PREVIEW

Whacky Races! Human Powered Vehicle World Championships Takes Place In Kent. Some crazy - but stunningly fast - contraptions were seen at Betteshanger Park in Kent during the 2024 Human Powered Vehicle World Championships earlier this month. The event pits innovative pedal-powered bikes, trikes and more, known as 'human powered vehicles', against each other with entries ranging from the homespun to aerodynamic marvels capable of spectacular speeds. The Open overall competition and velomobile category, featuring three-wheeled, faired designs, saw Dutch competitor Pieter Sijbrandij, take overall first place with his remarkable Tuna velomobile, after impressing in disciplines including sprints, a time trial, and a 3-hour race. Meanwhile, Swiss rider Christoph Rindlisbacher triumphed in the prestigious 3-hour race itself, averaging 33.4 mph on his Peregrin on Birk cycle. Austria's Andrea Hammerle claimed victory in the Women's Faired category, averaging 23.15 mph over the same distance. The Betteshanger event also highlighted the versatility of HPVs, with races featuring hand-cyclists, four-wheel pedal cars, unfaired cycles, tandems, and even Brompton bikes. In the UK, these innovative cycles are mostly confined to high-quality race circuits like Betteshanger, but in Europe, dedicated tracks have been built to connect towns and cities. The Human Powered Vehicle (HPV) movement traces its roots back to the 1930s when French designer Charles Mochet created aerodynamic cycles that set world speed records. Today there is a thriving community of HPV drivers - many of whom hit the track in Kent with their impressive rides.