The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has confirmed that Italian cyclist Vittoria Bussi is set to attempt breaking the UCI Hour Record, timed by Tissot, on 11th October 2023. The venue will be the Velodromo Bicentenario in Aguascalientes, Mexico, the very track where Bussi set her previous record in 2018.
The women’s hour record is currently held by Dutch rider Ellen van Dijk, who recorded a remarkable distance of 49.254 km in May 2022 at the Tissot Velodrome in Grenchen, Switzerland. Bussi is no stranger to this high-pressure environment; the 36-year-old cyclist held the record for more than three years with her mark of 48.007 km. Her record was unchallenged until September 2021 when it was surpassed by Great Britain’s Joscelin Lowden, who set a new record at 48.405 km.
Bussi, a mathematician by training and a former international runner and triathlete has multiple accolades to her name. She has been on the podium at the Italian National Championships for the individual time trial and was part of the Italian team that clinched the bronze in the team time trial mixed relay at the 2020 UEC European Championships.
Speaking about her forthcoming attempt, Bussi said, “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.”
The Italian athlete has been preparing for this momentous challenge through her project, Road2record. Describing it as both a mission and a method, Bussi aims not just to break the existing record but also to edge closer to the elusive 50 km threshold. “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,” she elaborated.
Deeply appreciative of the support she’s received, Bussi expressed her gratitude toward her team, sponsors, and the broader cycling community. “I am deeply grateful to all the people who contributed to making this attempt happen and to all the sponsors that have believed in me and supported me in these months of preparation,” she concluded.
Bussi’s pursuit of reclaiming the Hour Record isn’t just about the numbers; it’s a quest for redemption, personal fulfilment, and setting new milestones in women’s cycling. As the clock ticks down to October 11, the cycling world will be holding its collective breath, keenly watching whether Vittoria Bussi can rewrite history once again.
