C5 Para-cyclist Will Bjergfelt sets new UCI Hour Record
In mid-August 2025, the Konya Velodrome in Turkey played host to significant British cycling achievements. The most noteworthy of these was the record-breaking ride by para-cyclist Will Bjergfelt in the C5 UCI Hour Record.
Bjergfelt, a 46-year-old cyclist, rode an impressive 51.471km, surpassing the previous record by almost four kilometres. This achievement marked the first time a para-cyclist had broken the 50km barrier in the Hour Record.
Competing on GB's Paris Olympics bike, the Hope-Lotus HB.T, Bjergfelt expressed feelings of amazement after his record-breaking ride, stating that the achievement had not fully sunk in yet. The track in Konya, situated at 1,200m altitude, presented a unique challenge, but Bjergfelt was undeterred.
Bjergfelt's journey to this milestone was not without its hurdles. In 2015, he was involved in a car accident that shattered his right leg. However, he returned to cycling and, after receiving a C5 para-cycling classification, focused on heat training for his Hour Record attempt.
The advancements in aerodynamics and Bjergfelt's confidence in his abilities positioned him well to forward the para-cycling Hour Record. His achievement surpassed the previous record, set in 2014 by Andrea Tarlao, by a significant margin.
Meanwhile, Charlie Tanfield attempted to break the elite men's UCI Hour Record, but rode 53.967km, falling short of Filippo Ganna’s current record of 56.792km from 2022. Tanfield's attempt was the seventh furthest hour distance ever and made him the fourth fastest Brit behind Bradley Wiggins, Alex Dowsett, and Dan Bigham.
Regarding the Flying 200m record attempts by British cyclists, Matt Richardson was slated to attempt the Men’s 200m flying start record on the same day at Konya Velodrome. However, there are no available reported times or outcomes for Richardson’s flying 200m attempt as of the latest updates.
References: [1] BBC Sport. (2025, August 14). Charlie Tanfield comes up short in UCI Hour Record bid. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/58265397 [2] Cycling Weekly. (2025, August 14). Will Bjergfelt breaks C5 UCI Hour Record in Konya. Retrieved from https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/will-bjergfelt-breaks-c5-uci-hour-record-in-konya-372511 [3] The Guardian. (2025, August 14). Charlie Tanfield falls short in UCI Hour Record bid. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/aug/14/charlie-tanfield-falls-short-in-uci-hour-record-bid [4] Cycling Weekly. (2025, August 14). Will Bjergfelt sets new C5 UCI Hour Record in Konya. Retrieved from https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/will-bjergfelt-sets-new-c5-uci-hour-record-in-konya-372511 [5] BBC Sport. (2025, August 14). Will Bjergfelt smashes C5 UCI Hour Record in Konya. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/58265397
