Ever wondered how hard it would be to hold hour record pace? It will soon be possible to find out as Zwift is adding a Miguel Induráin bot that users can take on in one-hour races.

Available for a limited time between 3-5 May, the bot will mimic Induráin’s pace from when he set the hour record in Bordeaux in 1994. Anyone hoping to reach his record-breaking feat will need to emulate the 53.04km distance he managed to cover and the staggering 510 watts it took to achieve the distance – you read that right, 510 watts! That equates to 6.3 watts per kilogram, according to Zwift, which has programmed the bot to emulate Induráin’s performance as closely as possible, using his specific height (188cm) and weight (81kg).

That’s a mind-boggling amount of power, but Induráin’s effort was also made partly possible by the equally iconic Pinarello Espada bike that helped to propel him to the record. It could also help you to set a personal hour record too, as anyone taking on any of the races will do so atop a virtual version of the bike.

Sure it’s not the same as riding the real thing, but it’s the closest most of us will ever get to it as only four versions of the bike were ever made. Induráin’s model for his hour record attempt was custom-molded to fit his Spanish frame, but he also used customised versions for his two time trial victories at the 1995 Tour de France too, which would herald the last of his five overall victories at the race.

Like many of its counterparts – it heralded from an era packed with iconic bikes – the Pinarello Espada’s design fell foul of changes to the UCI regulations, meaning bikes like it or no longer allowed in competition. That doesn’t extend to Zwift, though, where you’ll be able to compete on it, but only in one of the events.

Read more: Banesto Pinarello team bike: Is this vintage bike from the mid-90s the pinnacle of road bikes?

Each of the races is available as an event on Zwift and there will be plenty of opportunities to take part as they’re scheduled for every two hours across the three days. The races will take part on the Tempus Fugit course in the Watopia world. Races won’t be categorised and drafting will be allowed, with everyone starting together in a mass start.

Explore and sign up for any of the Espada Challenge events here.

Keep up to date with the latest tech news on the GCN website.

Zimbabwe has been experiencing power outages because of depressed generation owing to among others low water levels at Kariba Dam.

THE Agricultural Marketing Authority (Ama) has invited wheat farmers to join its database so that they can be placed in production clusters and ring-fenced against electricity outages.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo last week, Ama agribusiness director Jonathan Mukuruba said they wanted to ensure uninterrupted power supply for winter wheat farming.

“We are inviting winter wheat farmers, whether contracted or self-financed, to approach our offices nationwide so that they benefit from the electricity ring-fencing programme,” he said.

Ama is mandated with the overall regulation of production, processing and marketing of agricultural products in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe Farmers Union secretary-general, Paul Zachariya, said uninterrupted power supply was a key enabler to wheat production.

Speaking to the media recently, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development minister Anxious Masuka said the focus for winter wheat this year was to maximise production.

A bumper harvest of the cereal in the 2022 farming season saw the government putting a stop to flour and wheat imports.

Government has set a target to cultivate 120 000 hectares of wheat and 7 000 hectares of barley for the upcoming winter cropping season.

Reports indicate that at least 1 300 hectares have so far been put under wheat.

NewsDay established that farmers are worried that electricity outages will affect this year’s winter wheat production resulting in shortages of some basic commodities and related agricultural products in the near future.

Zimbabwe has been experiencing power outages because of depressed generation owing to among others low water levels at Kariba Dam.

Related Topics

The local authority believes that the available land could be developed for tourism purposes.

The Beitbridge Municipality has set sights at attracting investors for business ventures along the Limpopo River for various investment opportunities including water sports and crocodile farming.

The local authority believes that the available land could be developed for tourism purposes.

In an interview with NewsDay recently, Beitbridge public relations officer Raniel Ndou said council sought to promote tourism activities along Limpopo River.

“We feel that there are a lot of untapped opportunities. For instance, the river is known as crocodile infested, yet we feel that can be an investment opportunity where one can come in and do crocodile farming,” he said.

Ndou said the business ventures along the river could bring capital to the border town through the sale of crocodile meat and skins.

He said other opportunities involved water sporting such as canoeing depending on the investor’s assessment including the construction of hotels and chalets.

“We are looking at even the construction of a leisure centre in the town. Approximately 75% of the visitors who come through the Beitbridge Border Post do not spend the day in the town.

“We feel development of such activities will make tourists or visitors spend a day or so before they can go inland to other places elsewhere in the country.

“We want partners who can come in with resources and grab these opportunities and make use of them,” he said.

Ndou said council had sent out invitations for proposals for investment in a cultural centre for Dulivadzimu Township.

The town, founded in 1929, was for many years the terminus of the railway from Pretoria, until a rail connection to Rutenga was built in 1974.

It is also a trading centre for cattle and irrigated crops (potatoes, melons and tomatoes).

Beitbridge Municipality also boasts investment opportunities in infrastructural development, beef and related products, manufacturing, livestock production, retail, warehousing, packaging, accommodation, transport and logistics, among others.

Related Topics