Hour Record
Belgian Victor Campenaerts at the Velodrome track cycling arena in Roubaix, France (Photo credit DAVID STOCKMAN/AFP/Getty Images)
Current men’s holder: Victor Campenaerts (55.089km)
Evelyn Stevens sets a new UCI hour record of 47.980 km. Image: Watson
Current women’s holder: Evelyn Stevens (47.980km)
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.
Bradley Wiggins during his Hour Record attempt
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
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.
Evelyn Stevens set a new UCI hour record of 47.980 km in 2016
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.
The current record holder, Evelyn Stevens, then stepped up to the mark in February 2016 – just before her retirement from professional cycling. She set a new benchmark, at 47.980km.
Women’s Hour Record results
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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Merckx: Bradley Wiggins 'cannot afford to fail' in Hour Record ride
Wiggins will risk his reputation if he takes on the Hour, says Eddy Merckx
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Five things we learned from Jack Bobridge's Hour Record attempt
While Jack Bobridge was not successful in his attempt to break the Hour Record on Saturday, his attempt gave us some indication as to how hard it actually is
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Jack Bobridge: It's an underestimated record
Australian Jack Bobridge reflects on his failed attempt to set a new Hour Record
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Jack Bobridge comes up short in hour record attempt with 51.3km
Australian Jack Bobridge fails to set a new hour record attempt in Melbourne
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Live stream: Watch Jack Bobridge's Hour Record attempt
Watch live coverage of Jack Bobridge's Hour Record attempt, beginning at 8am UK time
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Jack Bobridge all set for Hour Record attempt on Saturday
Jack Bobridge's coach Tim Decker talks to Cycling Weekly about his rider's preparations for his Hour Record tilt on Saturday
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Shane Sutton: Brad’s the man for the Hour
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Watch Jack Bobridge's Hour Record bike being built (video)
Get a behind the scenes look of Jack Bobridge's Cervelo T4 being assembled with a time lapse video from his Budget Forklifts team
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Alex Dowsett could still pull off Hour Record attempt
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Alex Dowsett's Hour Record attempt postponed
Movistar rider Alex Dowsett confirms his Hour Record attempt, scheduled for February 27 at Lee Valley VeloPark, will take place as planned
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Jack Bobridge and Rohan Dennis neck-and-neck in Hour Record lead-up
Australian Hour Record hopefuls have both won a stage and the race lead in the Tour Down Under
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Rohan Dennis reveals why he had to take on the Hour Record (video)
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Alex Dowsett back in Hour Record training after operation
Hour Record training resumes for Alex Dowsett after successful surgery on Thursday to repair his collarbone
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Sarah Storey: I expect to feel Eddy Merckx-like pain during Hour Record
Dame Sarah Storey will attempt the Hour Record on February 28 and fully expects to feel the same 'incredible pain' that Eddy Merckx felt in 1972
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Rohan Dennis wary of Bradley Wiggins in run to Hour Record assault
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Alex Dowsett sends video message after collarbone surgery
Hour Record hopeful Alex Dowsett talks from his hospital bed after surgery to repair his collarbone break
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Alex Dowsett's Hour Record hopes not over, says Rowsell
Madison Genesis rider Erick Rowsell, who shattered his collarbone in 2012, says Alex Dowsett could recover in time for his Hour Record attempt
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Tony Martin: Cancellara wrong, there can't be enough attention on the Hour Record
German time trial specialist hopes to announce his own attempt sometime this year
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Alex Dowsett announces Hour Record attempt for February 27
Movistar rider Alex Dowsett has confirmed he will attempt to break the Hour Record at the Lee Valley VeloPark
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Jack Bobridge: 'I am going to set the Hour Record benchmark'
Australian Jack Bobridge says that he'll set an Hour Record time that will 'leave everyone questioning themselves about whether they want to do it'
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Rohan Dennis announces Hour Record attempt
London 2012 silver medalist Rohan Dennis will try to break the Hour Record in Switzerland on February 8
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Aussie track star Jack Bobridge to attempt Hour Record
Current individual pursuit world record holder Jack Bobridge to take on the Hour Record in 2015
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Sarah Storey confirms women's Hour Record attempt in February
Dame Sarah Storey will attempt to set a new women's Hour Record during the Revolution track meeting on February 28 in London
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Alex Dowsett and Sarah Storey to tackle Hour Record in London?
February's meeting in the capital could see attempts at both the outright and women's benchmarks.
