The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is pleased to announce that the Italian Vittoria Bussi (BJ Bike Club ASD) will attempt to break the UCI Hour Record timed by Tissot on 11 October at the Velodromo Bicentenario in Aguascalientes, Mexico.
The women’s record for the greatest distance covered in one hour currently stands at 49.254km. This record was established by the Dutch rider Ellen van Dijk on 23 May 2022 at the Tissot Velodrome in Grenchen, Switzerland.
Thirty-six-year-old Bussi already held the UCI Hour Record for just over three years: her mark of 48.007km, established in Aguascalientes in September 2018, went unbeaten until September 2021, when it was bettered by Great Britain’s Joscelin Lowden (48.405km). It had been the Italian’s third attempt at the prestigious record after falling short of the world mark in October 2017 and abandoning an attempt the day before her record-breaking ride.
A mathematician, Bussi is a former international runner and triathlete. As a cyclist, she has podiumed several times in the individual time trial at the Italian National Championships, and was part of the Italian team that took the bronze medal in the team time trial mixed relay at the 2020 UEC European Championships.
"I am honoured to announce I will attempt to break the UCI Hour Record timed by Tissot in Aguascalientes, where I already broke it once just over five years ago,” said Vittoria Bussi. “I went through quite a few emotions when my record was first broken, but thanks to my project Road2record, I now feel ready to try to establish a new world mark. Road2record is a mission and a method: to break the UCI Hour Record timed by Tissot and get a step closer to the 50km threshold. I am deeply grateful to all the people who contributed to make this attempt happen and to all the sponsors that have believed in me and supported me in these months of preparation.”
List of successful attempts on UCI Hour Record timed by Tissot
23.05.2022: Ellen van Dijk (NED), Tissot Velodrome, Grenchen (SUI), 49.254 km (current record)
30.09.2021: Joscelin Lowden (GBR), Tissot Velodrome, Grenchen (SUI), 48.405km
13.09.2018: Vittoria Bussi (ITA), Velodromo Bicentenario, Aguascalientes (MEX), 48.007km
27.02.2016: Evelyn Stevens (USA), Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center Velodrome (USA), 47.980km
22.01.2016: Bridie O'Donnell (AUS), Adelaide’s Super-Drome (AUS), 46.882km
12.09.2015: Molly Shaffer Van Houweling (USA), Velodromo Bicentenario, Aguascalientes (MEX), 46.273km
--- Modernisation of UCI Regulation (May 2014) ---
01.10.2003: Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel (NED), Mexico (MEX), 46.065km.
Photo credit: Edoardo Frezet