Fast mover: Whittingham's HPV ©Team Varna

Like Weaver, Whittingham's record attempt is based on a shoestring budget, although he is hoping to have a new vehicle ready for the October showdown.

Nevertheless, his current HPV, designed and constructed by George Georgiev, is a homemade affair when compared to the futuristic vehicle being made for Queally.

Whittingham has mixed feelings about the financial clout Queally's team are wielding for the record attempt, saying: "On the one hand, we feel we want some of that. We've been doing this a long time, we have a lot of experience and dedication and we think if we had those resources, how fast could we go?

"But on the other hand, if they're bringing that in, it's a good thing as it will hopefully generate some cash flow for the sport in general."

 

	Podium: Top cyclist in Canada ©Team Varna

And being an experienced HPV rider, he is naturally enthusiastic about the involvement of big names like Queally and van Eijden and what it could do for the sport, saying: "I think it's the best thing that's happened in a while."

Whittingham, who is also ranked as one of his country's premier cyclists, has been trying to push the boundaries of HPVs since he began the sport in 1991. His current team, Team Varna, has smashed six world records.

So how did it feel when he became the fastest man on Earth?

He said: "At first, it was relaxing because I'd finally done it and I could stop thinking about it for a while. Then I suddenly got scared because I realized I had to hang on to this record. Then all this stuff came up with Queally and now I've got to start thinking about it again."

When it comes to assessing his defense of his record, 29-year-old Whittingham is guarded but positive.

"I'm fairly confident. I wouldn't say 100 percent as anything can happen, but I feel pretty good. My training's gone really well this year and I'm putting out about 10 to 15 percent more power for the same amount of effort than I was last year, and that's a big jump for me.

 

	Support: Whittingham and partner Andrea ©Team Varna

"So as long as we get good conditions and the new bike is theoretically faster, we should be able to pump up our speed a little bit - realistically we'll be able to touch 75mph (120.7kph), maybe 75.5mph (121.5kph), so it'll just be a question of what everyone else can do."

When asked who he thinks his closest rival will be, Whittingham ponders at length before saying: "It's between Weaver and Queally and as we get closer now, I'm not so worried about... Weaver."

- Ash Potterton