Filippo Ganna on his way to breaking the World Hour Record in Grenchen, Switzerland in October 2022 (Image credit: Valentin Flauraud / Getty Images)
Current men's holder: Filippo Ganna (56.792km)
Vittoria Bussi became the first woman to break the 50km barrier in October 2023 (Image credit: Tania Marquez / UCI)
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.
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, 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.
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.
Van Dijk set a new Women's Hour Record of 49.254km in May 23, 2022 (Image credit: GABRIEL MONNET/AFP via Getty Images)
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
