After a last-minute cancellation of her initial attempt due to suboptimal track conditions in Aguascalientes, Mexico, Vittoria Bussi is rescheduled to challenge Ellen van Dijk’s world hour record this coming Friday, weather permitting. The 36-year-old Italian was no stranger to the record; she set the standard in September 2018 with a distance of 48.007 kilometres. Yet, her mark was eclipsed first by Britain’s Joscelin Lowden with 48.405 kilometres and later by the current women’s hour record holder, Ellen van Dijk, who posted 49.254 kilometres.
Bussi had previously disclosed her emotional journey back to the track, revealing, “I was very emotional when my record was broken, but thanks to my project, Road2Record, I feel prepared for a new attempt.” The aim of the project is grand; it targets not only the reclamation of the world hour record but also inches closer to the elusive 50-kilometre barrier.
This latest attempt follows a previous announcement in which Bussi geared up for the hour record challenge in October as part of her Road2Record initiative. It’s an undertaking that has seen her transition from a data scientist with a Ph.D. in Pure Mathematics to an athlete focused on pushing the boundaries in women’s cycling. Now, with an additional attempt lined up for Friday, the Italian cyclist is determined to re-write the record books once more, provided the conditions finally align in her favour.
