''unbeatable'' mark set in 1996 by Briton Christopher Boardman by 0.58s.

''I can't really explain how it feels at the moment, I'm still stunned, to tell you the truth,'' the 21-year-old said after his ride. ''I didn't think that was going to come for a long time.
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''I spoke to my girlfriend Jose [fellow cyclist Josephine Tomic] the other day, and we talked about the world record, and I definitely said to her: 'There's no way it will come on the track.' So to come out today and ride four minutes 10, I just can't believe it.''

Bobridge, who last month became the national road race champion, and has been touted by none other than Lance Armstrong as Australian cycling's next big thing, said the record came as even more of a shock because his focus had been on his road form.

''I've really been training pretty hard for the road national, so to come here today and ride that, it's a massive surprise.

''Honestly, I'm in good road form at the moment, there was just no idea I was going to ride that today.''

In the preceding heat, fellow South Australian Rohan Dennis had lowered all three of Bobridge's records - the Australian, All Comers and Australian championship records. So Bobridge came out in his heat with a point to prove.

Asked if he had been spurred on by Dennis's ride, the 21-year-old said: ''Oh, I was, definitely.

''I mean, I had the records before Rohan ... and I'm quite a competitive bike rider, and obviously didn't want all my records to be broken.

''Rohan came out just like last year, but even quicker this year with four minutes 13, and I was definitely scared. But just like last year, when it comes to a race like that, sometimes I can pull through pretty good. I just get a good sensation for close racing.''

You can read the full article as it appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald, 3 January, 2011 - here

"That ride and that time is an absolutely phenomenal achievement and I can only offer warm congratulations to Jack. He hasn't just beaten my superman mark he has absolutely smashed the conventional world record by nearly four seconds. The performance has a Beamon-esque feel about it. It's a real jaw dropper."

Chris Boardman on hearing Jack breaking his World 4000m individual pursuit record

The following is an extract from Cycling Australia website - 2 Feb 2011

Bobridge blazes home to best Boardman's record

Jack on his way to a new 4k IP World Record

South Australia's Jack Bobridge broke the unbreakable this afternoon with a scintillating world record ride in the men's 4km individual pursuit at the 2011 Scody Cycling Australia Track National Championships.

Bobridge, 21, scorched around the hot and humid Dunc Gray Velodrome to post the new mark of 4:10.534 eclipsing the 15 year old record of 4:11.114 set by Great Britain's Chris Boardman at the 1996 World Championships in Manchester by more than half a second (0.580)

Boardman's time was set using the now-banned 'superman' position whilst Bobridge set was was considered the 'unofficial' world record in the conventional position at last year's Australian Championships in Adelaide.

"I can't really explain it at the moment, I am still stunned," exclaimed Bobridge, "I didn't think that (record) was going to come for a long time, I certainly didn't think it would come while I was on the track.

"To come around and see that on the board, I was honestly quite shocked.

"I thought the clock had stopped a lap early, so I had to look at it a few times, but then I saw everyone going crazy, and then it started to get a little overwhelming," added Bobridge. His splits over the distance saw him clock 1:06.477 for the first kilometre, 2:07.270 for the second kilometre, 3:08.798 for the third kilometre before he brought it home with a final kilometre just under 1:02.

Before his record breaking ride, Bobridge was forced to watch as fellow South Australian Rohan Dennis posted the second fastest time in history with 4:13.399 during his heat. Dennis' time broke the Australian, Australian Championship and the All Comers record for the fastest time on Australian soil, held by Bobridge.

"Today, when Rohan came out before me and pulled a 4:13, I was sitting in my seat and I was definitely scared," said Bobridge, adding "But I am quite a competitive bike rider and obviously I didn't want all my records to be taken."

Bobridge's last competitive individual pursuit came at last November's Oceania Championships and last month he was crowned Australian elite men's road race champion and finished runner up in the time trial at the Mars Cycling Australia Road National Championships. He has just wrapped up the Santos Tour Down Under in South Australia with his professional team Garmin-Cervelo and flies out tomorrow to race the Tour of Qatar.

"I had no idea that I was going to ride that today as I haven't really been on the track since Oceania's, and have been training hard on the road, so to come here and ride that it is a massive surprise," said Bobridge. "This morning I decided to come down a gear because it is quite humid in here and obviously it was the right decision, it was perfect gearing.

"Then after the first few laps, once I got my breathing right, I knew I was on. I really controlled that third kilometre and tried to stay comfortable and then really let everything out over the last four laps."

Bobridge returned to the track tonight for the gold medal final against Dennis. The pair both went out hard from the gate with Bobridge up at the halfway point before Dennis surged to a lead of 0.2 seconds at the 3km mark. That forced Bobridge to dig deep which he did to claw back the lead and crack his younger rival.

Bobridge crossed the line in 4:15.533 to clinch the gold medal with Dennis taking home the silver medal with his time of 4:17.482.

"I knew it was always going to be a good battle, Rohan put up an awesome challenge and I had to respond and luckily I did," said Bobridge. "I had a feeling he was going to have a go at me, but unfortunately he made his move too early with eight laps to go so I stayed calm and just waited till the last few laps and thankfully he got a bit tired and I was able to bring it home."