Misplaced Pages

Certified and recognized cycling records are those verified by the Union Cycliste Internationale, International Human Powered Vehicle Association and World Human Powered Vehicle Association, Guinness World Records, International Olympic Committee, World UltraCycling Association (formerly Ultra Marathon Cycling Association), the UK Road Records Association or other accepted authorities.

Most records have been completed under special rules and circumstances, such as being motor-paced, on terrain advantageous for speed (such as downhill or low-friction surfaces), or using highly aerodynamic cycles (for example, recumbent bicycles). As cycling is a diverse activity with vast differences between equipment, disciplines, and terrain, there is no one record that can popularly be considered a benchmark for “fastest cyclist”. The hour record is generally considered the most prestigious, due to its long history and standardization of rules.

Speed record on a bicycle

The table below shows the records people have attained while riding bicycles.

Land speed record (outdoor)

Treadmill speed record (indoor)

History of unpaced records

The International Human Powered Vehicle Association (IHPVA) acts as the sanctioning body for new records in human-powered land, water, and air vehicles. It registers non-motor-paced records (also called unpaced), which means that the bicycle directly faces the wind without any motor-pacing vehicle in front.

On land, the speed record registered by a rider on a 200-meter flying start speed trial was 133.28 km/h (82.82 mph) by the Canadian Sam Whittingham riding the Varna Tempest, a streamliner recumbent bicycle in 2009, at Battle Mountain, Nevada. His record has been surpassed by 0.5 km/h by Sebastiaan Bowier of the Netherlands in 2013 setting the new record of 133.78 km/h (83.13 mph). The record was again surpassed on 19 September 2015 by Todd Reichert by riding the ETA, a streamlined recumbent bicycle at 139.45 km/h (86.65 mph) from the team behind the AeroVelo Atlas human-powered helicopter. Todd Reichert broke his own record again on September 17, 2016, to set a speed of 144.17 km/h (89.58 mph) at the 2016 WHPSC.

The female record holder for this same category was Lisa Vetterlein, who reached 107.16 km/h (66.59 mph) in 2005. This record was beaten by Barbara Buatois of France, when she reached 121.44 km/h (75.46 mph) at Battle Mountain in 2009. She subsequently achieved 121.81 km/h (75.69 mph) at the 2010 running of the Battle Mountain event. This record was beaten on 13 sept 2019 by Ilona Peltier of France, at 126.52 km/h (78.62 mph) at the 2019 WHPSC event.

History of motor-paced records

Motor pacing is a type of cycling record where a pace vehicle is modified by adding a tail fairing to keep the wind off the cyclist who is riding behind it. This type of record was invented by Charles "Mile-a-Minute Murphy" who drafted a train to set a 96 km/h (60 mph) record in 1899. A mile of plywood sheets was attached to the railroad ties, so Charles would have a smooth surface riding behind the train.

In 1928, Leon Vanderstuyft from Belgium reached 122 km/h riding behind a motorbike at a velodrome. Alexis Blanc-Garin from France set the record to 128.20 km/h in October 1933 riding behind a motorbike. Albert Marquet, from France, reached 139.90 km/h riding behind a car in 1937. On 22 October 1938, Alfred Letourneur reached 147 km/h at a velodrome in Montlhéry, France, riding behind a motorbike. On 17 May 1941 Letourneur broke the record again, reaching 175 km/h (109 mph) on a Schwinn bicycle riding behind a specially equipped midget racer, on a Los Angeles freeway near Bakersfield, California.

The first to surpass 200 km/h was the Frenchman Jose Meiffret in 1962, when he reached 204 km/h (127 mph) behind a Mercedes-Benz 300SL car on a German motorway.

Allan Abbott, a cycling enthusiast and motorcycle racer, elevated the motor-paced bicycle speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats, reaching 223 km/h (139 mph) in 1973. John Howard, Olympic cyclist and Ironman triathlon winner, reset the record to 244 km/h (152 mph), also at the Bonneville Salt Flats, on 20 July 1985.

Fred Rompelberg from Maastricht, Netherlands was the holder of the motor-paced speed world record cycling with 268.831 km/h (167.044 mph) from 1995 to 2018. He used a special bicycle behind a dragster of the Strasburg Drag Racing Team at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

Denise Mueller-Korenek claimed a women's bicycle land speed record at 147 mph (237 km/h) at the Bonneville Salt Flats on 10 September 2016. Mueller was coached by former record holder John Howard. On 17 September 2018, again at Bonneville, she took the outright world record, riding a special KHS bike with a 62Tx12T gear (488 gear-inches) to a new overall record top speed of 183.183 mph (295 km/h) behind a converted rail dragster with a fairing.

History of downhill records

During the last decade of the 20th century, two Frenchmen, Éric Barone and Christian Taillefer, set the speed record descending on snow several times. On 28 March 2015, Éric Barone reached 223.3 km/h (138.8 mph) at Vars ski resort, France, besting his own record from 2000, using a specially designed prototype bicycle. In 2017 Barone achieved a new downhill record on snow reaching 227.72 km/h using a prototype bicycle.

Using a serial production bicycle, as opposed to prototype bicycles, the record holder is Markus Stöckl from Austria. He set a world speed record in 1999 on snow, descending at 187 km/h (116 mph) at Les Arcs. On 14 September 2007, Stöckl rode an Intense M6 mountainbike down the ski slope of La Parva, Chile, reaching the current record of 210 km/h (130 mph).

The top descending speeds have always been obtained on snow. Apart from that, the ashes of a volcano have been the other surface used. In November 2001, Éric Barone descended on the Cerro Negro volcano in Nicaragua at 130 km/h (81 mph), beating his previous record achieved in Hawaii in 1999. Barone believed he could do more, and returned to the same location on 12 May 2002 when he reached 163 km/h (101 mph) on a serial production bicycle and 172 km/h (107 mph), on a prototype bicycle, a world record. Markus Stöckl did beat the serial production bicycle record in 2011 when he reached 164.95 km/h (102.50 mph) on a volcano in Nicaragua and again in 2017 when he reached 167.6 km/h (104.1 mph) down a volcano in Chile. The prototype bicycle record, on a volcano, still belongs to Barone.

Hour records

The hour record for bicycles is the record for the longest distance cycled in one hour on a bicycle. The most famous type of record is for upright bicycles meeting the requirements of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). Hour-record attempts are made in a velodrome, frequently at high elevation for the aerodynamic benefit of thinner air. Between 1997 and 2014 the UCI retrospectively restricted hour record competitors to roughly the same equipment as was used by Eddy Merckx in his 1972 record. In 2014, the UCI changed the hour record rules to permit using any upright bike allowed for endurance track events. However, other retrospective changes to hour record regulations are why the current hour records are not the farthest absolute distance.

The UCI hour records as of 13 October 2023 are:

• UCI men's record: Filippo Ganna , 2022, 56.792 kilometres (35.289 mi)
• UCI women's record: Vittoria Bussi , 2023, 50.267 kilometres (31.234 mi)

Another type of record registered by the International Human Powered Vehicle Association (IHPVA) and the World Human Powered Vehicle Association (WHPVA) is for human-powered machines, typically fully streamlined recumbent bicycles. These feature a lower frontal area than a UCI bicycle due to their recumbent seating design of the rider. They enclose the rider and machine in aerodynamic shapes made of carbon fiber, Kevlar, or fiberglass to reduce air resistance. A further type of record is for partially streamlined recumbents, which are open but have either a windshield in front or a streamlined tail-box in the rear. This is registered by the World Recumbent Racing Association (WRRA).

• Streamlined recumbent bicycle (bicycle and rider enclosed in an aerodynamic shell): Francesco Russo of Switzerland set a new World Record by covering 91.556 km (56.890 mi) in one hour at the DEKRA test track in Germany on 2 August 2011. This record is approved by the WHPVA. On 19 July 2009, Sam Whittingham at the Ford Motor Company's 5-mile oval test track in Romeo, Michigan, achieved 90.598 km. This record was approved by the IHPVA and WHPVA committees. In 2008, Damjan Zabovnik achieved 87.123 km
• Non-streamlined Recumbent Bicycle (no shell, only disk wheels, and rider sitting on top frame). The best mark was achieved by Aurelien Bonneteau, a French rider at the Bordeaux velodrome. He rode a bicycle with a nearly horizontal seat to allow his back to lie flat, two standard sized wheels, an elliptical chainring, and shortened pedal arms to reduce the air volume swept out by his legs. His distance was 56.696 km (35.229 mi), on 16 July 2014.

24 Hours record

Please note that some records are made with at least one of the following beneficial factors: streamlined bicycles, being part of a 4x4 relay team, being in other aerodynamically favorable conditions such as behind trucks, special support teams, supplements etc. Different race locations (including elevation), weather conditions, etc. all do come into play.

Men's Road records

• Charles Terront is claimed to have covered 546 kilometres (339 mi) in 1879.
• George Pilkington Mills set the record at 417 kilometres (259 mi) circa 1890.
• Cyril Heppleston set the road record at 770 kilometres (478 mi) circa 1938.
• Hubert Opperman set the road record at 814 kilometres (506 mi) in Melbourne on 5 December 1939.
• Roy Cromack set the road record at 816 kilometres (507 mi) in 24 hours in UK in 1969.
• Jean-Pascal Roux set the road record at 839 kilometres (521 mi) in 24 hours at Caderousse on 18 June 2009.
• Christian von Ascheberg set the human powered vehicle (HPV) land distance record at 1,218 kilometres (757 mi) in 24 hours in a Milan SL velomobile at the DEKRA test track in Germany on 1 August 2010.
• Andy Wilkinson set the UK 24-hour time trial record at 871 kilometres (541 mi) on 24/25 June 2011.
• Stanislav Verstovšek set the 24 hour road record at 914.020 kilometres (567.946 mi) in Dobrovnik, Slovenia on 2 October 2020.
• Christoph Strasser set the 24 hour road record at 1,026.21 kilometres (637.66 mi) in Zeltweg, Austria on 16 July 2021.
• Michael Secrest set the record for 1216 miles outdoors in US by drafting behind 18 wheel truck

Women's Road record

• Beatrice Grimshaw claimed to have broken the women's road record c. 1900 however the distance ridden is unclear, no authority has recognised the record and there are doubts about her claim.
• Edith Atkins set the women's road record at 679 kilometres (422 mi) on 12 July 1953.
• Christine Moody set the women's record at 688.57 kilometres (427.86 mi) in July 1969.
• Sandy Earl set a new road record at 712.07 kilometres (442.46 mi) on 14 August 2011.
• Maria Parker set a new road record at 755.101 kilometres (469.198 mi) on 13 October 2012.
• Amanda Coker set a new road record at 824.798 kilometres (512.506 mi) on 23 October 2021 becoming the first woman in history to break 500 miles in 24 hours.

Men's track record

• Dr Mitchell Anderson set the 24 hour outdoor track record at 894.349 kilometres (555.723 mi) at the AARC in Wensleydale, Victoria, Australia on 30 March 2018.
• Ralph Diseviscourt set the 24 hour outdoor track record at 915.4 kilometres (568.8 mi) in Vianden, Luxembourg on 11 July 2020.
• Christoph Strasser set the indoor track record at 941.872 kilometres (585.252 mi) at Velodrome Suisse, Grenchen, Switzerland on 14–15 October 2017.

Women's track record

• Petra von Fintel set the women's human powered vehicle (HPV) land distance record at 1,011.99 kilometres (628.82 mi) in 24 hours in a Milan velomobile at Klettwitz, Germany on 12 July 2015. In July 2018 Nici Walde claims to have ridden 1,088 kilometres (676 mi) at the Opel Test Center in Rodgau-Dudenhofen, Germany. however as of 31 July 2018 the ride is yet to be recognised by the World Human Powered Vehicle Association.
• Elena Novikova (Ukraine) set the women's indoor track record at 782 kilometres (486 mi), average speed 32.57 kilometres per hour (20.24 mph) at Velodromo Fassa Bortolo Montichiari, Brescia, Italy on 17 September 2017.
• Seana Hogan regained the women's outdoor track record at 717 kilometres (446 mi), average speed 29.89 kilometres per hour (18.57 mph) at Hellyer Park Velodrome San Jose, California, United States on 4 May 2012.

Long-distance records

Pembroke to Great Yarmouth

Pembroke to Great Yarmouth is the traversal of the whole width of the island of Wales and England between two extremities; Starting in Pembroke in the West and finishing in Great Yarmouth in the East. The record is also known as the Side to Side record. The distance by road using the traditional route is 349 miles (562 km) and the records are maintained by the Road Records Association. Some of its current records are:

• Upright bicycle: In October 2018 Nick Clarke claimed the record in 15h 23m 59s,
• Women's record: Maria Bloom, 2004, 16h 51m 56s
• Men's Tandem bicycle Record: Tim Bayley & Adam Broyad, 2019, 14h 15m 20s.

Land's End to John O'Groats

Land's End to John O'Groats is the traversal of the whole length of the island of Great Britain between two extremities; in the southwest and northeast. The distance by road using the traditional route is 874 miles (1,407 km) and the records are maintained by the Road Records Association. Some of its current records are:

• Upright bicycle: In June 2018 Michael Broadwith claimed the record in 43h 25m 13s.
• Faired recumbent bicycle: Andy Wilkinson, 1996, 41h 4m 22s.
• Women's record: Christina Mackenzie, 2021, 51h 5m 5s.
• Women's tricycle record: Jane Moore, 2014, 88h 45m 21s.
• Men's Tandem Record: D Irvine & C Mitchell, 2015, 45h 11m 0s.
• Mixed Tandem Record: A Wilkinson & L E A Taylor (Lynne Biddulph), 2000, 51h 19m 23s.

Return journey between Land's End and John O'Groats

Ben Rockett claimed to have set a record of 141h 8m 0s for an upright bicycle from Land's End to John O'Groats to Land's End, being the return journey of Land's End to John O'Groats. The distance by road using the traditional route is 1,748 miles (2,813 km). The precise route he took is not clear as his website says the distance ridden was 1,880 miles (3,030 km). Its status as a record however was dubious as no recognised authority certified the record.

In September 2017 James MacDonald set a Guinness world record, starting and finishing at John O'Groats. Guinness certified the record as covering 1,725 miles (2,776 km) in 5 days 18 hours and 3 minutes, beating Rockett's time by 3 hours and 5 minutes.

On 3 September 2020, Marcia Roberts became the first female to record the journey starting at Lands End, by bike, in a time of 11 days, 13 hours & 13 minutes and set a Guinness World Record. On 16 July 2023, Louise Harris successfully completed the return journey in 10 days 5 hours, breaking the original record by over 1 day 8 hours.

One Thousand miles

On 13 March 1940 Pat Hawkins set the 'World 1,000 mile record' in Perth, having ridden the 1,000 miles (1,600 km) distance in 4 days, 8 hours and 7 minutes, cutting 9 hours 53 minutes off Vera Unthank's record.

• Men's record: Gethin Butler, 2001. After setting the Lands End to John O'Groats record in 2001 Gethin Butler continued to ride, completing 1000 miles in 55 hours 59 minutes 0 seconds.
• Women's record: Lynne Taylor, 2001. After setting the women's Lands End to John O'Groats record, Lynne Taylor continued to ride, completing 1000 miles in 64 hours and 38 minutes.

Ultra Marathon

Race Across America, an ultra marathon bicycle race across the United States that started in 1982. The fastest average speed records are:

• Solo man: Christoph Strasser, 2014, who averaged 16.42 mph (26.43 km/h) riding 3,020 miles (4,860 km) in 7 days, 15 hours, and 56 minutes.
• Solo woman: Seana Hogan, 1995, who averaged 13.23 mph (21.29 km/h) riding 2,912 miles (4,686 km) in 9 days, 4 hours, 2 minutes.

Seven days

On Sunday 17 March 1940 Pat Hawkins, an 18-year-old female from Western Australia, set the 'World Seven Days record' in Perth, having ridden 1,546.8 miles (2,489.3 km) to surpass the previous best (1,438.4 miles (2,314.9 km)) set by Mrs Valda Unthank of Hastings, Victoria. Hawkins also broke the West Australian records for one, two, three, four, five, six and seven days, plus surpassing the Australian professional men's record of Ossie Nicholson. No authority appears to maintain this record, however notable distances ridden in seven days include:

• Tommy Godwin rode 2,084 miles (3,354 km) between 16 and 22 July 1939.
• Bruce Berkeley rode 2,825 kilometres (1,755 mi) between 23 and 29 June 2014.
• Richard Nutt rode 2,830 kilometres (1,760 mi) between 1 and 7 June 2015.
• James Golding rode 2,842.2 kilometres (1,766.1 mi) between 19 and 25 June 2017.
• Bruce Berkeley rode 3,333.3 kilometres (2,071.2 miles) between 6 and 12 January 2020.
• Matthieu Bonne rode 3,619.7 kilometres (2,249.2 miles) between 20 and 26 March 2023.

One month

There are 2 authorities currently recognising this record, Guinness World Records and World Ultra Cycling Association (formerly the UltraMarathon Cycling Association). Tommy Godwin rode 8,583 miles (13,813 km) in July 1939, on his way to setting the World Endurance record for a single year however no authority has recognised this as a record. Current record holders are:

• WUCA record holder Amanda Coker rode 8,012.4 miles (12,894.7 km) in April 2017.
• Guinness World Record holder Janet Davison rode 4,010 miles (6,450 km) between 24 July and 22 August 2015.
• WUCA male record holder Steven Abraham rode 7,104.3 miles (11,433.3 km) between 2 September and 1 October 2016.
• Guinness World Record holder Mark Beaumont (UK) rode 7,031 miles (11,315 km) between 2 and 31 July 2017, travelling from Paris to Jerramungup, Western Australia.\

100,000 Miles

On 11 July 2017, 24-year-old Amanda Coker set a new "Fastest completion of 100,000 miles by bicycle record, doing so in 423 days. Coker's record improved by 77 days on Tommy Godwin's prior record of 500 days set in May 1940. The record was certified by the Guinness Book of Records and the Ultra Marathon Cycling Association (now the WUCA).

World Endurance record for distance in a calendar year

Men's record

In 1911 the weekly magazine Cycling began a competition for the highest number of 100-mile rides or "centuries" in a single year. The winner was Marcel Planes with 332 centuries in which he covered 34,366 miles (55,307 km). The inspiration for the competition was said to be the efforts of Harry Long, a commercial traveller who rode a bicycle on his rounds covering every part of England and Scotland and who covered 25,376 miles (40,839 km) in 1910. The world record for distance cycled in a year began in an era when bicycle companies competed to show their machines were the most reliable. The record has been officially established nine times. A tenth claim, by the English rider Ken Webb in 1972, was disallowed. Apart from the 1911 competition organised by Cycling, there was no authority that set rules for record attempts nor certified the mileage ridden. In 1937 the League of Victorian Wheelmen declined a request by Ossie Nicholson for patronage for his attempt on the record. Nicholson's response was to appoint a committee to supervise his attempt. The mileage had been traditionally verified by way of a sealed milometer and cards signed by upstanding members of society such as police officers or postmasters.

In November 2014 the UltraMarathon Cycling Association announced that it would recognise a new record category for the highest annual mileage in a year, and set rules for the record. All of the previous record holders from Marcel Planes to Tommy Godwin rode a double-triangle diamond frame bicycle, and their rides all commenced on 1 January. The UltraMarathon Cycling Association decided, however, to permit any bike type except for faired recumbents, and that an attempt may start on any day of the year running for 365 consecutive days. Odometers and cards were replaced by GPS recording and live tracking devices such as the SPOT Satellite Messenger.

In 2015, three cyclists commenced an attempt to beat the record set by Tommy Godwin. Briton Steve Abraham started his attempt on 1 January, American Kurt Searvogel, nicknamed Tarzan, started 10 January, and Australian Miles Smith started on 18 June. Abraham was hit by a moped rider on 29 March 2015, breaking his leg above the ankle. After two weeks' recovery, Abraham resumed cycling gradually, using just one leg to pedal a recumbent trike. Having lost so much distance, he launched a concurrent attempt on the record starting on 8 August 2015, however he announced on 22 January 2016 that he had ended his concurrent attempt. Abraham rode 63,568 miles (102,303 km) in his calendar year attempt. Smith ceased his attempt on 13 November 2015. Searvogel managed to overcome weather, injury and also married his one-woman support crew Alicia Searvogel, breaking Godwin's mark with five days to spare. Cycling Weekly reported a surprising number of people were less than charitable about Searvogel's amazing feat. Searvogel planned his attempt to hit his final mileage of 76,076 miles exactly, writing "The number is significant in that it took 76 years and 76,076 miles to take the record from the British – The spirit of 76 lives on". This UMCA record is also recognized as a Guinness World Record.

World Endurance record for a single year

Year	Record holder	Country	Distance	Ref
1911	Marcel Planes	France	34,366 miles (55,307 km)
1932	Arthur Humbles	Great Britain	36,007 miles (57,948 km)
1933	Ossie Nicholson	Australia	43,966 miles (70,756 km)
1936	Walter Greaves	Great Britain	45,383 miles (73,037 km)
1937	Bernard Bennett	Great Britain	45,801 miles (73,710 km)
1937	René Menzies	France	61,561 miles (99,073 km)
1937	Ossie Nicholson	Australia	62,657 miles (100,837 km)
1939	Bernard Bennett	Great Britain	65,127 miles (104,812 km)
1939	Tommy Godwin	Great Britain	75,065 miles (120,805 km)
2015	Kurt Searvogel	United States	76,076 miles (122,432 km)
2017	Amanda Coker	United States	86,537 miles (139,268 km)

Women's record

During 1938 Billie Dovey, the English 'keep fit girl' of the 1930s, achieved a record 29,899.4 miles (48,118.4 km). Contemporary advertising shows that she rode a Rudge-Whitworth bicycle and relied on Cadbury milk chocolate for energy. Dovey combined the attempt with a lecture tour, often finishing her ride and then giving a fitness lecture in the evening.

In February 1942 Pat Hawkins, the holder of the 'World Seven Days record', claimed to have ridden 45,402.8 miles (73,068.7 km) in Perth, West Australia, despite having missed seven weeks riding. A few days later the claim was withdrawn due to discrepancies in her logs. The press had reported her campaign in relation to Billie Dovey's record, to wit, after ten weeks she had recorded 7,302.8 miles (11,752.7 km) compared to Mrs Dovey's 5,238 miles (8,430 km). She would have reached Dovey's record after 36 weeks, three days, one hour and 20 minutes. The endeavour was sponsored by Bruce Small Pty Ltd.

In 2016, Kajsa Tylen broke the record, exceeding Dovey's mileage on 24 November, with over a month of the year left to go. Guinness did not ratify Billie Dovey's record, and had set a target of over 50,000 km. Tylen cycled all over the UK and Europe, encouraging others to join her every day, and make 'sweat pledges' of support. Tylen set the Guinness World Record for females at 52,025 kilometres (32,327 mi).

On 5 April 2017, the 326th day of her year-long record attempt to ride more miles in a year than anybody ever, Amanda Coker broke the women's, as well as the overall mileage record, when she exceeded Kurt Searvogel's previous record of 76,076 miles (122,432 km). The Guinness Book of World Records certified Coker's record at the end of her record-breaking day at 76,233.9 miles (122,686.6 km). Coker completed her year-long mileage record with 86,537 miles (139,268 km).

On June 4, 2016, Alicia Searvogel became the first woman over 50 years of age to make an attempt the Highest Annual Mileage record. On June 3, 2017, Searvogel finished her attempt with a total of 32,415 miles (52,167 km). While she fell short of breaking Amanda Coker's overall woman's record, Ms. Searvogel was awarded the highest annual mileage record, and highest month mileage record 4,021 miles (6,471 km) in the 50–59 age category by the UMCA (now WUCA).

Road bicycle racing records

The following is a list of Road bicycle racing achievements and records:

One-day and stage races

• Grand Tour wins: Eddy Merckx (11), Bernard Hinault (10), Jacques Anquetil (8)
• Tour de France wins: Miguel Induráin (5 consecutive), Eddy Merckx (5), Bernard Hinault (5), Jacques Anquetil (5)
• Giro d'Italia wins: Alfredo Binda (5; 3 consecutive), Fausto Coppi (5), Eddy Merckx (5; 3 consecutives)
• Vuelta a España wins: Roberto Heras (4; 3 consecutive), Primož Roglič (4; 3 consecutive)
• Tour de France yellow jerseys: Eddy Merckx (96), Bernard Hinault (75), Miguel Induráin (60), Chris Froome (59), Jacques Anquetil (50), Tadej Pogačar (40), Antonin Magne (38), Nicolas Frantz and Philippe Thys (37)
• Giro d'Italia pink jersey: Eddy Merckx (78), Alfredo Binda (60), Francesco Moser (57), Gino Bartali (50), Giuseppe Saronni (49), Jacques Anquetil (42), Fausto Coppi and Bernard Hinault (31)
• Vuelta a España red jersey: Alex Zülle (48), Primož Roglič (42), Roberto Heras (34), Delio Rodríguez and Gustaaf Deloor (32)
• Grand Tour stage wins: Eddy Merckx (64), Mario Cipollini (57), Mark Cavendish (55)
• Triple Crown of Cycling: Eddy Merckx (1974), Stephen Roche (1987), Tadej Pogačar (2024)
• Monument wins: Eddy Merckx (19), Roger De Vlaeminck (11), Costante Girardengo, Fausto Coppi, Sean Kelly (9)
• Single Monument wins: Eddy Merckx (7x Milan–San Remo)
• Most road races won by a professional cyclist: Eddy Merckx (525), Rik van Looy (379), Francesco Moser (273), Rik van Steenbergen (270), Roger de Vlaeminck (259)
• UCI Road World Championships: Alfredo Binda (3x gold, 1x bronze), Rik van Steenbergen (3x gold, 1x bronze), Óscar Freire (3x gold, 1x bronze), Eddy Merckx, Peter Sagan

Classifications and awards

• Challenge Desgrange-Colombo (1948-1958): Ferdinand Kübler, Fred De Bruyne (3)
• Super Prestige Pernod (1959-1987): Eddy Merckx (7)
• UCI Road World Cup (1989-2004): Paolo Bettini (3)
• UCI Road World Rankings (1984-2004): Sean Kelly (5)
• UCI ProTour/UCI World Tour (2005-2018): Alejandro Valverde (4)
• UCI World Ranking (from 2016): Tadej Pogačar (3)
• Vélo d'Or awards (from 1992): Alberto Contador (4)

Track cycling records

Wheelie records

The longest bicycle wheelie in one hour is 30.95 km (19.23 mi), and was achieved by Manuel Scheidegger (Switzerland) in Bern, Switzerland on 12 September 2020.

Kurt Osburn (nicknamed Wheelie King) from California, United States is the Guinness World Record holder for Longest Bicycle Wheelie, riding on the back wheel of a bicycle. On 8 August 1998, he rode a wheelie for a record 11 hours at the Anaheim Convention Center, California. In June 2012 David "Pixie" Robilliard failed to break the record.

From 13 April to 25 June 1999, Kurt rode 2,839.6 miles from Hollywood to the Guinness World Records Experience in Orlando on one wheel, also for a Guinness World Record, becoming the first person in history to ride a bicycle wheelie coast to coast. During his attempt he rode an average of 50 miles per day, sometimes with winds in excess of 40 miles per hour. Other facts: He cycled on the 110 Highway, had 4 flat tires (on the rear tire of course), over 1.8 million pedal revolutions from start to finish, and was chased by dogs almost daily.

Around the world

To qualify for the relevant Guinness World Record one must satisfy various requirements, such as total distance travelled, pass through two approximate antipodal points, provide specified evidence, etc.

• Jenny Graham cycled unsupported around the world in 124 days.
• Mark Beaumont cycled supported around the world in 78 days, 14 hours, 40 minutes.
• Laura Massey-Pugh and Steven Massey tandem cycled unsupported around the world in 179 days, 12 hours & 25 minutes.
• Ed Pratt unicycled unsupported around the world in 3 years, 135 days.

Notes

1. Ken Webb's claim was for 80,647 miles (129,789 km) in 1972. Webb insisted he had completed the distance but others said he hadn't and he was removed from the Guinness Book of Records.

References

1. ^ "A history of cycling speed records as Denise Mueller-Korenek reaches 183 mph". Guinness World Records. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
2. "Cycling land speed record smashed on Bonneville Salt Flats". BikeRadar. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
3. 183.932mph 2018 WORLD RECORD Project Speed Denise Mueller-Korenek's Record Run Sept 16 2018 – 4:19pm on YouTube
4. "Fastest bicycle speed in a slipstream (male)". guinnessworldrecords.com. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
5. Fred Rompelberg 268km on YouTube
6. ^ "Watch Eric Barone hit 141mph in this incredibly sketchy top speed run".
7. (OFFICIAL) Eric Barone – 227,720 km/h (141,500 mph) – Mountain Bike World Speed Record – 2017 on YouTube
8. "Eric Barone Breaks World Speed Record by Bike – the Full Story". 2 April 2015.
9. (OFFICIAL) Eric Barone – 22,330 km/h (13,880 mph) – World mountain bike speed record – VSC 2015 on YouTube
10. "(Winter) – Les Arcs – Activities". Sunshine World France. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
11. "World record shattered! Speed biking on snow at 210 km/h". Pinkbike. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
12. Video on YouTube
13. ^ "This biker went 167kph down a mountain". www.redbull.com. Archived from the original on 27 February 2017.
14. Markus Stöckl sets new downhill mountain bike speed record at 167.6 kmh on YouTube
15. ^ "amateur survey". Retrieved 13 November 2017.
16. ^ "New World Records at WHPSC 2016". International Human Powered Vehicle Association. Retrieved 22 September 2016. "2016 200 Meter Results". wisil.recumbents.com. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
17. ^ "New Records at WHPSC 2019". ihpva.org. International Human Powered Vehicle Association. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
18. Moyes, Jojo (24 August 1995). "£1m bike breaks record by going nowhere". The Independent. London.
19. ^ "2009 200 Meter Results". wisil.recumbents.com. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
20. "The Aerovelo Eta is officially the fastest bike ever". Cycling Weekly. 22 September 2015.
21. "Canada's AeroVelo breaks human-powered land speed record". www.design-engineering.com. 18 September 2015. Archived from the original on 2 January 2016.
22. "2005 200 Meter Results". wisil.recumbents.com. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
23. "World Human Powered Speed Challenge 2010 200 Meter Results". wisil.recumbents.com.
24. "Gordon McCall Challenge history of the Land Speed Record". teammccallusa. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007.
25. ^ "Photos and history of motor paced records" (in Spanish). 26 March 2009.
26. "Photo 955 of 1232, European Stayers". Imageevent.com. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
27. "a 60 tooth chainring".
28. "Mountain Bikes History". raleighbikes.com. Archived from the original on 19 July 2009.
29. "Letourner" (PDF).
30. "Date with Death". Cycling.ahands.org. 19 July 1962. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
31. Kragen, Pam (17 September 2018). "San Diego woman officially the fastest bicyclist on Earth". San Diego Union Tribune.
32. Kristen Legan. "American woman rides bike 147 mph, a new world record". velonews.com. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
33. "Eric Barone Breaks World Speed Record by Bike". www.pinkbike.com. 2 April 2015. Archived from the original on 7 April 2015.
34. "Hour Record rule change — Athlete's hour to be scrapped". Cycling Weekly. 15 May 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
35. "UCI changes hour record regulations, allows modern track bikes". VeloNews.com. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
36. "Filippo Ganna breaks the UCI Hour Record timed by Tissot". uci.org. 8 October 2022.
37. "Flying Vittoria Bussi becomes first woman to break 50km barrier as she reclaims UCI Hour Record". road.cc. 14 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
38. "WRRA Homepage".
39. "New Hour World Record!". Bentrideronline.com. 12 August 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
40. "International Human Powered Vehicle Association". IHPVA. Archived from the original on 14 August 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
41. "Fastest Human List Records". recumbents.com.
42. "New unfaired hour attempt, 16 july". recumbents.com.
43. "Le Petit Braquet – Charles Terront" (in French). Archived from the original on 1 April 2012.
44. ^ "Opperman's world record. Tacks On 37¼ Miles To 24 Hours Distance". The Sporting Globe (2 ed.). Melbourne. 6 December 1939. p. 9 – via National Library of Australia.
45. "The Pedal Club Golden Book – Citation for Roy Cromack". The Pedal Club.
46. "24-hour world record broken. Frenchman covers 839 kilometres in 24 hours". CyclingNews.com. 18 June 2009.
47. "Land, Men's 24 hour standing start (Single rider)". World Human Powered Vehicle Association. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
48. "Result - 2011 Sussex 24 Hour Time Trial, Promoted by East Sussex Cycling Association". 24hourfellowship.org.uk.
49. ^ "World UltraCycling Cycling Association Timed Records". World UltraCycling Association. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
50. "Timed". World UltraCycling Association. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
51. "24 - Hour - Outdoor - Track - Michael - Secrest". World UltraCycling Association. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
52. Newmann, Kate. "Beatrice Grimshaw". Dictionary of Ulster Biography. the Institute of Irish Studies of the Queens University of Belfast. Retrieved 6 August 2016. She was a keen cyclist, and broke the women's world 24 hour record by five hours.
53. Laracy, Hugh (1983). "Grimshaw, Beatrice Ethel (1870–1953)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. 9. Australian National University. Retrieved 7 August 2016. She was interested in competitive cycling and showed her tendency to romanticize herself claiming a world record for a 24-hour ride; experts doubt the claim.
54. "The Pedal Club Golden Book – Edith Atkins". The Pedal Club. 12 August 1953.
55. "Cycling Time Trials: Women – Bicycle – Individual". www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
56. "Sandy Earl – New 12 & 24 Hr UMCA Record Holder". UltraRaceNews. 7 October 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
57. "Amanda Coker - 24 hour Road Record - 2021-10-23". World UltraCycling Association. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
58. Team, Records (22 July 2020). "Ralph Diseviscourt - 24 hour Outdoor Track Record Attempt - July 11-12, 2020". World UltraCycling Association. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
59. ^ "Land – Women's 24 hour standing start (single rider)". World Human Powered Vehicle Association. Archived from the original on 23 July 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
60. "Nici Walde sets new women's human-powered 24-hour endurance record". NewAtlas.com. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
61. "Hogan Reestablishes Outdoor Track Records. Four records fall and once again are hers". World UltraCycling Association. Archived from the original on 2 November 2018.
62. "News – Cycling Record Broken | velouk.net". www.velouk.net. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
63. ^ "Place to Place Records". www.rra.org.uk. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
64. "VTTA – Side to Side and 12hr Record Broken – Articles". www.vtta.org.uk. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
65. "Michael Broadwith smashes the Land's End to John O'Groats record". Road.cc. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
66. David Larrington. "Upright Records and Divers Notable Recumbent Performances". Legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
67. Marlborough, Connor. "This Scottish woman just smashed the women's Lands End to John O'Groats cycling record". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
68. ^ "LEJOGLE Record". RockettRides. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
69. "Rockett speed for a cyclist!". Bath University. 27 August 2010. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
70. "World Bike Speed Record: John o'Groats to Land's End. And back again". cyclist.co.uk. Archived from the original on 10 September 2017.
71. "Fastest return journey from Land's End to John-O'-Groats by bicycle (male)". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
72. "Fastest return journey from Land's End to John-O'-Groats by bicycle (female)". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
73. "Louise Harris Breaks the Female Solo LEJOGLE Records (Land's End to John O'Groats and Back) - 10 Days 5 Hours". velo.chat. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
74. ^ "World's record to W.A. girl". The Sporting Globe (1 ed.). Melbourne. 20 March 1940. p. 9 – via National Library of Australia.
75. ^ "Records Distance". Road Record Association. Archived from the original on 8 January 2019.
76. ^ "RAAM Records". Raceacrossamerica.org. Archived from the original on 14 January 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
77. ^ "Tommy Godwin stats July 1939". tommygodwin.com.
78. ^ "Kurt Searvogel awarded Guinness World Record for distance cycled in a year". road.cc. 24 January 2016.
79. "Bruce Berkeley rides nearly 10,000km in January to set new Guinness World Record". road.cc. 2 February 2015. Road.cc has subsequently said they were incorrect and Berkeley does not hold Guinness World Records for the greatest distances cycled in a week and in a month.
80. "Yorkshireman Richard Nutt breaks world seven-day distance record". Cycling Weekly. 9 June 2015.
81. "Two-time cancer survivor from Warwickshire breaks seven-day distance cycling record". road.cc. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
82. "FOR THE RECORD". www.assos.com. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
83. "Greatest distance cycled in one week - unpaced". www.guinessworldrecords.com. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
84. ^ "Highest Monthly Mileage (HMM'R)". World UltraCycling Association. Archived from the original on 2 November 2018.
85. "Greatest distance cycled in a month (WUCA)". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
86. "Farthest distance cycled in one month (female)". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
87. "Farthest distance cycled in one month". guinnessworldrecords.com. Guinness World Records. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
88. "Fastest completion of 100,000 miles by bicycle". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
89. Dave Barter. "Tommy Godwin".
90. Dave Barter (9 December 2011). "Tommy Godwin FAQ". Phased Publications.
91. "WUCA distance records". World UltraCycling Association. Archived from the original on 2 November 2018.
92. ^ "Year's Road Riding". The Sydney Morning Herald. 7 January 1933. p. 18 – via National Library of Australia.
93. Cycling, 1972, undated cutting
94. ^ "Rules for Highest Annual Mileage". UltraMarathon Cycling Association. 26 November 2014. Archived from the original on 8 February 2016.
95. "Nicholson's ride, won't press it, claim for patronage". The Referee. Sydney. 28 January 1937. p. 20 – via National Library of Australia.
96. ^ "Tommy Godwin: 75,065 miles in a year". Cycling Weekly. 27 January 2012.
97. "UMCA announces a new record category: highest annual mileage". UltraMarathon Cycling Association. 26 November 2014.
98. "Steven Abraham one year time trial".
99. "Tarzan Rides HAMR Kurt Searvogel".
100. ^ "Highes Annual Mileage (HAM'R) Results". World Ultra Cycling Association. Archived from the original on 15 February 2016.
101. "Steve Abraham in collision with moped during world mileage record ride". Cycling Weekly. 30 March 2015.
102. "Steve Abraham back on the road—pedalling a recumbent with one leg". road.cc. 17 April 2015.
103. "Steve Abraham ends Highest Annual Mileage Record attempt". velonews. 22 January 2016.
104. "American Kurt Searvogel breaks cycling highest annual mileage record". Cycling Weekly. 5 January 2016.
105. ^ "Greatest distance cycled in a year". Guinness World Records. Archived from the original on 24 January 2016.
106. "Comment: Why I think Kurt Searvogel's annual cycling record deserves our respect". Cycling Weekly. 6 January 2016.
107. "Ultracycling: Highest Annual Mileage Record". ultracycling.com. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
108. ^ "The Golden Book of Cycling – Citation for Arthur Humbles". Archive maintained by 'The Pedal Club'.
109. "Ossie for Aussie". The Referee. Sydney. 7 January 1937. p. 20 – via National Library of Australia.
110. "The Golden Book of Cycling – citation for Walter Greaves". Archive maintained by 'The Pedal Club'.
111. "Cycling". The Sydney Morning Herald. 18 January 1938. p. 16 – via National Library of Australia.
112. "Australia regains world's cycling record". The Referee. Sydney. 6 January 1938. p. 20 – via National Library of Australia.
113. "The Golden Book of Cycling – Citation for Thomas Edward Godwin". Archive maintained by 'The Pedal Club'.
114. ^ "Greatest distance cycled in a year (UMCA)". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
115. ^ "What Amanda Coker Just Did Rivals the Most Amazing Feats in Sports History". Inc. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
116. "V-CC New England Section".
117. ^ "25 Jan 1941 - Cycle Marathon Planned By Girl - Trove". Trove.
118. "02 Feb 1942 - WOMAN CYCLIST'S RECORD" – via Trove.
119. "The Age" – via Google News Archive Search.
120. "15 Oct 1941 - W.A. Woman Cyclist Sets New World Record - Trove". Trove.
121. "A Year in the Saddle - Kajsa's 2016 Cycling World Record Attempt". A Year in the Saddle – Kajsa's 2016 Cycling World Record Attempt. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
122. "Kajsa Tylen: Cyclist breaks Billie Fleming's 77-year-old record". BBC News. 25 November 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
123. "Farthest distance cycled in a year (female)". Guinness World Records. Archived from the original on 18 February 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
124. "Wie won de meeste wedstrijden na Eddy Merckx?". vintagefiets.be (in Dutch).
125. Velominati (24 March 2018). "Wielergoden: de meest heldhaftige renners ooit 38 heroïsche verhalen" (Book) (in Dutch). Kosmos Uitgevers. ISBN 9789021567907.
126. "Historical Dictionary of Cycling". Scarecrow Press. 16 October 2011. p. 169. ISBN 9780810871755.
127. "Heras makes it four, Petacchi sinks five". Eurosport. 18 September 2005. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
128. "Spanish Supreme Court restores 2005 Vuelta victory to Heras". Cyclingnews. 22 December 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
129. "Race director: Heras is the winner of the 2005 Vuelta". Cyclingquotes. 12 November 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
130. "Deloor, un belga en el primer párrafo del relato de la Vuelta" (in Spanish). Spoonful. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
131. "Longest bicycle wheelie in one hour".
132. "Wheelie Across America's Kurt Osburn Wheelies Through Louisiana June 1999!Bertaut". Bertaut.
133. "Guernsey postman fails in world wheelie record attempt". BBC News. 23 June 2012.
134. FAT BMX Promotions. "Kurt Osburn Wheelie King – 2,839.6 miles – Videos – News". FAT BMX.
135. Fastest Circumnavigation By Bicycle – Guidelines (PDF). Guinness World Records. 8 April 2014.
136. Rawlinson, Kevin; agency (18 October 2018). "Scottish cyclist smashes round-the world record". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
137. "Cyclist Mark Beaumont breaks around the world record". BBC News Online. BBC. 18 September 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
138. "Fastest circumnavigation by tandem bicycle". Guinness World Records. 9 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
139. "Unicyclist completes round-the-world trip". BBC News. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2020.

External links

• IHPVA
• WHPVA
• UCI records
• British Road Records Association
• British Cycling Time Trials
• Fastest Human Powered Vehicles One Hour & Top Speed Lists
• Cycling Records Registered by World Records of India

• Cycle racing
• Cycling records and statistics