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Hour record
View on WikipediaThe hour record is the record for the longest distance cycled in one hour on a bicycle from a stationary start. Cyclists attempt this record alone on the track without other competitors present. It is considered one of the most prestigious records in cycling. Since it was first set, cyclists ranging from relatively unknown amateurs to well-known professionals have held the record. There is now one unified record for upright bicycles meeting the requirements of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). Hour-record attempts for UCI bikes are made in a velodrome.
Early hour records (until 1972)
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The first universally accepted record was in 1876 when the American Frank Dodds rode 26.508 km (16.471 mi) on a penny-farthing.[1] The first recorded distance[2] was set in 1873 by James Moore in Wolverhampton, riding an Ariel 49" high wheel (1.2 m) bicycle; however, the distance was recorded at exactly 14.5 miles (23.3 km), leading to the theory that the distance was just approximated and not accurately measured.[3]
The first officially recognised record was set by Henri Desgrange at the Buffalo Velodrome, Paris in 1893 following the formation of the International Cycling Association, the forerunner of the modern-day UCI. Throughout the run up to the First World War, the record was broken on five occasions by Swiss rider Oscar Egg and Frenchman Marcel Berthet, and due to the attempts being highly popular and guaranteeing rich attendances, it is said that each ensured he did not beat the record by too much of a margin, enabling further lucrative attempts by the other.[nb 1]
The hour was attempted sporadically over the following 70 years, with most early attempts taking place at the Buffalo Velodrome in Paris, before the Velodromo Vigorelli in Milan became popular in 1930s and 1940s sparking attempts from leading Italian riders and former Giro d'Italia winners such as Fausto Coppi and Ercole Baldini. Coppi's record set in 1942, during the Second World War, despite Milan being bombed nightly by Allied forces, was eventually broken in 1956 by Jacques Anquetil on his third attempt. In 1967, 11 years later, Anquetil again broke the hour record, with 47.493 km (29.511 mi), but the record was disallowed because he refused to take the newly introduced post-race doping test.[4] He had objected to what he saw as the indignity of having to urinate in a tent in front of a crowded velodrome and said he would take the test later at his hotel. The international judge ruled against the idea, and a scuffle ensued that involved Anquetil's manager, Raphaël Géminiani. In 1968, Ole Ritter broke the record in Mexico City, the first attempt at altitude since Willie Hamilton in 1898.[citation needed]
The women's hour record was first established in 1893 by Mlle de Saint-Sauveur at the Vélodrome Buffalo in Paris, setting a total distance of 26.012 km (16.163 mi). The record was improved several times over the next years, until Louise Roger reached 34.684 km (21.552 mi) in 1897 also at Vélodrome Buffalo.[5] In 1911 the longest standing men's or women's record (37 years) was set by the 157 cm (5 ft 2 in) tall Alfonsina Strada: 37.192 km (23.110 mi) riding a 20 kg (44 lbs) machine.[6][7] From 1947 to 1952, Élyane Bonneau and Jeannine Lemaire set several new hour records, the last of which was 39.735 km (24.690 mi) by Lemaire in 1952.[8][9] The first women's hour record approved by the UCI was by Tamara Novikova in 1955. However Lemaire's 1952 non-UCI record was not bettered until Elsy Jacobs broke the 40 kmh barrier in 1958, the year Jacobs had won the inaugural women's road world championship. Jacobs' 1958 41.347 km UCI record would not be bettered until 1972.
Historical hour records
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UCI hour record (1972–2014)
[edit]1972–1984: Merckx, Moser and new technology
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In 1972, Eddy Merckx set a new hour record at 49.431 km (30.715 mi) in Mexico City at an altitude of 2,300 m (7,500 ft) where he proclaimed it to have been "the hardest ride I have ever done".[12]
The record stood until January 1984, when Francesco Moser set a new record at 51.151 km (31.784 mi). This was the first noted use of disc wheels, which, along with Moser's skin suit, provided aerodynamic gains. Moser's record would eventually be moved in 1997 to "best human effort".[12]
1990s: non-traditional riding positions
[edit]In 1993 and 1994, Graeme Obree, who built his own bikes, posted two records with his hands tucked under his chest. In 1994, Moser set the veteran's record in Mexico City, riding 51.840 km (32.212 mi)[13] with bullhorn handlebars, steel airfoil tubing, disk wheels and skinsuit. Moser's distance beat his 1984 record and Obree's 1993 ride.
In May 1994, the UCI outlawed the "praying mantis" style. Spaniard Miguel Induráin and Swiss Tony Rominger subsequently broke the record with a more traditional tri-bar setup; Rominger rode 55.291 km.

Chris Boardman took up the challenge using a modified version of the Lotus 110 bicycle, a successor to the earlier Lotus 108 bicycle he'd ridden to victory at the 1992 Olympic Games. South African company Aerodyne Technology built the frame. Boardman set the UCI Absolute record of 56.375 km (35.030 mi) in 1996, using another position pioneered by Obree, his arms out in front in a "Superman" position. This too was considered controversial by the UCI, and while the record was allowed to stand, the position was banned. This enabled Boardman's 1996 record to stand for about 26 years. In October 2022, Filippo Ganna unified the records, beating Boardman's best human effort record and Daniel Bigham's official UCI Hour record on a traditionally shaped, though uniquely manufactured, bicycle.[12]
1997 UCI rule change
[edit]With the increasing gap between modern bicycles and what was available at the time of Merckx's record, the UCI established two records in 1997:
- UCI Hour Record: which restricted competitors to roughly the same equipment as Merckx, banning time trial helmets, disc or tri-spoke wheels, aerodynamic bars, and monocoque frames.
- Best Human Effort: also known as the UCI "Absolute" Record[12] in which modern equipment was permitted.
As a result of the 1997 rule change, all records since 1972, including Boardman's 56.375 km (35.030 mi) in 1996, were moved to Best Human Effort and the distance of Eddy Merckx set in 1972 once more became the official UCI benchmark. In 2000, Boardman attempted the UCI record on a traditional bike, and rode 49.441 km (30.721 mi), topping Merckx by 10 metres (32.8 ft), an improvement of 0.02%.
In 2005, Ondřej Sosenka improved Boardman's performance at 49.700 km (30.882 mi) using a 54×13 gear. However, Sosenka failed a doping control in 2001 and then again in 2008, the latter resulting in a career-ending suspension which puts in doubt the validity of his record. All women's records from 1986 to 1996 were recategorized to Best Human Effort.
Hour record holders (men's)
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Hour record holders (women's)
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UCI unified hour record (2014–present)
[edit]Unified rule change (2014)
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In 2014, the UCI unified the two classifications into a single classification in line with regulations for current track pursuit bikes. Records previously removed for Chris Boardman and Graeme Obree were returned, however the benchmark record would remain at 49.7 km (30.9 mi) set in 2005 by Ondrej Sosenka, even though that was not the farthest distance.[26][27] Under the new regulations riders may use any bike allowed by the UCI standards for endurance track events in place at the time of the attempt.[28]
Riders are required to be part of the athlete biological passport program.[29] However, of the men to attempt the record since the rule change, only five were on a UCI World Tour team at the time: Jens Voigt of Trek Factory Racing,[30] Rohan Dennis of the BMC Racing Team, Alex Dowsett of the Movistar Team, Victor Campenaerts of Lotto Soudal, Filippo Ganna of Ineos Grenadiers. Matthias Brändle was with IAM Cycling, then a UCI Professional Continental team. Jack Bobridge was on Team Budget Forklifts, an Australian UCI Continental team. Thomas Dekker had been released from World Tour team Garmin–Sharp several months before. Gustav Larsson was riding for the Professional Continental team Cult Energy Pro Cycling, whilst Bradley Wiggins had left the World Tour's Team Sky shortly before his attempt, which was made in the colours of his own UCI Continental team WIGGINS.
As of October 2022, 26 attempts have been made for the men's record, eight successfully, while nine attempts have been made on the women's record, six of them successfully.
Unified hour record attempts (men's)
[edit]Following the change in the rules, German Jens Voigt became the first rider to attempt the hour, on 18 September 2014 at the Velodrome Suisse, Grenchen, Switzerland.[31][32] He set a new record of 51.110 km (31.758 mi), beating the previous record set by Sosenka by 1.41 km (0.88 mi).[12] On 30 October 2014, Matthias Brändle set a new record of 51.852 km (32.219 mi) at the World Cycling Center in Aigle, Switzerland.
Further attempts by Australians Jack Bobridge and Rohan Dennis, and the Dutchman Thomas Dekker came within a few weeks, between 31 January and 25 February 2015. Dennis was the only one of the three to set a new record, and in doing so was the first rider to cover more than 52 kilometres (32.3 mi). Dekker's attempt at the Aguascalientes Bicentenary Velodrome was the first attempt to take place at appreciable altitude. Aguascalientes is at 1,890 m (6,200 ft) above sea level, while Melbourne is at only 31 m (102 ft), and, although in Switzerland, Grenchen and Aigle are at 451 m (1,480 ft) and 415 m (1,362 ft) respectively, and not in the mountains. High altitude is thought to result in faster times, providing the rider takes the time to acclimatise to the conditions.[33] This is because the air density decreases with an increase in altitude, which reduces the aerodynamic drag.[34]
Having postponed an earlier scheduled attempt due to a broken collarbone incurred in a crash while training, British cyclist Alex Dowsett exceeded Dennis's mark, with a new record of 52.937 km (32.894 mi), at Manchester Velodrome on 2 May 2015.[35]
On 7 June 2015, Sir Bradley Wiggins broke Dowsett's record, by completing a distance of 54.526 km (33.881 mi) at the Lee Valley VeloPark in London.[36]
On 16 April 2019, Victor Campenaerts was the first to exceed 55 km/h by completing a distance of 55.089 km (34.231 mi) at the Velodromo Bicentenario in Aguascalientes.[37]
The UCI rules require an athlete to participate in its anti-doping system, including having a biological passport. When Daniel Bigham rode 54.723 km (34.003 mi) to break Wiggins's British national record on 1 October 2021[38] he was ineligible to attempt the UCI record as he was not part of the anti-doping system, estimating it would cost him £8,000.[39]
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 September 2014 | 43 | Velodrome Suisse, Grenchen, Switzerland (altitude 450m) | 51.110 (New record) |
Triathlon handlebar, Trek carbon fibre tubing frame, disc wheels,[41] chain on a 55/14 gear ratio.[42] | |||
| 30 October 2014 | 24 | World Cycling Centre Aigle, Switzerland (altitude 380m) | 51.852 (New record) |
Triathlon handlebar, SCOTT carbon fibre tubing frame, disc wheels, chain on a 55/13 gear ratio.[42] | |||
| 31 January 2015 | 24 | Darebin International Sports Centre, Melbourne, Australia | 51.300 (Failure) |
Triathlon handlebar, Cervelo carbon fibre tubing frame, disc wheels. | Failed to set new hour record. | ||
| 8 February 2015 | 24 | Velodrome Suisse, Grenchen, Switzerland (altitude 450m) | 52.491 (New record) |
Triathlon handlebar, BMC carbon fibre tubing frame, disc wheels, chain on a 56/14 gear ratio.[46] | |||
| 25 February 2015 | 30 | Aguascalientes Bicentenary Velodrome, Aguascalientes, Mexico | 52.221 (Failure) |
Koga TeeTeeTrack with Mavic Comete Track wheels, Koga components, Rotor cranks with a KMC (3/32") chain on a 58/14 gear ratio.[48] | First attempt at altitude (2000 m). Failed to set new hour record. | ||
| 14 March 2015 | 34 | Manchester Velodrome, Manchester, United Kingdom | 50.016 (Failure) |
Ridley carbon track bike with front and rear disc wheels, triathlon handlebars. | Failed to set new hour record. | ||
| 2 May 2015 | 26 | Manchester Velodrome, Manchester, United Kingdom[51] | 52.937 (New record) |
Canyon Speedmax WHR carbon track bike, with Campagnolo Pista disc wheels, Pista crankset with 54 or 55 or 56t chainring.[52][53] | |||
| 7 June 2015 | 35 | Lee Valley VeloPark, London, United Kingdom[54] | 54.526 (New record) |
Pinarello Bolide HR, SRAM Crankset,[55] modified front fork, custom printed handlebars,[56] 58/14 gear ratio.[57] | Set CURRENT sea-level world best. | ||
| 21 March 2016 | Velodrome Suisse, Grenchen, Switzerland | 48.255 (Failure) |
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| 16 September 2016 | 37 | Aguascalientes Bicentenary Velodrome, Aguascalientes, Mexico | 53.037 (Failure) |
Modified Diamondback Serios time trial bike, fitted with special HED disc wheels[59] and a gearing of 53/13[60] | Failed to set new hour record. | ||
| 28 January 2017 | 31 | Ballerup Super Arena, Ballerup, Denmark[62] | (Failure) |
Argon 18 Electron Pro, Mavic Comete discs, SRM + Fibre-Lyte chain ring, and a gearing of 54/13 | Failed to set new hour record. Attempt voided for doping, after Madsen's consumption of a contaminated food supplement. | ||
| 25 February 2017 | Velodrome Suisse, Grenchen, Switzerland | 48.337 (Failure) |
RB1213 track bike with double DT Swiss disc wheels | ||||
| 2 July 2017 | 32 | Arena Pruszków, Pruszków, Poland | 49.470 (Failure) |
BMC Trackmachine TR01, Mavic Comete disc wheels, Custom Prinzwear TT Suit | |||
| 7 October 2017 | 18 | Odense Cykelbane, Odense, Denmark[65] | 52.311 (Failure) |
Giant trinity track bike, Mavic disc wheels | Failed to set new hour record. | ||
| 11 January 2018 | 32 | Ballerup Super Arena, Ballerup, Denmark[66] | 52.324 (Failure) |
Argon 18 Electron Pro, Mavic Comete discs, SRM + Fibre-Lyte chain ring, and a gearing of 54/13 | Failed to set new hour record. | ||
| 26 July 2018 | 33 | Aguascalientes Bicentenary Velodrome, Aguascalientes, Mexico[67] | 53.630 (Failure) |
Argon 18 Electron Pro, Mavic Comete discs, SRM + Fibre-Lyte chain ring, and a gearing of 54/13 | Failed to set new hour record. | ||
| 22 August 2018 | 29 | Aguascalientes Bicentenary Velodrome, Aguascalientes, Mexico[69] | 52.757 (Failure) |
Customized Giant Trinity road frame, with a gearing of 58/14 | Failed to set new hour record. | ||
| 4 October 2018 | 19 | Odense Cykelbane, Odense, Denmark[70] | 53.730 (Failure) |
Giant trinity track bike, Mavic disc wheels | Failed to set new hour record. | ||
| 16 April 2019 | 27 | Aguascalientes Bicentenary Velodrome, Aguascalientes, Mexico (altitude 1887m)[71] | 55.089 (New record) |
Ridley Arena Hour Record bike, 330mm custom handlebars, custom handlebar extensions specifically moulded for Campenaerts's forearms, F-Surface Plus aero paint, Campagnolo drivetrain, full carbon disc Campagnolo Ghibli wheels, C-Bear bottom bracket bearings.[72] | |||
| 13 August 2019 | 34 | Odense Cykelbane, Odense, Denmark[73] | 53.975 (Failure) |
Failed to set new hour record. | |||
| 6 October 2019 | 22 | Odense Cykelbane, Odense, Denmark[74] | 52.061 (Failure) |
Failed to set new hour record. | |||
| 18 September 2020 | 30 | Velodrome Suisse, Grenchen, Switzerland (altitude 450m) | 52.116 (Failure) |
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| 23 October 2020 | 32 | Milton, Canada[75] | 51.304 (Failure) |
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| 3 November 2021 | 33 | Aguascalientes Bicentenary Velodrome, Aguascalientes, Mexico (altitude 1887m)[76] | 54.555 (Failure) |
Factor Hanzo time trial bike (track version), Aerocoach Aten chainring with 61/13 gearing, Aerocoach Ascalon extensions, custom Vorteq skinsuit, HED Volo disc wheels, Izumi Super Toughness KAI chain[77] | Failed to set new hour record. Set new British national record. | ||
| 19 August 2022 | 30 | Velodrome Suisse, Grenchen, Switzerland (altitude 450m) | 55.548 (New record) |
Prototype Pinarello Bolide F HR 3D[78] | |||
| 8 October 2022 | 26 | Velodrome Suisse, Grenchen, Switzerland (altitude 450m) | 56.792 (New record) |
Pinarello Bolide F HR 3D, 64t chain ring, 14t rear sprocket, Princeton Carbonworks wheelset, custom Bioracer Katana suit[78] | Beat Boardman's Best Human Effort | ||
| 14 August 2025 | 28 | Konya Velodrome, Konya, Turkey (altitude 1200m) | 53.976 (Failure) |
Hope-Lotus HB.T[79] | Failed to set new hour record. |
Unified hour record attempts (women's)
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The last women's hour record before the unified rule change was set on 1 October 2003 by Leontien van Moorsel, with a distance of 46.065 km (28.623 mi).
In December 2014, it was announced that British Paralympian Sarah Storey would be the first woman to attempt the record following the unified rule change. She attempted the record on 28 February 2015 at Lee Valley Velo Park in London, setting new British, Para-Cycling and Masters Age 35–39 records but missing out on the Elite record with a distance of 45.502 km (28.274 mi).[80]
American Molly Shaffer Van Houweling broke the women's UCI Hour Record, riding a distance of 46.273 km (28.753 mi) on 12 September 2015 in Aguascalientes, Mexico.[81] Van Houweling had set three new US Hour Records in the year prior. The first was set on 15 December 2014, in Carson, California, with a distance of 44.173 km (27.448 mi). The second was set on 25 February 2015, in Aguascalientes with a distance of 45.637 km (28.358 mi). The third was set on 3 July 2015, also in Aguascalientes, with a distance of 46.088 km (28.638 mi). This last mark was also the Pan-American and World Masters Age 40–44 record at the time, and exceeded the distance of the UCI hour record of van Moorsel. However, it did not qualify as the UCI Hour Record because Van Houweling had only been enrolled in the athlete biological passport program for three and a half months prior to setting this record. The UCI requires that riders be enrolled in this program for 5–10 months before they are eligible to set this mark.[82][83] From 24 August 2015, Van Houweling was eligible to attempt the UCI Hour Record.[84]
In October 2015, Australian rider Bridie O'Donnell announced her intention to aim for the hour record in January 2016. She broke the women's hour at the Adelaide Super-Drome on 22 January 2016, riding 46.882 km (29.131 mi). She was aged 41 years. Her record was broken by American rider Evelyn Stevens in the next month - the new record was 47.980 km (29.813 mi), more than a kilometre nearer to the 50 km (31 mi) barrier.
Italian rider Vittoria Bussi, after two unsuccessful attempts on 7 October 2017[85] and on 12 September 2018, broke Stevens' world record by 27 metres riding 48.007 km (29.830 mi) on 13 September 2018.[86]
British cyclist Joss Lowden set a new world record on 30 September 2021 with a distance of 48.405 km (30.077 mi), beating the previous record by just under 400 metres,[87] and also surpassing Jeannie Longo's Best Human Effort distance. Lowden completed a total of 193 laps of the Tissot Velodrome in Grenchen, Switzerland.[88]
On October 13, 2023, Vittoria Bussi set the world record again, at the Velodromo Bicentenario in Mexico, with a 50.267km distance.[89]
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 February 2015 | 37 | Lee Valley VeloPark, London, United Kingdom | 45.502 (Failure) |
Ridley Arena Carbon track bike with triathlon bars, Pro rear disc wheel, front disk wheel, Shimano Dura-Ace groupset.[90] | Beat Yvonne McGregor's previous British national record of 43.689 set in April 2002. New C5 Para-record, New Masters Age 35–39 record.[91] | ||
| 12 September 2015 | 42 | Aguascalientes Bicentenary Velodrome, Aguascalientes, Mexico (altitude 1887m) | 46.273 (New record) |
Metromint Cycling | Cervelo T4 track bike with double Mavic Comete discwheels, running 56/14 gear ratio.[81][92] | Beat her own national record of 46.088 km set on 3 July 2015, also in Aguascalientes, Mexico. | |
| 22 January 2016 | 41 | Super-Drome, Adelaide, Australia | 46.882 (New record) |
Cervelo T4 track bike.[93] | Set a new World Record, new sea-level World Best and National Record, besting Anna Wilson's former Australian national record of 43.501 km (set on October 18, 2000).[94] | ||
| 27 February 2016 | 32 | OTC Velodrome, Colorado, United States of America (altitude 1840m) | 47.980 (New record) |
Specialized Shiv modified for the track, SRAM groupset with 53t or 54t chainrings, Zipp 900 front wheel, Zipp Super 9 rear disc, Bioracer skinsuit. | Beat American national record. Outdoor 333.3 meter banked cement track.[95][96][97] | ||
| 21 July 2017 | 32 | Avantidrome, Cambridge, New Zealand | 47.791 (Failure) |
Failed to beat the absolute hour record. Set CURRENT sea-level world's best. New Zealand national record.[98] | |||
| 7 October 2017 | 30 | Aguascalientes Bicentenary Velodrome, Aguascalientes, Mexico | 47.576 (Failure) |
Giant Trinity track bike with Walker Brothers double-disc wheels | Failed to beat the hour record. Beat Italian national record[85][99] | ||
| 13 September 2018 | 31 | Aguascalientes Bicentenary Velodrome, Aguascalientes, Mexico (altitude 1887m) | 48.007 (New record) |
Endura skin suit, HVMN Ketone, and Liv Bike [100] | Failed to beat the hour record one day before, abandoning after 40 minutes. Beat the hour record by 27 metres the next day.[86] | ||
| 30 September 2021 | 33 | Velodrome Suisse in Grenchen, Switzerland (altitude 450m) | 48.405 (New record) |
LeCol x McLaren Skinsuit, Poc Tempor Helmet Argon18 Electron Pro track frame, WattShop Cratus chainrings (64x15 gear ratio) and WattShop Pentaxia Olympic/Anemoi handlebars/extensions, FFWD Disc-T SL wheels (front and rear w/ 23c Vittoria Pista tyres). Lowden may have used an 8.5mm pitch chain supplied by New Motion Labs.[88] | Beat Vittoria Bussi's record by 398 metres, and Jeannie Longo's best human effort by 246 metres. | ||
| 23 May 2022 | 35 | Velodrome Suisse in Grenchen, Switzerland (altitude 450m) | 49.254 (New record) |
Trek Speed Concept, Bontrager Race Space handlebar, Zipp Sub 9 Track wheels, Bontrager Hilo XXX saddle, 58x14 gear ratio[101] | Beat Joscelin Lowden's record by 849 metres.[102] | ||
| 13 October 2023 | 36 | Aguascalientes Bicentenary Velodrome, Aguascalientes, Mexico (altitude 1887m) | 50.267 (New record)[89] |
Beat Ellen van Dijk's record by 1013 metres.[103] | |||
| 10 May 2025 | 37 | Aguascalientes Bicentenary Velodrome, Aguascalientes, Mexico (altitude 1887m) | 50.455 (New record) |
Beat her own record by 188 metres. |
Statistics
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The above chart depicts the progression of the men's hour record over time (click to enlarge). Blue markers indicate attempts made under the UCI hour record, orange markers indicate attempts made under the UCI best human effort rules, and green markers indicate attempts made under the unified rules.
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The above chart depicts the progression of the women's hour record over time (click to enlarge). Blue markers indicate attempts made under the UCI hour record, orange markers indicate attempts made under the UCI best human effort rules, and green markers indicate attempts made under the unified rules.
Para-cycling records
[edit]The new regulations for the making of accepted hour record attempts were extended to para-cycling in 2016.[104] Although the first attempt on the hour record for women after the amendments to the regulations was made by Paralympian Sarah Storey, it was not a ratified attempt on the women's C5 hour record under the new conditions, which at that point still did not extend to paracycling – albeit that Storey's effort is recognized as a best C5 performance under the new rules, in addition to a British and masters world hour record in able-bodied cycling.
The first attempt on a para-cycling hour record after the new regulations were extended to para-cycling was by Irishman Colin Lynch in the C2 category, bettering the accepted best performance previously set by Laurent Thirionet in 1999 by 2 kilometres, and setting the first 'ratified' para-cycling world hour record. The mark of 43.133 km was achieved on 1 October at the National Cycling Centre in Manchester, Great Britain.[104]
Men's UCI para-cycling hour record
[edit]- Unified regulations (since 2016)
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 December 2018 | 50 | Berlin, Germany | 42.583 | [106] |
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 October 2016 | 45 | Manchester Velodrome, Manchester, England | 43.133 | ||||
| 16 July 2022[107] | 39 | Tissot Velodrome, Grenchen, Switzerland | 46.521 |
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 August 2025[108] | 46 | Konya Velodrome, Konya, Turkey | 51.471 | First Para-cyclist in history go beyond 50km |
Women's UCI para-cycling hour record
[edit]- Unified regulations (since 2016)
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 February 2015 | 37 | Manchester Velodrome Manchester, England | 45.502 (New record) |
Historical para-cycling hour record
[edit]- Men's UCI para-cycling hour record – Best Hour Performance & Absolute Hour Record (1991–2016)
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 September 1991 | Bordeaux, France | 44.661 | Best Hour Performance | ||||
| 13 December 2014 | Montichiari Velodrome, Montichiari, Italy | 47.569 | Absolute Hour Record |
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 September 1995 | Manchester Velodrome Manchester, England | 40.070 | Best Hour Performance | ||||
| 8 January 2005 | Manchester Velodrome Manchester, England | 41.817 | Best Hour Performance | ||||
| 14 February 2009 | Copenhagen, Denmark | 40.516 | Absolute Hour Record |
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 November 1999 | Bordeaux, France | 41.031 | Best Hour Performance |
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 May 2005 | 37 | Augsburg, Germany | 39.326 | Best Hour Performance |
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 November 1994 | Moscow, Russia | 48.696 | Best Hour Performance | ||||
| 29 November 1997 | Bordeaux, France | 49.625 | Best Hour Performance |
- Women's UCI para-cycling hour record – Best Hour Performance & Absolute Hour Record (1991–2016)
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 February 2015 | Lee Valley VeloPark, England | 45.502 |
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 September 2005 | Toireasa Gallagher |
Dunc Gray Velodrome, Sydney, Australia | 42.930 | Absolute Hour Record |
Masters records
[edit]Current records by age-group
[edit]| Age group | Male record [109] | Distance (KM) | Female record [110] | Distance (KM) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30–34 | 50.686 | 41.564 | ||
| 35–39 | 51.599 | 42.425 | ||
| 40–44 | 51.228 | 47.061 | ||
| 45–49 | 51.623 | 47.080 | ||
| 50–54 | 51.013 | 44.427 | ||
| 55–59 | 51.061[111] | 45.213 | ||
| 60–64 | 47.430 | 42.194 | ||
| 65–69 | 47.220 | 40.416 | ||
| 70–74 | 43.216 | 38.191 | ||
| 75–79 | 38.903 | 36.352 | ||
| 80–84 | 39.836 | 27.447 | ||
| 85–89 | 34.602 | No record set | ||
| 90–94 | 34.498 | No record set | ||
| 95–99 | 20.151 | No record set | ||
| 100–104 | 26.925 | No record set | ||
| 105+ | 22.546 | No record set |
Men's UCI Masters best performances
[edit]- Best Performances
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 November 2004 | VELO Sports Center, Carson, United States of America | 47.764 (New record) |
[112] | |||||
| 29 July 2017 | Newport Velodrome, Newport, Wales | 48.234 (New record) |
[113] | |||||
| 24 September 2017 | Mattamy National Cycling Centre, Milton, Canada | 45.325 (Failed) |
Failed to beat the previous hour record. Set a new national record.[114] | |||||
| 21 July 2019 | Arena Pruszków, Pruszków, Poland | 49.649(New record) | ||||||
| 18 August 2021 | Aguascalientes, Mexico | 50.094 (New record) |
[109] | |||||
| 15 September 2023 | Velodrome Suisse, Grenchen, Switzerland (altitude 450m) | 50.686 (New record) |
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 April 2009 | Dunc Gray Velodrome, Sydney, Australia | 48.315 (New record) |
[115] | ||||
| 6 October 2015 | 39 | Manchester Velodrome Manchester, England | 48.743 (New record) |
[113] | |||
| 21 December 2017 | 38 | Cambridge, New Zealand | 48.922 (New record) |
[116] | |||
| 22 August 2019 | 39 | Aguascalientes Bicentenary Velodrome, Aguascalientes, Mexico | 51.599 (New record) |
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 February 2013 | 43 | Dunc Gray Velodrome, Sydney, Australia | 48.411 (New record) |
[113] | |||
| 24 September 2017 | Mattamy National Cycling Centre, Milton, Canada | 48.587 (New record) |
[114] | ||||
| 27 January 2020 | 40 | Melbourne Arena Melbourne, Victoria | 51.228 (New record) |
[109] |
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 September 1999 | Manchester Velodrome Manchester, England | 49.361 (New record) |
[113] | ||||
| 22 November 2016 | OTC Velodrome, Colorado, United States of America | 46.895 (Failed) |
Planet X track bike | Set a new Irish national hour record, beating the previous record of 46.166 of Tommy Evans – set in 1999 – by 729 metres[117] | |||
| 20 July 2017 | 47 | Aguascalientes Bicentenary Velodrome, Aguascalientes, Mexico | 47.458 (Failed) |
Peet's Coffee Cycling Team | [118] | ||
| 22 September 2018 | 47 | Aguascalientes Bicentenary Velodrome, Aguascalientes, Mexico | 50.245 (New record) |
||||
| 7 October 2020 | 46 | Velodrom Novo Mesto, Novo Mesto, Slovenia | 50.590
(New record) |
[109] |
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44.890 (New record) |
[119] | ||||||
| 10 December 2009 | 53 | Home Depot Center velodrome, Carson, United States of America | 45.386 (New record) |
[120] | |||
| 9 October 2012 | Manchester Velodrome Manchester, England | 47.960 (New record) |
[121] | ||||
| 4 October 2015 | 50 | Vélodrome National de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Saint-Quentin en Yvelines, France | 45.799 (Failed) |
[121] | |||
| 6 November 2016 | 53 | Vélodrome National de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Saint-Quentin en Yvelines, France | 48.892 (New record) |
[113] | |||
| 24 September 2017 | Mattamy National Cycling Centre, Milton, Canada | 46.434 (Failed) |
Failed to beat the previous records. Set a new Canadian national record. | ||||
| 6 October 2017 | 54 | OTC Velodrome, Colorado, United States of America | 49.392 (New record) |
Argon 18 Electron Pro, Mavic Comet front and rear disc wheels, 53/13 gearing[122] | Set a new US Masters national hour record, beating the previous distance of 48.112 km (also held by Alvis). | ||
| 17 November 2017 | Aguascalientes Bicentenary Velodrome, Aguascalientes, Mexico | 48.469 (Failed) |
Planet X track bike | Set a new Irish national hour record, beating his own previous record of 46.860 km – set a year earlier in Colorado[123] | |||
| 29 September 2019 | 56 | OTC Velodrome, Colorado, United States of America | 49.383 (New record) |
||||
| 22 June 2022 | Aguascalientes Bicentenary Velodrome, Aguascalientes, Mexico | 51.013 (New record) |
[109] |
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 January 2012 | 57 | Home Depot Center velodrome, Carson, United States of America | 45.019 (New record) |
[120] | |||
| 19 March 2016 | 55 | Cambridge, New Zealand | 47.733 (New record) |
[113] | |||
| 20 July 2017 | 55 | Aguascalientes Bicentenary Velodrome, Aguascalientes, Mexico | 49.121 (New record) |
Peet's Coffee Cycling Team | [118] | ||
| 18 August 2021 | Aguascalientes Bicentenary Velodrome, Aguascalientes, Mexico | 49.387(New record) | [109] |
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | 44.228 (New record) |
[124] | |||||
| 30 September 2015 | 64 | Newport Velodrome, Newport, Wales | 44.349 (New record) |
Hounslow & District Wheelers | 49x14 gearing with a trispoke front and a rear disc, fitted with track tubulars[113][124] | ||
| 31 January 2020 | 60 | Arena Pruszków, Pruszków, Poland | 45.732 (New record) |
Alenka Žavbi Kunaver | S WORKS SHIV TT bike, VISION METRON track disk, BERK DILA seddle | Chainring 56, Track Cog 14 | |
| 29 April 2021 | 61 | Velodrom Novo Mesto, Novo Mesto, Slovenia | 46.255 (New record) |
Alenka Žavbi Kunaver | S WORKS SHIV TT bike, VISION METRON track disk, BERK DILA seddle | Chainring 57, Track Cog 14 | |
| 8 May 2021 | 60 | Cambridge, New Zealand | 47.360 (New record) |
[109] |
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 October 2012 | 65 | Manchester Velodrome Manchester, England | 43.742 (New record) |
[112] | |||
| 26 October 2016 | 65 | Newport Velodrome, Newport, Wales | 44.271 (New record) |
Hounslow & District Wheelers | [113] | ||
| 23 February 2020 | 66 | Dunc Gray Velodrome, Sydney, Australia | 44.62 (New record) |
[125] | |||
| 24 August 2024 | 65 | Mattamy National Cycling Centre, Milton, Canada | 44.662
(New Record) |
[139] | |||
| 8 February 2025 | 65 | Novo mesto Velodrome, Novo mesto, Slovenia | 46.142 (New record) |
Kolesarska zveza Slovenije | [126] |
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 September 2014 | 70 | Newport Velodrome, Newport, Wales | 41.227 (New record) |
[113] | |||
| 15 July 2017 | 70 | Aguascalientes Bicentenary Velodrome, Aguascalientes, Mexico | 43.216 (New record) |
[116] |
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33.000 (New record) |
[127] | ||||||
| October 2012 | 75 | Montichiari Velodrome, Montichiari, Italy | 35.728 (New record) |
[127] | |||
| 29 July 2014 | 75 | Aguascalientes Bicentenary Velodrome, Aguascalientes, Mexico | 38.494 (New record) |
[113] | |||
| 28 March 2022 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | 38.903 (New record) |
[109] |
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 84 | Lee Valley VeloPark, London, United Kingdom | 28.388 (New record) |
London Cycling Campaign | Condor track bike | [128] | |
| October 2015 | SIT Velodrome, Southland, New Zealand | 29.187 (New record) |
[127][129][130] | ||||
| 29 October 2015 | 81 | Newport Velodrome, Newport, Wales | 35.772 (New record) |
Stourbridge Cycling Club | [127][129][131] | ||
| 25 June 2016 | 82 | Vélodrome National de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines,
Saint-Quentin en Yvelines, France |
38.657 (New record) |
[113] | |||
| 20 August 2017 | Mattamy National Cycling Centre, Milton, Canada | 38.334 (Failed) |
Marinoni bike, 53/14 gearing | [132] | |||
| 24 September 2017 | Mattamy National Cycling Centre, Milton, Canada | 39.004 (New record) |
Marinoni bike, 53/14 gearing | [114] |
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 October 2016 | 87 | Vélodrome du Lac, Bordeaux, France | 34.095 (New record) |
[116] | |||
| 22 September 2019 | 85 | Newport Velodrome, Newport, Wales | 34.602 (New record) |
Stourbridge Cycling Club | [133] |
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 October 2017 | 90 | Vélodrome National de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines,
Saint-Quentin en Yvelines, France |
29.278 (New record) |
Cyclosport Club de Vesoul | [134] | ||
| 6 August 2019 | 91 | OTC Velodrome, Colorado, United States of America | 34.498 (New record) |
[135] |
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 April 2019 | 96 | Cambridge, New Zealand | 20.886 (New record) |
Avantidrome Velodrome | [136] |
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 February 2012 | 101 | World Cycling Centre Aigle, Switzerland | 24.250 (New record) |
[137] | |||
| 31 October 2014 | 103 | Vélodrome National de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines,
Saint-Quentin en Yvelines, France |
26.925 (New record) |
[113] |
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 January 2017 | 105 | Vélodrome National de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines,
Saint-Quentin en Yvelines, France |
22.546 (New record) |
[113] |
Women's UCI Masters best performances
[edit]- Best Performances [110]
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 April 2012 | 30 | Aguascalientes Bicentenary Velodrome, Aguascalientes, Mexico | 41.564 (New record) |
[138] |
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Manchester Velodrome Manchester, England | 40.7556 (New record) |
[139][140] | ||||
| 14 March 2015 | 38 | Dunc Gray Velodrome, Sydney, Australia | 41.386 (New record) |
Midland Cycle Club | [139] | ||
| 14 May 2016 | 35 | Newport Velodrome, Newport, Wales | 42.116 (New record) |
SSLL Racing Team | Cervelo T4 track bike, Zipp disc wheels[141] | [138] | |
| 24 September 2017 | Mattamy National Cycling Centre, Milton, Canada | 42.425 (New record) |
[142] |
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 July 2015 | 42 | Aguascalientes Bicentenary Velodrome, Aguascalientes, Mexico | 46.088 (New record) |
Metromint Cycling | Cervelo T4 track bike with double Mavic Comete discwheels, running 56/14 gear ratio. | [81][92] | |
| 14 July 2017 | 44 | Aguascalientes Bicentenary Velodrome, Aguascalientes, Mexico | 47.061 (New record) |
[138] |
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 September 2006 | Manchester Velodrome Manchester, England | 41.2397 (New record) |
[142][143] | ||||
| 24 September 2017 | Mattamy National Cycling Centre, Milton, Canada | 38.156 (Failure) |
|||||
| 24 September 2018 | 46 | Aguascalientes Bicentenary Velodrome, Aguascalientes, Mexico | 46.897 (New record) |
[110] | |||
| 19 August 2019 | 47 | Aguascalientes Bicentenary Velodrome, Aguascalientes, Mexico | 47.080 (New record) |
[110] |
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 March 2011 | 51 | Montichiari Velodrome, Montichiari, Italy | 39.402 (New record) |
[138] | |||
| 26 March 2017 | 52 | Melbourne Arena Melbourne, Victoria | 43.206 (New record) |
[142] | |||
| 24 September 2017 | Mattamy National Cycling Centre, Milton, Canada | 40.366 (Failed) |
Failed to beat the previous record. Set a new national record.[114] | ||||
| 9 March 2018 | 53 | Melbourne Arena Melbourne, Victoria | 44.427 (New record) |
[110] |
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 October 2014 | 55 | VELO Sports Center, Carson, United States of America | 40.946 (New record) |
[138] | |||
| 27 January 2020 | 55 | Melbourne Arena Melbourne, Victoria | 43.963 (New record) |
||||
| 4 February 2022 | 57 | Melbourne Arena Melbourne, Victoria | 45.213 (New record) |
[110] |
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 October 2014 | 63 | VELO Sports Center, Carson, United States of America | 41.116 (New record) |
[138] | |||
| 7 April 2019 | 62 | Aguascalientes Bicentenary Velodrome, Aguascalientes, Mexico | 42.194 (New record) |
[110] |
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 March 2010 | 65 | Melbourne Arena Melbourne, Victoria | 37.214 (New record) |
[138] | |||
| 28 September 2017 | 66 | VELO Sports Center, Carson, United States of America | 38.191 (New record) |
[142] |
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 October 2018 | 72 | Cambridge, New Zealand | 36.581 (New record) |
[110] | |||
| 12 December 2021 | 71 | Los Angeles, United States of America | 40.416 (New record) |
[110] |
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 October 2014 | 75 | VELO Sports Center, Carson, United States of America | 27.894 (New record) |
[138] | |||
| 10 February 2019 | 75 | Melbourne Arena Melbourne, Victoria | 36.352 (New record) |
[110] |
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 September 2019 | 80 | VELO Sports Center, Carson, United States of America | 27.447 (New record) |
[144] |
Junior records
[edit]Although the UCI does not recognise hour record attempts at the Junior age-group, there have been multiple record attempts made.
| Date | Rider | Age | Velodrome | Distance (km) | Supported by | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 November 2016 | 17-18 | Colorado Springs, USA | 47.595 (New record) |
||||
| 29 September 2021 | 17 | Adelaide Super-Drôme, Adelaide, Australia | 48.480 (New record) |
Port Adelaide Cycling Club / South Australian Sports Institute | |||
| 14 March 2022 | 17 | Geraint Thomas National Velodrome, Newport, Wales | 49.184 (New record) |
Holohan Coaching Race Team | |||
| 17 October 2022 | 18 | Aguascalientes Velodrome, Mexico | 50.792 (New record) |
Other bicycle hour records
[edit]There are alternative bicycle hour records that do not fit the UCI-sanctioned categories due to a strict definition of a "bicycle" in UCI.[149][citation needed]
| Distance km | Rider | Gender | Hour record type | Comments | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 92.439 | Men's | HPV | Vehicle: Metastretto - designed by rider,[150] streamlined 2-wheeled recumbent, backwards ridden, mirror navigated. | 2016 | |
| 84.02 | Women's | HPV | 4th fastest person at the time. Vehicle: Varna Tempest - low-racer, 2-wheeled FWD, SWB, canopy bubble | 2009 | |
| 83.013 | Men's | HPV multi-rider, HPV tandem,
HPV tricycle. |
Vehicle: Cieo Tandem tricycle – Independent drivetrain, captain supine elevated above stoker – laying on back headfirst | 2013 | |
| 81.63 | Men's | HPV tricycle (single rider) | Vehicle: Phantom Mini-T – designed & built by Tim Corbett[151] | 2019 | |
| 66.042 | Women's | HPV tricycle | Vehicle: Varna 24 - Delta trike (two wheels in back), head bubble, FWD | ||
| 60.61 | Men's | HPV upright position | 1989 | ||
| 57.637 | Men's | Recumbent bike – Unfaired | Vehicle: Modified M5 highracer recumbent, SRM crankset. Estimated 325 watts power output. | 2016 | |
| 51.31 | Men's | Streamlined Enclosed Upright Bicycle | Titanium road racing bike with stretched fabric fairing by Chet Kyle. First "modern" HPV record. | 1979 | |
| 51.194 | Men's | Tandem | UK National Tandem. Unconfirmed as World Tandem Record. | 2003 | |
| 50.492 | Men's | Recumbent Tricycle – unfaired | Vehicle: Phantom Mini-T – Designed & built by Tim Corbett[152] | 2022 | |
| 46.946 | Men's | Madison Hour Record | Outdoor track, Vehicles: Fixed gear with aerobars | 2023 | |
| 46.7 | Men's | Road Time Trial (TT) Bike | Outdoor track, recorded on Strava. Vehicle: Trek Speed Concept | 2015 | |
| 44.749 | Men's | Arm Powered | Vehicle: Recumbent trike | 2019 | |
| 42.93 | Women's | Tandem open, Tandem paralympic | Visually-impaired stoker (Lindy Hou) | 2005 | |
| 38.154 | Men's | Cargo Utility Bike | Vehicle: Omnium – aerobars, rear 700c disk, front 20 inch, unloaded, wood platform removed due to windy conditions | 2018 | |
| 37.417 | Men's | No hands riding.
Mountain bike at altitude. |
Vehicle: Aluminium mountain bike | 2009 | |
| 35.258 | Women's | Ice tricycle (unfaired, recumbent) | Vehicle: Rear wheel powered, front skate steering, rear outrigger skate | 2015 | |
| 35.245 | Men's | Mountain bike (low altitude) | Outdoor, on hilly loop road. Vehicle: Mountain bike with knobby tires and aerobar, shirtless | 2006 | |
| 34.547 | Men's | Penny farthing | Unpaced. Also holds paced penny farthing record 35.743 km. (Penny farthing record rules allow pacing.) | 2019 | |
| 33.365 | Men's | Unicycle | Vehicle: geared 36" unicycle[153] | 2021 | |
| 30.95 | Men's | Wheelie (riding a bike on one wheel) | Outdoor[154] | 2020 | |
| 23.412 | Women's | Penny Farthing | Unpaced on the Jerry Baker Velodrome in Redmond, Washington USA | 2023 | |
| 20.294 | Men's | Penny Farthing, riding using one leg only | The left pedal was removed entirely from the penny farthing, ensuring that it could not be used. [155] | 2024 | |
| 19.76 | Men's | Riding using one leg only | Outdoor on road time trial bike | 2020 | |
| 19.3 | Men's | Wooden bike | Vehicle: Wooden bike built by himself and students, wood chain, 8 spokes, aerobar | 2016 | |
| 17.7 | Men's | PediCab/Ricksaw | No passenger | 2019 | |
| 0.918 | Women's | Slowest hour record | Requires gears, no fixed gear, no brakes, always moving forward. Tied with Davide Formolo in Pursuit-style race.[156] | 2021 | |
| 0.918 | Men's | Slowest hour record | Requires gears, no fixed gear, no brakes, always moving forward. Tied with Maria Sperotto in Pursuit-style race.[156] | 2021 |
Timing of the record
[edit]At the conclusion of the hour, the rider is inevitably part-way round a lap. They complete that lap (meaning they actually cycle for more than an hour). The distance completed in the hour is determined by adding the fraction of that final lap, calculated from the ratio of the time remaining at the start of that lap to the time taken for that lap, to the preceding completed laps.
Times are required to be measured to a thousandth of a second. Distances are rounded down to a complete metre and records can be beaten only by at least one metre.[157]
Notes
[edit]- ^ Hutchinson, Michael (2007). The Hour. Penguin Random House. ISBN 9780224075206. (Michael Hutchinson. p. 119-120) It is reported that as professionals, Egg and Berthet ensured not to beat the record by too much of a distance, enabling them both to continue to repeatedly break the record and receive lucrative appearance fees
- ^ Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill (2011-10-16). The Historical Dictionary of Cycling. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810871755. (Jeroen Heijmans, Bill Mallon) lists three further records after Dodds but before Herbert Cortis. Listed only by surname, 1877, Shopee in Cambridge, 26.960, 1878, Weir, in Oxford, 28.542 and Christie, in 1879, 30.374, also in Oxford.
- ^ "Berthet/Egg Hour Record". Oscar Egg's original distance was recorded at 42.122 km. In July 1913 Richard Weise beat this mark, but following protest from Egg the Buffalo track was re-measured and his result changed to 42.360 km, cancelling out Weise's record
- ^ "The history of the recumbent bicycle". On 7 July 1933 Francis Faure rode 45.055 km on a "Velocar" beating Egg's record. This led to the UCI imposing rules regarding bicycle dimensions on 1 April 1934 and Faure's record was moved into a new category, "Records Set By Human Powered Vehicles (HPV's) without Special Aerodynamic Features"
- ^ Howard, Paul (2008). Sex Lies and Handlebar tape, p237-239. Mainstream Publishing Company, Limited. ISBN 9781845963019. (Paul Howard) Anquetil set a record time in 1967 of 47.493 km but the record was never ratified by the UCI following Anquetil's refusal to take a post race doping control, and on 13 October the UCI voted not to allow the record.
References
[edit]- ^ Mallon, Jeroen Heijmans, Bill (2011-09-09). Historical dictionary of cycling. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, Inc. ISBN 978-0-8108-7369-8. Archived from the original on 2018-12-08. Retrieved 2016-11-06.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill (2011-10-16). Historical Dictionary of Cycling. Scarecrow Press. p. 381. ISBN 9780810871755.
- ^ "Hour Record: The tangled history of an iconic feat". Cycling Weekly. 2015-04-15. Archived from the original on 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2015-12-02.
- ^ Cycling 26 November 1987
- ^ Revolutionary Times – The Birth of the Women’s Hour Record Archived 2018-09-21 at the Wayback Machine – SB Nation's Podium Café, Feargal McKay, 11 September 2018
- ^ "Radio Marconi, Article on Alfonsina Strada". Archived from the original on 2012-02-16. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
- ^ Clemitson, Suze (2014-05-13). "Celebrating Alfonsina Strada, the woman who cycled the Giro d'Italia". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2017-07-04. Retrieved 2021-10-02.
- ^ "The BNA". Hull Daily Mail. 1947-10-25. Archived from the original on 2021-10-01. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
- ^ "Mlle Bonneau a battu le record du monde de l'heure". Le Monde. 1947-10-27. Archived from the original on 2021-10-01. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
- ^ "March 25 down the years". ESPN.co.uk. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- ^ Meilleure Performance Sur Piste FSGT, https://www.cnav-club.fr/uploads/69/Record%20de%20l'heure%20%20FSGT%20Mars%202020.pdf Archived 2021-10-02 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d e Clemitson, Suze (19 September 2014). "Why Jens Voigt and a new group of cyclists want to break the Hour record". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 September 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
- ^ Stephen Farrand (23 January 2014). "Gallery: Francesco Moser's hour record". Cyclingnews.com. Archived from the original on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Chronic of the Hour Record". Archived from the original on 16 November 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- ^ a b c d "World Hour Records". Archived from the original on 6 January 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- ^ Colnago, Ernesto (2004-03-19). "Ernesto Colnago 50th Anniversary Interview". cyclingnews.com. Archived from the original on 2012-11-11. Retrieved 2021-10-02.
- ^ Laughlin, Ronan Mc (2022-06-21). "Retro tech: The TT bike that continues to define Pinarello". Velo. Retrieved 2023-06-09.
- ^ Simon Smythe (2015-12-12). "Icons of cycling: Miguel Indurain's Pinarello Espada". cyclingweekly.com. Retrieved 2023-06-09.
- ^ James, Martin (2022-02-09). "Colnago's classic bike collection". Cyclist. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
- ^ a b "Women Elite – World Records" (PDF). UCI.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 June 2019.
- ^ "Maria Cressari". Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-02-27.
- ^ "Keetie Van Ooosten breaks hour record". pzc. 18 September 1978.
- ^ "Van Ooosten breaks hour record". pzc. 16 September 1978. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-02-27.
- ^ "Leontien van Moorsel breaks hour record". pzc. 2 October 2003. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-02-27.
- ^ "Bike Cult — Sports Records". bikecult. Archived from the original on 2015-01-24. Retrieved 2015-02-26.
- ^ "Hour Record rule change — Athlete's hour to be scrapped". Cycling Weekly. 15 May 2014. Archived from the original on 25 September 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- ^ "UCI changes hour record regulations, allows modern track bikes". VeloNews.com. 2014-05-15. Archived from the original on 2014-09-18. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- ^ "How the Hour Record Will Save Cycling". Outside Online. 2014-06-05. Archived from the original on 2014-09-24. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- ^ "Cookson reveals that people have come forward to the CIRC Reform Commission". Cyclingnews.com. 23 May 2014. Archived from the original on 10 September 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- ^ "Voigt breaks world hour record". Cycling News. 2014-09-18. Archived from the original on 2019-08-24. Retrieved 2019-09-18.
The Trek Factory Racing rider called an end to his road career at the USA Pro Challenge in Colorado in August, 2014, but soon announced his attempt at the record.
- ^ Giles Richards (2014-09-13). "The Agenda: Jens Voigt aims to break one of cycling's toughest records". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2014-09-17. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- ^ "Answered: 11 questions about Jens Voigt's hour record attempt". VeloNews.com. 2014-09-15. Archived from the original on 2014-09-18. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- ^ CyclingTips (2015-01-07). "Dekker to bid for world hour record at altitude in Mexico at end of February". cyclingtips.com.au. Archived from the original on 2015-02-27. Retrieved 2015-02-26.
- ^ "The Hour Record At Altitude". wolfgang-menn.de. Archived from the original on 2015-02-27. Retrieved 2015-02-26.
- ^ "Alex Dowsett sets new Hour Record of 52.937km". Cycling News. 2 May 2015. Archived from the original on 6 May 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
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External links
[edit]Hour record
View on GrokipediaDefinition and Regulations
Overview of the Hour Record
The Hour Record is the greatest distance cycled in one hour from a standing start on a track bicycle.[1] Governed by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the event requires riders to complete exactly 60 minutes of continuous effort on a velodrome without a flying start, emphasizing raw endurance and power output.[8] Regarded as the "Holy Grail" of cycling, the Hour Record holds immense prestige due to its solitary nature and extreme physical demands, testing a rider's aerobic capacity, threshold power, and mental resilience in isolation.[9] Unlike team-based or tactical events, it strips away external variables, focusing solely on individual performance against the clock. Basic equipment for the Hour Record consists of track bicycles compliant with UCI regulations for track endurance events, permitting aerodynamic features such as pursuit-style frames, clip-on handlebar extensions, disc wheels, and optimized components while ensuring safety and fairness.[1] The event is open to professional and amateur riders licensed under UCI governance, excluding tandem bicycles or those designed for non-track use, with attempts requiring prior approval from national federations and UCI technical verification.[10][8] Riders must also be enrolled in the UCI Registered Testing Pool and comply with anti-doping protocols, including the biological passport.[8] In distinction from other endurance events like road races, the Hour Record is a pure time trial conducted entirely on an indoor or outdoor velodrome, where riders maintain a consistent pace without drafting or competition from others.[1] This format highlights the event's purity as a benchmark of human cycling potential under controlled conditions.Evolution of UCI Rules
Before the formalization of rules by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) in 1972, hour record attempts were tracked informally by various cycling organizations and velodromes, with minimal oversight and no standardized equipment restrictions, permitting a wide range of bike positions and technologies that evolved alongside early bicycle innovations.[2] In 1972, the UCI introduced standardized regulations for the hour record, emphasizing traditional upright riding positions and limiting technological advancements to preserve the event's focus on human endurance, explicitly banning supine or extreme aerodynamic setups to align with conventional track cycling norms.[7] The 1990s saw significant controversies as riders experimented with non-traditional positions, such as Graeme Obree's "Old Faithful" tucked posture and later "Superman" prone extension, alongside Chris Boardman's use of aero bars and streamlined frames, sparking debates over fairness and tradition that pressured the UCI to intervene.[1] In 1997, the UCI responded by establishing two distinct categories—the official UCI Hour Record, which reverted to the 1972 Merckx-era specifications prohibiting extensions, aero bars, time trial helmets, and composite wheels to maintain historical integrity, and the Best Human Effort (or Athlete's Hour), which allowed more advanced equipment—effectively reclassifying post-1972 records into the latter to retroactively apply the stricter standards.[1][11] This bifurcation persisted until 2014, when the UCI unified the categories into a single modern framework, reversing prior restrictions to permit contemporary aerodynamic track pursuit bikes, positions, and components compliant with existing UCI track endurance event rules, with the goal of revitalizing interest and encouraging more attempts while eliminating the dual-class system.[12][13] Since 2014, the UCI has made only minor adjustments to the hour record regulations, primarily addressing safety protocols such as enhanced medical supervision and precise distance measurement via approved timing systems, with no substantive alterations to equipment or positional allowances in force as of November 2025, though updates including minimum handlebar widths and rim depth limits are scheduled for 2026-2027.[12][14]Historical Records
Pre-UCI Era (Before 1972)
The hour record in cycling traces its origins to the late 19th century, when enthusiasts in Europe began formalizing attempts to cover the greatest distance possible in one hour on a velodrome track. The first officially recognized effort occurred on May 11, 1893, when French cyclist Henri Desgrange rode 35.325 kilometers at the Buffalo Velodrome in Paris, using a standard safety bicycle of the era without advanced aerodynamics or gearing.[2] This milestone, set by the future founder of the Tour de France, marked the beginning of a pursuit that blended individual endurance with emerging track technology, initially governed loosely by national cycling bodies rather than a unified international authority.[2] In the early 20th century, the record saw significant advancements driven by competitive rivalries and incremental improvements in bicycle design. Swiss rider Oscar Egg dominated this period, setting multiple marks between 1912 and 1914, including a standout 44.247 kilometers on June 18, 1914, at the Vélodrome d'Hiver in Paris aboard a single-speed bike on a cement track.[2] French cyclist Marcel Berthet also contributed notably, breaking Egg's record temporarily in 1913 with 43.775 kilometers before Egg reclaimed it.[2] These efforts highlighted the era's simplicity, with riders relying on wooden or cement velodromes and basic steel frames, often without derailleurs, and distances boosted occasionally by high-altitude venues like Denver in 1898, where American William Hamilton achieved 40.781 kilometers.[2] The interwar and post-World War II periods brought further progress, particularly in the 1930s through the 1960s, as multi-speed derailleurs became more common, allowing riders to maintain optimal cadence over the hour. Italian Giuseppe Olmo set 45.090 kilometers in 1935 at Milan, followed by compatriot Fausto Coppi's benchmark of 45.848 kilometers on November 7, 1942, also in Milan, using a geared bike on a wooden track that emphasized raw power and pacing strategy.[2] French stars Jacques Anquetil and Roger Rivière advanced the mark in the 1950s, with Anquetil's 46.159 kilometers on June 29, 1956, in Milan and Rivière's 47.346 kilometers on September 23, 1958, reflecting refined training methods and slightly more aerodynamic positions, though still far from modern standards.[2] By the late 1960s, Belgian Ferdinand Bracke reached 48.093 kilometers in Rome on October 30, 1967, showcasing the growing influence of professional preparation.[2] These pre-UCI attempts were cultural spectacles, drawing thousands to velodromes across Europe as displays of national prowess and human limits, often tied to grand prix events that celebrated cycling's golden age before formal international regulation in 1972.[2]UCI Hour Record Period (1972-2014)
The UCI Hour Record period from 1972 to 2014 represented a formalized era in track cycling, where the International Cycling Union (UCI) established strict regulations to govern attempts, beginning with Eddy Merckx's benchmark performance of 49.431 km on a conventional steel-framed bicycle at high altitude in Mexico City.[2] This distance, achieved without advanced aerodynamics, served as the official starting point after the UCI's 1972 standardization, contrasting the informal pre-UCI era and emphasizing rider physiology over equipment.[2] The record remained intact for over a decade, highlighting the physical demands of the event until technological innovations began to push boundaries in the 1980s. In the early phase from 1972 to 1984, progress was gradual, with Merckx's mark underscoring the era's reliance on traditional upright positions and round wheels. The breakthrough came in 1984 when Francesco Moser shattered the record twice in Mexico City, first reaching 50.808 km and then 51.151 km, introducing disc wheels and skin suits that reduced drag significantly.[15] These advancements marked the onset of an "arms race" in equipment, sparking debates over fairness as costs escalated and accessibility diminished for non-elite riders.[2] The 1990s accelerated innovation, particularly with the introduction of carbon fiber frames and unconventional aerodynamics. Graeme Obree set a new mark of 51.596 km on July 17, 1993, in Hamar, Norway, employing his self-designed "superman" position—arms extended forward and chest low—to minimize wind resistance on a homemade frame.[16] Shortly after, on July 23, 1993, Chris Boardman claimed 52.270 km in Bordeaux, France, using a lightweight carbon bike that exemplified the material's advantages in stiffness and weight reduction.[17] Obree reclaimed the record on April 27, 1994, at 52.713 km in Bordeaux, further refining his tuck technique despite UCI scrutiny over its ergonomics. These efforts culminated in Miguel Indurain's 53.040 km on September 27, 1994, and Tony Rominger's successive improvements to 53.832 km on October 22, 1994, and then 55.291 km on November 5, 1994, the latter standing as the era's pinnacle of aero-optimized performance before regulatory intervention.[2] The 1997 UCI rule change profoundly impacted the discipline by banning time-trial helmets, disc or tri-spoke wheels, and non-traditional riding positions to preserve the event's purity, effectively reverting the official UCI Hour Record to Merckx's 1972 distance while reclassifying post-1972 marks as "best human efforts."[17] This decision, aimed at curbing technological dominance and doping suspicions amid the EPO era, stifled further official progress until 2014 but preserved a legacy of innovation from steel to carbon composites. Controversies arose over the bans' retroactive nature, as riders like Obree and Boardman saw their achievements demoted, fueling perceptions of the UCI prioritizing tradition over evolution.[18]Men's Holders (1972-1994)
| Date | Rider (Nationality) | Distance (km) | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Oct 1972 | Eddy Merckx (BEL) | 49.431 | Mexico City, Mexico | Benchmark on steel bike at altitude; stood for 12 years.[2] |
| 19 Jan 1984 | Francesco Moser (ITA) | 50.808 | Mexico City, Mexico | First use of disc wheels and skin suit.[15] |
| 23 Jan 1984 | Francesco Moser (ITA) | 51.151 | Mexico City, Mexico | Refined aero setup; initiated tech era.[15] |
| 7 Sep 1993 | Chris Boardman (GBR) | 52.270 | Manchester, UK | Carbon fiber bike debut.[19] |
| 27 Apr 1994 | Graeme Obree (GBR) | 52.583 | Bordeaux, France | Homemade bike with tuck position.[20] |
| 27 Sep 1994 | Miguel Indurain (ESP) | 53.040 | Bordeaux, France | Professional aero optimization.[21] |
| 27 Oct 1994 | Tony Rominger (SUI) | 53.832 | Bordeaux, France | High cadence on advanced frame.[22] |
| 5 Nov 1994 | Tony Rominger (SUI) | 55.291 | Bordeaux, France | Final pre-ban aero record.[22] |
Women's Holders (1972-1996)
Women's attempts were notably fewer during this period, reflecting limited resources and focus compared to men's events, with Jeannie Longo dominating advancements.| Date | Rider (Nationality) | Distance (km) | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Nov 1972 | Maria Cressari (ITA) | 41.471 | Mexico City, Mexico | UCI record at altitude.[23] |
| 16 Sep 1978 | Keetie van Oosten (NED) | 43.082 | Munich, Germany | UCI record; improved multiple distance records.[23] |
| 20 Sep 1986 | Jeannie Longo (FRA) | 44.767 | Colorado Springs, USA | Best human effort; early aero suit use.[23] |
| 23 Sep 1987 | Jeannie Longo (FRA) | 44.933 | Colorado Springs, USA | Best human effort; incremental improvement.[23] |
| 1 Oct 1989 | Jeannie Longo (FRA) | 46.352 | Mexico City, Mexico | Best human effort at altitude.[23] |
| 29 Apr 1995 | Catherine Marsal (FRA) | 47.112 | Bordeaux, France | Best human effort.[23] |
| 17 Jun 1995 | Yvonne McGregor (GBR) | 47.411 | Manchester, UK | Best human effort; indoor velodrome push.[23] |
| 26 Oct 1996 | Jeannie Longo (FRA) | 48.159 | Mexico City, Mexico | Best human effort; superman position; era's peak before rules capped tech.[23][24] |
Unified Modern Records
2014 Rule Unification
In the years following the UCI's restrictive rule changes in 2000, which mandated the use of traditional upright bicycles similar to those employed by Eddy Merckx in 1972, interest in the Hour Record waned dramatically, with no successful attempts recorded after Ondřej Sosenka's 2005 mark of 49.700 km. This decline stemmed from the prohibition of aerodynamic innovations, time-trial equipment, and alternative rider positions that had previously driven progress in the event. In May 2014, the UCI announced a major reversal, unifying the previously separate "UCI Hour Record" and "Best Human Effort" categories into a single framework to revitalize the discipline.[13] The motivations for this unification were rooted in a desire to align Hour Record regulations with contemporary track pursuit standards, thereby encouraging greater participation from elite athletes and fostering technological development within UCI-approved boundaries. The changes responded directly to advocacy from prominent figures such as Chris Boardman, a two-time record holder, and Bradley Wiggins, who publicly called for modernization to make the event more relevant and accessible in the modern era. By permitting equipment used in individual pursuit events—such as carbon fiber frames, disc wheels, and aerodynamic handlebars—the UCI aimed to boost sponsorship interest and spectator engagement, reversing the stagnation that had persisted for over a decade.[26][12] Key regulatory updates included requiring bicycles to conform strictly to UCI specifications for track endurance events, allowing low aerodynamic riding positions (with the rider's torso nearly parallel to the ground and handlebars below saddle height) but explicitly banning recumbent or fully supine designs. These rules took effect immediately upon announcement in May 2014, enabling rapid resurgence in the event.[13][27] Initial reactions to the unification were divided: traditionalists and purists expressed concern that incorporating advanced aerodynamics diluted the event's emphasis on raw human endurance, while innovators and riders hailed it as a progressive step that honored the sport's innovative heritage. This shift nonetheless catalyzed a notable uptick in attempts, beginning with Jens Voigt's successful ride in September 2014. The framework has proven enduring, remaining unchanged through 2025 with no significant alterations, solidifying its role in contemporary track cycling.[26][3]Men's Unified Hour Records
The unified men's hour record, established under the UCI's 2014 rule changes allowing modern track pursuit bikes with aerodynamic enhancements, saw a resurgence beginning with Jens Voigt's pioneering attempt. On September 18, 2014, the 43-year-old German rider covered 51.110 km at the Velodrome Suisse in Grenchen, Switzerland, marking the first successful effort under the new regulations and reigniting interest in the discipline.[28] This distance was quickly surpassed by Matthias Brändle, who rode 51.852 km on October 30, 2014, in Aigle, Switzerland.[2] The following year, Rohan Dennis extended the mark to 52.491 km on February 8, 2015, also in Grenchen.[29] The progression accelerated in 2015 with British riders dominating. Alex Dowsett set 52.937 km on May 2, 2015, at the National Cycling Centre in Manchester.[30] Just over a month later, Bradley Wiggins shattered the record with 54.526 km on June 7, 2015, at the Lee Valley VeloPark in London, utilizing an optimized aerodynamic setup including a custom Pinarello bike and skinsuit.[31] This sea-level performance highlighted the role of advanced bike technology, such as disc wheels and low-profile frames, in pushing boundaries without relying on altitude. The record stood until 2019, when Victor Campenaerts achieved 55.089 km on April 16, 2019, at the 1,880-meter-high Bicentenario Velodrome in Aguascalientes, Mexico, benefiting from reduced air density that lowers drag by approximately 5-7% compared to sea level.[12][32] The record evolved further in 2022 amid a wave of attempts. Dan Bigham covered 55.548 km on August 19, 2022, in Grenchen, employing data-driven optimizations from his role as an aerospace engineer, including wind tunnel-tested positioning.[3] Less than two months later, Filippo Ganna established the current benchmark of 56.792 km on October 8, 2022, also in Grenchen, on a Pinarello Bolide F time trial bike equipped with advanced carbon fiber components and integrated power metering for precise pacing.[33] Ganna's effort required an estimated sustained power output of around 480 watts, underscoring the physiological demands of maintaining near-maximal effort for 60 minutes.[34] No successful challenges have occurred since Ganna's ride. In 2025, Charlie Tanfield attempted the record on August 14 in Konya, Turkey, but covered only 53.967 km, falling short due to pacing inconsistencies despite strong early laps.[35] Key technological and environmental factors influencing these attempts include altitude for reduced aerodynamic drag, as seen in Campenaerts' ride, and innovations in bike design such as optimized tubing and wheel aerodynamics. Positions emphasizing low drag, akin to pursuit setups, remain central, though UCI regulations prohibit overly unstable postures to ensure safety.[32]List of Holders
| Rider | Date | Location | Distance (km) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jens Voigt (GER) | 18 Sep 2014 | Grenchen, Switzerland | 51.110 |
| Matthias Brändle (AUT) | 30 Oct 2014 | Aigle, Switzerland | 51.852 |
| Rohan Dennis (AUS) | 8 Feb 2015 | Grenchen, Switzerland | 52.491 |
| Alex Dowsett (GBR) | 2 May 2015 | Manchester, UK | 52.937 |
| Bradley Wiggins (GBR) | 7 Jun 2015 | London, UK | 54.526 |
| Victor Campenaerts (BEL) | 16 Apr 2019 | Aguascalientes, Mexico | 55.089 |
| Dan Bigham (GBR) | 19 Aug 2022 | Grenchen, Switzerland | 55.548 |
| Filippo Ganna (ITA) | 8 Oct 2022 | Grenchen, Switzerland | 56.792 |
Women's Unified Hour Records
The women's unified hour record, introduced after the UCI's 2014 rule unification that allowed time trial equipment, marked a new era for female cyclists seeking to maximize distance in one hour. The initial benchmark under these rules was surpassed quickly, with American cyclist Molly Shaffer Van Houweling covering 46.273 km on 12 September 2015 at the high-altitude Velodromo Bicentenario in Aguascalientes, Mexico, eclipsing the prior best human effort of 46.065 km set in 2003.[6] This paved the way for a progression driven by specialized training, aerodynamic optimizations, and strategic venue choices, though attempts remain less frequent than in the men's category due to structural barriers in women's cycling infrastructure. Subsequent records built on this foundation, showcasing advancements in power output and equipment tailored to female physiology, such as scaled-down time trial frames with optimized aerodynamics similar to those used by men but adjusted for smaller statures. Key holders include Australian Bridie O'Donnell, who improved to 46.882 km on January 22, 2016, at the Adelaide Super-Drome, and American Evelyn Stevens, who pushed it to 47.980 km on February 27, 2016, at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center Velodrome.[6] Italian Vittoria Bussi entered the fray in 2018 with 48.007 km on September 13 at Aguascalientes, a mark later extended by British rider Joscelin Lowden to 48.405 km on September 30, 2021, at the Velodrome Suisse in Grenchen, Switzerland.[6] The record continued to evolve with Dutch cyclist Ellen van Dijk's 49.254 km on May 23, 2022, also at Grenchen's Tissot Velodrome, highlighting the benefits of sustained high-cadence efforts in controlled conditions.[36] Bussi reclaimed and extended the mark multiple times, reaching 50.267 km on October 13, 2023, at Aguascalientes—becoming the first woman to break 50 km—and further to 50.455 km on May 10, 2025, at the same venue after a brief retirement.[6] This latest achievement underscores Bussi's dominance, achieved through meticulous preparation including altitude acclimatization, though no further improvements have been recorded as of November 2025.| Date | Rider | Distance (km) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 September 2015 | Molly Shaffer Van Houweling (USA) | 46.273 | Velodromo Bicentenario, Aguascalientes, Mexico |
| 22 January 2016 | Bridie O'Donnell (AUS) | 46.882 | Adelaide Super-Drome, Australia |
| 27 February 2016 | Evelyn Stevens (USA) | 47.980 | Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center Velodrome, USA |
| 13 September 2018 | Vittoria Bussi (ITA) | 48.007 | Velodromo Bicentenario, Aguascalientes, Mexico |
| 30 September 2021 | Joscelin Lowden (GBR) | 48.405 | Velodrome Suisse, Grenchen, Switzerland |
| 23 May 2022 | Ellen van Dijk (NED) | 49.254 | Tissot Velodrome, Grenchen, Switzerland |
| 13 October 2023 | Vittoria Bussi (ITA) | 50.267 | Velodromo Bicentenario, Aguascalientes, Mexico |
| 10 May 2025 | Vittoria Bussi (ITA) | 50.455 | Velodromo Bicentenario, Aguascalientes, Mexico |
Specialized Categories
Para-Cycling Hour Records
Para-cycling hour records are governed by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and categorized according to specific classifications that account for the type and severity of impairments. The C classifications (C1 to C5) apply to cyclists with upper-body or lower-limb impairments, such as limb deficiencies or restricted muscle power, where C1 represents the most severe impairment and C5 the least. Handcycle classes (H1 to H5) are for athletes using hand-propelled cycles due to lower-limb disabilities, with H1 indicating the highest level of impairment (e.g., tetraplegia) and H5 the lowest. Tricycle classes (T1 and T2) accommodate riders with balance or neurological issues who cannot use standard bicycles. Records are maintained separately for men and women within these classes, with unified UCI rules applied since 2014, including adaptations for equipment and track conditions. Prior to 2014, para-cycling hour attempts were largely informal and not officially ratified by the UCI, often conducted under national or event-specific guidelines without standardized equipment rules. The UCI began formalizing para-cycling disciplines in the early 2000s, integrating them into world championships, but dedicated hour records emerged later; the first official UCI-sanctioned para hour record was set in 2016 by Irish cyclist Colin Lynch in the men's C1 class, covering 41.310 km at the Manchester Velodrome.[38] This marked a shift toward regulated attempts, with increased focus post-2016 as para-cycling gained prominence in events like the Paralympics. Women's attempts remained sparse during this period, reflecting broader challenges in access to high-altitude velodromes and specialized training.[39] Adaptations for para-cycling hour records include modified track bicycles tailored to impairments, such as adjustable cranks or pedal systems for C-class riders with leg restrictions, low-profile handcycles for H-class athletes featuring ergonomic seating and propulsion levers, and stabilized tricycles for T-class competitors with enhanced steering mechanisms. These modifications must comply with UCI regulations, which emphasize safety and fairness while allowing for performance optimization, such as aerodynamic fairings limited to specific classes. The 2025 season highlighted these adaptations' impact, as British rider Will Bjergfelt utilized a customized Trek track bike in the men's C5 class to achieve 51.471 km at the Konya Velodrome in Turkey on August 14—the first para-cycling hour mark exceeding 50 km and surpassing the prior C5 record of 47.569 km set by Italy's Andrea Tarlao in 2014 at Montichiari.[40][41] Men's para hour records have seen steady progression across C classes, driven by technological refinements and athlete training at altitude venues like Aguascalientes, Mexico. For instance, in the C4 class, American John Terrell established 47.904 km on October 31, 2023, improving on the previous mark by over 5 km using a high-altitude track to leverage thinner air for reduced resistance.[42] Similarly, Belgian Ewoud Vromant set the men's C2 record at 46.521 km on July 16, 2022, at the UCI's Aigle velodrome, employing a negative split strategy to build speed in the final laps.[43] Handcycle (H) and tricycle (T) classes have fewer documented attempts, often prioritizing road events, though examples like tandem pursuits inform pacing techniques applicable to solo hour efforts. Women's para hour records are less frequent, with efforts regaining momentum after the 2014 rule unification provided clearer pathways for ratification. British athlete Sarah Storey holds the women's C5 mark at 45.502 km, achieved on February 28, 2015, at the Lee Valley VeloPark in London during an attempt that also challenged able-bodied benchmarks.[44] In the C4 class, records remain from earlier eras, such as those set in the 2010s, reflecting limited high-profile attempts amid focus on multi-event Paralympic preparation; equivalents in C3 and below emphasize endurance over raw distance due to impairment levels. Overall, women's para hour pursuits highlight growing parity, though totals lag behind men's due to fewer resources and opportunities.[45] The following table summarizes select current UCI para-cycling hour record holders by class, focusing on verified marks in C categories where attempts are most documented:| Class | Gender | Holder | Distance (km) | Date | Location | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C5 | Men | Will Bjergfelt (GBR) | 51.471 | 14 Aug 2025 | Konya, Turkey | UCI Press Release[40] |
| C5 | Women | Sarah Storey (GBR) | 45.502 | 28 Feb 2015 | London, GBR | Cycling Weekly[44] |
| C4 | Men | John Terrell (USA) | 47.904 | 31 Oct 2023 | Aguascalientes, Mexico | US Para Cycling[42] |
| C2 | Men | Ewoud Vromant (BEL) | 46.521 | 16 Jul 2022 | Aigle, Switzerland | UCI Press Release[43] |
| C1 | Men | Colin Lynch (IRL) | 41.310 | 1 Oct 2016 | Manchester, GBR | Paralympics.org[38] |
Masters Hour Records
The Masters Hour Record recognizes the best performances by cyclists aged 35 and older, categorized in five-year age groups from 35-39 to 80+ according to UCI track cycling regulations for masters competitors.[46] These attempts follow the same UCI protocols as elite hour records, including requirements for approved equipment, doping controls, and electronic timing, though performances are segmented by age to account for physiological differences; high-altitude venues like the Velódromo Bicentenario in Aguascalientes, Mexico, are commonly used to optimize distances due to reduced air resistance.[47] In men's categories, Patrick Warner holds the 50-54 age group record with 51.013 km, set on June 22, 2022, at Aguascalientes.[48] Recent updates include notable efforts in older groups, such as Peter Megdal's 47.220 km in the 65-69 category on September 22, 2025, also at Aguascalientes, surpassing the prior mark and highlighting sustained competitiveness into later decades.[49] Women's masters hour records are set less frequently, reflecting lower overall participation, with distances typically ranging from 40-45 km in mid-age groups like 50-54; for instance, in the 55-59 category, Anna Davis achieved 45.213 km in 2022 at the Adelaide Super-Drome, Australia.[50] In older categories, Barb Morris established a national benchmark of 38.838 km in the 65-69 group during an August 2024 attempt at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in Milton, Ontario.[51] Beyond official records, strong non-record performances underscore growing interest, such as Dean Phillips' 2025 attempt in the men's 50-54 category at Aguascalientes, where he maintained an average speed of 51.2 km/h over the first 45 minutes before stopping.[52] Participation in masters hour attempts has increased since the 2014 UCI rule unification, which standardized equipment and venues across categories, leading to more ratified best performances—particularly in 2025 among riders in their 60s and 70s—and fostering a broader culture of age-group excellence in track cycling.[53]Junior Hour Records
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) classifies junior track cyclists as those aged 17 or 18 on January 1 of the competition year, with under-17 riders often categorized separately as youth in national programs, aligning with events such as the UCI Junior Track World Championships that feature disciplines like sprints and pursuits but exclude the hour record.[54][55] Unlike elite hour records, the UCI does not ratify official junior hour records, leaving such achievements to national cycling federations that apply equipment rules mirroring elite standards, including upright handlebar positions, non-supersonic wheels, and standard track bicycles without aerodynamic enhancements beyond those permitted in endurance track events.[56][13] Men's junior hour records, tracked nationally, typically range from 48 to 50 km, reflecting developing aerobic capacity in young riders and serving as benchmarks in talent identification. For instance, in 2022, American Jonas Walton, aged 18, set the USA Cycling junior men's record at 50.792 km during an attempt at the high-altitude Velódromo Bicentenario in Aguascalientes, Mexico, surpassing the prior mark of 47.595 km held by Luke Mullis.[57] Similarly, British rider Fred Meredith established a national junior record of 49.184 km that same year at the Geraint Thomas National Velodrome in Newport, Wales, ratified by British Cycling as part of youth development efforts.[58] Women's junior hour records, also managed at the national level, generally fall near 40-45 km, with examples emerging from federation-sanctioned attempts that emphasize safe progression for adolescent physiology. These marks highlight emerging endurance potential but are less frequently pursued than in men's categories, often integrated into broader talent ID initiatives by organizations like USA Cycling or British Cycling. Junior hour attempts have gained more structure since the early 2000s alongside expanded youth track programs, yet they remain infrequent due to physiological constraints—such as incomplete cardiovascular maturation in riders under 19—and a curricular focus on team pursuits and shorter solos to foster balanced development without risking burnout or injury.[59]Other Variants
The International Human Powered Vehicle Association (IHPVA) oversees hour records for human-powered vehicles (HPVs), including recumbent bicycles that differ from UCI-sanctioned upright designs by allowing a supine riding position for reduced drag. These non-UCI variants emphasize experimental aerodynamics and efficiency, often exceeding standard bicycle distances due to streamlined fairings. The men's single-rider HPV hour record stands at 92.432 km, set by Francesco Russo on the Metastretto recumbent in 2016 at the DEKRA Test Oval in Klettwitz, Germany.[60] The women's record is 84.02 km, achieved by Barbara Buatois on a similar recumbent HPV during the 2009 World Human Powered Speed Challenge.[61] Earlier attempts, such as Sam Whittingham's 90.60 km in 2009 at Battle Mountain, Nevada, highlight ongoing innovation outside formal UCI oversight.[61] Tandem hour records involve two riders on a shared bicycle, focusing on synchronized pedaling and teamwork rather than individual endurance. These efforts typically yield distances around 41 km, as demonstrated by the USA Cycling elite and masters tandem hour record of 40.952 km set on October 25, 2025, by Steve Vela (age 61) and David Beitel (age 68) at the Colorado Springs Velodrome, submitted for ratification.[62] Earlier 2010s tandem pairs achieved over 55 km in extended attempts, but one-hour specifics remain unofficial and geared toward recreational or awareness-raising challenges without a central governing body.[63] Indoor and virtual hour variants have gained popularity through platforms like Zwift, where cyclists use smart trainers to simulate distances in non-physical environments, often for training or community competition. These are not officially sanctioned but attract participants seeking personal benchmarks, with elite riders covering over 50 km in an hour under controlled virtual conditions.[64] Proposed Zwift World Records include categories like non-drafting hour efforts, underscoring the appeal for tech testing and fun without track access.[64] National and club-level hour records extend beyond UCI categories, allowing variations in equipment or venues for local enthusiasts. For instance, British Cycling ratifies non-UCI attempts, such as age-group extensions for masters on non-standard tracks, fostering inclusivity in club settings.[65] In the early 20th century, multi-rider and paced hour records were common oddities, involving drafting behind tandems or motorcycles to push distances beyond solo limits—such as Edouard Taylor's paced 60 km in 1900 or Tom Linton's 70 km shortly after—but these practices became obsolete with UCI's emphasis on unassisted solo efforts.[66] Unlike UCI regulations, these variants lack a unified regulatory body, prioritizing experimentation, enjoyment, or technological validation over competitive standardization.Statistics and Technical Details
Comparative Statistics
The Hour Record has seen significant evolution in distances achieved, reflecting advancements in training, equipment, and track conditions. Key milestones in the men's record illustrate this progression, starting from Henri Desgrange's inaugural 35.325 km in 1893 on a basic steel bicycle at the Vélodrome Buffalo in Paris.[67] The record remained below 50 km for much of the 20th century until Eddy Merckx pushed it to 49.431 km in 1972 at high altitude in Mexico City.[68] Post-2014 rule unification accelerated gains, with Filippo Ganna's current men's mark of 56.792 km set in 2022 at the Tissot Velodrome in Grenchen, Switzerland.[33] For women's records, early attempts like Mademoiselle de Saint-Sauveur's 26.012 km in 1893 marked the start, though formal UCI recognition came later.[4] The modern era saw rapid progress after 2014, with Vittoria Bussi's 2025 update to 50.455 km at the Velodromo Bicentenario in Aguascalientes, Mexico, surpassing her prior 50.267 km from 2023.[6][69] The following table highlights representative milestones in the unified UCI Hour Record progression for men and women since 1893, emphasizing the post-2014 surge where distances increased by over 7 km in less than a decade compared to prior eras.| Year | Rider (Gender) | Distance (km) | Average Speed (km/h) | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1893 | Henri Desgrange (M) | 35.325 | 35.325 | Paris, France | First official record on steel bike.[67] |
| 1893 | Mademoiselle de Saint-Sauveur (F) | 26.012 | 26.012 | Paris, France | Early women's benchmark.[4] |
| 1972 | Eddy Merckx (M) | 49.431 | 49.431 | Mexico City, Mexico | Stood for 12 years; altitude-assisted.[68] |
| 2014 | Jens Voigt (M) | 51.115 | 51.115 | Grenchen, Switzerland | Revived interest post-UCI unification.[70] |
| 2015 | Molly Shaffer Van Houweling (F) | 46.274 | 46.274 | Aguascalientes, Mexico | First women's record post-2014 UCI unification.[71] |
| 2015 | Bradley Wiggins (M) | 54.526 | 54.526 | London, UK | Sea-level record on carbon frame.[31] |
| 2016 | Evelyn Stevens (F) | 47.980 | 47.980 | Colorado Springs, USA | Improved the women's post-unification record.[72] |
| 2019 | Victor Campenaerts (M) | 55.089 | 55.089 | Aguascalientes, Mexico | Altitude boost evident.[73] |
| 2022 | Ellen van Dijk (F) | 49.254 | 49.254 | Grenchen, Switzerland | Brief hold before Bussi's advances.[74] |
| 2022 | Filippo Ganna (M) | 56.792 | 56.792 | Grenchen, Switzerland | Current men's peak.[33] |
| 2023 | Vittoria Bussi (F) | 50.267 | 50.267 | Aguascalientes, Mexico | Women's surge at altitude.[69] |
| 2025 | Vittoria Bussi (F) | 50.455 | 50.455 | Aguascalientes, Mexico | Latest women's update.[6] |
| Category | Rider | Distance (km) | Year | % of Men's Elite | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Elite | Filippo Ganna | 56.792 | 2022 | 100% | Grenchen, Switzerland[33] |
| Women's Elite | Vittoria Bussi | 50.455 | 2025 | 88.8% | Aguascalientes, Mexico[6] |
| Para C5 | Will Bjergfelt | 51.471 | 2025 | 90.6% | Konya, Turkey[40] |
| Masters 65-69 | Peter Megdal | 47.220 | 2025 | 83.2% | Aguascalientes, Mexico |
