The leading time-trial athlete of his generation, set a new record taking the limit past 50 kilometres for the first time. His ride was (and still remains) controversial. He embraced new technology and medical techniques riding with a low profile bike, bullhorn bars, a skinsuit, aerodynamic helmet and disk wheel.   He also had assistance from two Italian doctors - Conconi and Ferrari, who used blood transfusions (now illegal) to prepare Moser. 

Merckx was incensed, feeling that technology, not rider, had broken his 1972 record. But the die was cast, and a new era of innovation had begun.