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Vittoria Bussi breaks Women’s UCI Hour Record

  • Ron 

On Thursday, 13th September 2018, Vittoria Bussi broke the UCI Hour Record in Aguicientes, Mexico with a distance of 48.007km, clinching the Women’s Hour Record by 27 meters.

Last October the Italian, a doctor of pure mathematics, and formerly a member of the Servetto Footon UCI squad, came tantalisingly close to bettering the mark of 47.980km, established in 2016 by Evelyn Stevens. Having suffered from a bout of ill health in the lead up to the attempt made in Mexico on October 6, 2017, Vittoria was only short by 405 metres.

Vittoria set out to take the record on Wednesday in adverse conditions after cooler weather had set in. She abandoned after 40 minutes, sensing the record may not be possible in such low temperatures. But, having secured a two day track booking and with echoes of Graeme Obree’s famous 1993 record attempt in Norway, Bussi returned the following day and showed her mettle by breaking through the 48km barrier to set a new Women’s UCI Hour Record of 48,007m.

Image ©Endura

Bussi was the fifth rider to take on this legendary challenge since the UCI Hour Record regulations were amended in 2014, reviving the interest of riders, broadcasters and fans.

Specializing in endurance sports, Vittoria Bussi is a former athlete and triathlete and has participated in the World Cross Country Championships and European Athletics Championships. Bronze medallist in the time trial at the Italian National Championships in 2014, she has also finished in the top 10 at several UCI 1.1 class races.

She has been preparing this attempt with her team for the last year, and in July came to train at the UCI World Cycling Centre, headquarters of the International Federation, in Aigle (Switzerland).

“We’ve witnessed a wonderful achievement,” said UCI President David Lappartient. “I congratulate Vittoria Bussi and her team, which helped her rise to the challenge with success. It is excellent to see women athletes attack the UCI Hour Record time by Tissot. Our determination to develop women’s cycling, in line with the Agenda 2022 adopted by the UCI, includes the desire to see more women competing. We are therefore delighted that the UCI Hour Record timed by Tissot attracts interest from women as well as men.”

Bussi worked closely with Endura and its aerodynamics partner Drag2Zero to further develop Endura’s D2Z Encapsulator Suit and D2Z Aeroswitch helmet which she wore during the attempt.

With two successful attempts at the Hour Record already on its palmares (Alex Dowsett’s #PerfectHour in May 2015, and Dr Bridie O’Donnell’s success in January 2016), Endura’s Encapsulator suit has already proven itself uniquely suited to the task. Both the Endura D2Z Encapsulator Suit and the D2Z Aeroswitch helmet are available to ambitious amateur cyclists, too, in Endura’s D2Z Aero Range which has been launched to the general public earlier this year.

Tags: aerodynamic, AIGLE, Alex Dowsett, Cycle racing, cycling, David Lappartient, Evelyn Stevens, helmet, hour record, Mexico, National Championship, national federation, Norway, sports, Switzerland, UCI Women's Teams, Vittoria, Vittoria Bussi, women
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