Denise Mueller-Korenek

On 16 September 2018 Denise Mueller-Korenek reached 296 km/h at the Bonneville Salt Flats. She was paced by a dragster, which gave her a draft to ride in.

Context

Mueller-Korenek's ride was a motor-paced record. She cycled behind a custom dragster that blocked the air, and at high speed she moved close to a fairing to stay in its slipstream, which greatly reduces the effort needed. The bicycle had a very large gear and a special frame, and she was towed up to speed before releasing the tow line. The rider was also towed up to speed by the pace vehicle before she released the tow line and pedalled alone.

The ride took place at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah on 16 September 2018. The speed of 183.93 mph, or about 296 km/h, beat the 167 mph record that Dutchman Fred Rompelberg set in 1995, by a large margin. The run was widely reported as an official motor-paced record.

Unpaced records are far lower, since a rider must push through the air without help. Other cycling records, such as those in recumbent streamlined bikes, are held in different categories. Comparison between categories is not straightforward. The successful run followed careful preparation on the salt surface, which is smooth but sensitive to weather. Sports bodies treat motor-paced and unpaced attempts as different categories, so the record sits in its own class.