Boardman is bang on time

Cycling

Chris Boardman sharpened up for his assault on the world hour record next week by scorching to an impressive victory in the Grand Prix Eddy Merckx time-trial in Brussels yesterday.

Boardman, who beat a top-class field to win the 52km event, plans to return to the Manchester Velodrome on Friday or Saturday to beat the record of 55.291km set by Switzerland's Tony Rominger in Bordeaux two years ago.

Boardman hurtled twice round the 26-km course in Brussels at an average speed of 51.25 kph, finishing 1 min 37 sec clear of the American Lance Armstrong with the Belgian Johan Museeuw, last year's winner, another 12 seconds adrift in third place.