Current men's holder: Filippo Ganna (56.792km)
Current women's holder: Vittoria Bussi (50.267km)
The Hour record is one of the most prestigious records in cycling with roots dating back to 1893 when it was set by Henri Desgrange, the man who would go on to create and run the Tour de France. In the mid 1990s the record was repeatedly broken on increasingly advanced equipment forcing the sports governing body, the UCI, in to creating a set of regulations that stifled record attempts and confused the record books.
>>> View timeline of the Hour record
The record was effectively reset in May 2014, when the UCI standardised the equipment regulations, bringing them inline with Olympic track cycling, and announcing the current record of 49.7km (previously called the 'athletes hour' as it was set on equipment similar to that used by Eddy Merckx in 1972) would stand as the mark to beat.
Fabian Cancellara had expressed interest in attacking the record, but his challenge thus far has not materialised. Instead, his retiring team mate Jens Voigt successfully set a new record of 51.115km in Switzerland on September 18 2014, followed six weeks later by Matthias Brändle's mark of 51.850km set on October 30. After Jack Bobridge's unsuccessful attempt at the end of January 2015, his Australian compatriot Rohan Dennis successfully set a new mark of 52.491km on February 8.
Britain's Alex Dowsett was the next to take up the mantle, and after having to postpone an initial attempt in February 2015, Dowsett successfully broke Dennis's record by over 400 metres, setting a distance of 52.937 at the Manchester velodrome on May 2.
Then World and Olympic time trial champion Sir Bradley Wiggins then increased the record to 54.526km in London on June 7 2015.
Then, on April 16, Belgian Victor Campenaerts, took to the Aguascalientes velodrome in Mexico, setting a distance of 55.089km to better Wiggins' record by 563 metres, far surpassing his aim of 300 metres.
Hour record
Filippo Ganna (Ita) 56.792km Switzerland, 8/10/2022
Dan Bigham (GBr) 55.548km Switzerland, 19/8/2022
Victor Campenaerts (Bel) 55.089km Mexico, 16/4/19
Sir Bradley Wiggins (GBr) 54.526km London, 7/6/2015
Alex Dowsett (GBr) 52.937km Manchester, 2/5/2015
Rohan Dennis (Aus) 52.491km Switzerland, 8/2/2015
Matthias Brändle (Aut) 51.852km Switzerland, 30/10/2014
Jens Voigt (Ger) 51.115km Switzerland, 18/09/2014
Ondrej Sosenka (Cze) 49.700km Moscow, 19/07/2005
Chris Boardman (GBr) 49.441km Manchester, 27/10/2000
------------ All records below set prior to the Lugano Charter ------------
Chris Boardman (GBr) 56.375km Manchester, 06/09/1996*
Tony Rominger (Sui) 55.291km Bordeaux, 05/11/1994
Tony Rominger (Sui) 53.832km Bordeaux, 22/10/1994
Miguel Indurain (Spa) 53.040km Bordeaux, 02/09/1994
Graeme Obree (GBr) 52.719km Bordeaux, 27/04/1994*
Chris Boardman (GBr) 52.270km Bordeaux, 23/07/1993
Francesco Moser (Ita) 51.840km Mexico, 15/01/1994
Graeme Obree (GBr) 51.596km Hamar, 17/07/1993†
*Superman position
†Tuck position
Source: UCI
Women's Hour Record
The Women's Hour Record also saw a renewed interest following the 2014 rule change.
Up until that point, the reigning champion had been Leontien van Moorsel, who completed 46.065km in October 2003.
Following the rule change, multiple Paralympic Champion Sarah Storey announced her intention to target the record - attempting the feat on February 28 2015 at Lee Valley Velodrome. She set new British, Para-Cycling and Masters (age 35-39) records, but missed the overall by 563m - covering 45.502km in total.
On September 12 2015, US rider Molly Shaffer Van Houweling broke the record, covering 46.273km. She was bettered in October 2015, by Australian rider Bridie O'Donnell who achieved 46.882km at the Adelaide Super-Drome. Then, Evelyn Stevens covered 47.980km in Colarado Springs in February 2016.
The current record holder, Ellen van Dijk, covered 49.254km on May 23, 2022, at Grenchen velodrome. She took the record from the UK's Joss Lowden, who managed 48.405km on September 30, 2021.
Women's Hour Record results
Vittoria Bussi (Ita) 50.267km, Mexico, 13.10.2023
Ellen van Dijk (Ned) 49.254km, Grenchen velodrome, 23.5.2022
Joscelin Lowden (UK), 48.405km, Grenchen velodrome, 30.9.2021
Evelyn Stevens (USA), 47.980km, Colarado Springs, 27.02.2016
Bridie O'Donnell (Aus), 46.882km, Adelaide, 22.01.2016
Molly Shaffer-Van Houweling (USA), 46.273km, Mexico, 12.09.2015
Leontien Ziklaard-Van Moorsel (Ned), 46.065km, Mexico, 01.10.2003
Jeannie Longo-Cirprelli (Fra), 45.094km, Mexico, 07.12.2000
Jeannie Longo-Cirprelli (Fra), 44.767km, Mexico, 05.11.2000
Anna Wilson (Aus), 43.501km, Melbourne, 18.10.2000
------------ All records below set prior to the Lugano Charter ------------
Jeannie Longo-Cirprelli (Fra), 48.159km, Mexico, 26.10.1996
Yvonne McGregor (Gbr), 47.411km, Manchester, 17.06.1995
Catherine Marsal (Fra), 47.112km, Bordeaux, 29.04.1995
Jeanni Longo (Fra), 46.352km, Mexico, 01.10.1989
Jeanni Longo (Fra), 45.016km, Moscow, 29.10.1989
Jeanni Longo (Fra), 44.933km, Colorado, 22.09.1987
Jeanni Longo (Fra), 44.770km, Colorado, 20.09.1986
Jeanni Longo (Fra), 44.718km, Grenoble, 07.11.1986
Jeanni Longo (Fra), 43.588km, Milan, 30.09.1986
Cornelia Van Oosten-Hage (Ned), 43.093km, Munich, 25.11.1985
Barbara Ganz (Sui), 42.319km, Zurich, 25.11.1985
Maria Cressari (Ita), 41.472km, Mexico, 25.11.1972
Elsy Jacobs (Lux), 41.347km, Milan, 09.11.1958
Olga Sidorenko (URS), 41.087km, Moscow, 20.10.1982
Millie Robinson (Gbr), 39.719km, Milan, 25.09.1058
Renee Vissac (Fra), 38.569km, Milan, 18.09.1957
Tamara Novikova (URS), 38.473km, Irkoutsk, 07.07.1955
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British cyclist Charlie Tanfield falls short of Filippo Ganna's UCI Hour Record
Olympic silver medallist clocks seventh furthest distance of all time with 53.967km
4 Comments -
Para-cyclist Will Bjergfelt smashes UCI Hour Record in C5 classification
Brit rides 51.471km to become first para-cyclist to break 50km barrier
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'It's a beast': Inside British rider Charlie Tanfield's preparation to try and break the UCI Hour Record
Brit set for world record attempt on Thursday in Konya, Turkey
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Vittoria Bussi breaks UCI Hour Record for third time, dedicates it to her two cats
History-making 38-year-old betters own benchmark by almost 200m
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Hour Record holder comes out of retirement for two new world record attempts
Vittoria Bussi set for another swing at the Hour this month, as well as the 4km individual pursuit
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90-year-old cyclist sets sights on four world records
Three-time Masters world champion Walter Fowler is far from ready to slow down yet
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Hour Record holder Vittoria Bussi ends career after final record attempt
Italian falls three seconds short of individual pursuit record and announces retirement
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Vittoria Bussi makes history with new UCI Hour Record
Italian becomes first woman ever to surpass 50km in her effort
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Want to break a track record? WattShop to give anyone the chance this September
British company to take over Tissot Velodrome in Grenchen, Switzerland to try and smash times for anyone - if you have £7,000
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The new UCI rule that could see Filippo Ganna’s world records tumble
A technical change will give taller riders a longer handlebar reach
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Filippo Ganna in no rush to extend his new Hour Record
Italian says if he has a go at beating his own record, it will be before he retires, like Bradley Wiggins
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Filippo Ganna smashes World Hour Record with distance of 56.792km
The Italian also beat Chris Boardman's 'best human effort'
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Filippo Ganna on Hour Record: 'I need to do the biggest effort of my life'
The Italian also shared more details about his bike set-up
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How to watch Filippo Ganna's World Hour Record attempt: Live stream the event
Here's how to catch the Italian's long-awaited Hour Record attempt
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Filippo Ganna to attempt to break Hour Record in October
Italian will attempt to break 55.548km distance set by Dan Bigham
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Dan Bigham breaks Victor Campenaerts' Hour Record with 55.548km distance
Englishman breaks the 55.089km record in Switzerland
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'It’s a bit mind blowing, pretty epic' - Dan Bigham on his Hour Record breaking ride
British rider goes 55.548km to take record off Victor Campenaerts
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Live stream: Dan Bigham's Hour Record attempt
The kit, the start time, the venue, and the magic number he needs to beat - 55.089km
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Dan Bigham set to target Victor Campenaerts' Hour Record again
British record holder will aim for 55.090km in Grenchen, Switzerland next Friday
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Ellen van Dijk makes history with new Hour Record
The Dutchwoman covered 49.254km to set the new Hour Record at the Velodrome Suisse
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Ellen van Dijk says breaking Hour Record will be difficult: 'Joss Lowden's record is a really high standard'
The Dutchwoman will attempt to break Lowden's distance of 48.405km at the Velodrome Suisse on Monday
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Ellen van Dijk set to attempt women's Hour Record in May
Van Dijk is looking to break Joss Lowden's current record of 48.405km
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British rider breaks junior national Hour Record
British Cycling officiated Fred Meredith's attempt as he rode a record-breaking 49.184km
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Filippo Ganna: 'I will attack the Hour Record at sea level - that gives me more satisfaction'
The Italian also wants success at the Tour de France, Paris-Roubaix and San-Remo
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Dan Bigham and Michael Hutchinson on how the men's Hour Record can be beaten: 'It’s about keeping everything within your control'
Bigham reset the British Hour Record with a distance of 54.723km in October
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Nico Anelli to attempt to break Scottish Hour Record distance to raise awareness of chronic gut conditions: 'It shouldn't be the end of your sporting hopes'
The Scottish time triallist set up his own team, Real Guts Racing, to raise awareness
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Alex Dowsett analyses Hour Record attempt: 'I’m confident that was everything I had'
Briton's Hour Record attempt raises over £45,000 for charity
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Victor Campenaerts proud to keep Hour Record: 'I'm glad it is still in my possession'
The Belgian also praised Alex Dowsett's attempt that fell 500m short of the record
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'The biggest failure would have been to have never tried': Alex Dowsett reacts to emotional Hour Record attempt
The Brit's Just Giving page has raised over £30,000 for the charity The Haemophilia Society
