British Cycling today unveiled a brand new track bike developed by Hope and Lotus.

The bike, which the governing body describes as "cutting edge," has been jointly developed by Hope Technology and Lotus Engineering, with support and advice from engineering firm Renishaw, and solely by the British.

To create the frame and wheels, to be named HB.T, Hope claims to have developed a revolutionary manufacturing process that allows for weight reduction, increased stiffness to the weight of the disc wheels, and a deeper, more aerodynamic fork and seatstay profile to maintain low weight.

Lotus Engineering designed the front fork and handlebars and worked with Hope to integrate them into the overall package. This included extensive wind tunnel testing on both bike and rider, and testing to minimize weight while maximizing strength. The result, Lotus says, is improved stiffness and front-end feel, as well as increased rider confidence.

Tony Parnell, technical director of the Great Britain Cycling Team, says: "Hope Technology brings high quality manufacturing standards and Lotus Engineering is renowned for its lightweight design and outstanding aerodynamic efficiency. Additive manufacturing expert Renishaw is supporting and advising Lotus and Hope to ensure they have access to the latest and fastest turnaround processes from design to usable pieces. 9]

"This bike is a reality. Following the great effort from the sponsors to make the bike a reality, we are tasked with working with EIS to evaluate the bike, ensure it performs correctly in Minsk and Glasgow, and of course in Tokyo, and provide feedback to the Hope and Lotus engineering teams."[

.

Stephen Park, Performance Director of the Great Britain Cycling Team, added, "The development of the new track bike reflects our desire to be a world leader in innovation and aerodynamics. [Feedback from riders and coaches on the tests so far has been positive, and we look forward to the Minsk and Glasgow rounds of the UCI Track Cycling World Cup series as an opportunity to further evaluate and improve this bike." HB.T will be at Tokyo 2020 As we narrow our focus, it is just part of the world-class support we can offer our athletes across the full range of Olympic and Paralympic cycling disciplines."

The project marks the second time British Cycling has worked with Lotus Engineering on an Olympic track bike.

British Cycling explains that the collaboration is named after the Lotus Type 108 on which Chris Boardman won gold at the 1992 Olympics.

One of the most iconic bikes in the history of cycling, the Lotus Type 108 won Boardman the gold medal in the individual pursuit at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics; since its ban by the UCI, the Type 108 has been banned by the UCI for its advanced aerofoil cross-section and featuring a monocoque carbon frame to minimize weight and maximize aerodynamic performance.

"Lotus has always been at the forefront of lightweight racing performance in cars, and now, after 25 years away from bicycles, we have collaborated with Hope Technology to apply the same core values of Lotus to this new track bike. We look forward to working with British Cycling as they continue testing for next summer's Olympics," said Lotus Group CEO Phil Popham.

Technical details of the bike are so far limited, but the standout feature is the radical design of the fork and seatstays, which are considerably further apart than usually thought; in 2016, a similar fork-leg-widening technique was used, which at the time was claimed to be up to 15% more aerodynamically efficient.

No paint, filler, or touch-ups are used because of such a proud structure, although Hope and Lotus make no such claims.

Ian Weatherill, Managing Director of Hope Technology, says: "We have built the frame using a high modulus composite material woven in the UK. Our in-house team has unparalleled engineering expertise with 30 years of composite experience and two Olympic Games. Together we have refined our manufacturing methods to create a superior product."

In order to be cleared for use at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the bike must first be approved by the UCI and must also have been ridden in the 2019/2020 Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Cup Series by the GB Cycling Team this year.

British riders are already using British Cycling's base at the HSBC UK National Cycling Centre in Manchester for training, and their first competitive appearance will be this weekend at the Minsk Arena Velodrome in Belarus.

Its first appearance in the British arena will be the following week at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow, but it will also be on display at the Leroux Show this weekend.

Matt Parker, Director of Performance Innovation at the English Institute of Sport, says: "This innovative new bike is a testament to the amazing design and engineering capabilities we have in this country. [Innovative designs like this one] always bring great excitement. We now look forward to watching this bike race and evaluating its performance potential for Tokyo 2020."