December 18, 2024 - Valerio Boni, a 65-year-old Italian journalist and six-time Guinness World Records holder, has made history once again. During the weekend of November 30 to December 1, 2024, he achieved three new distance records on an e-bike, setting benchmarks that redefine the limits of endurance cycling. For the attempt a “fat bike” was used, weighing over 40 kg, while the 2-km circuit was built on Milan’s East Ring Road, which was already completed but not yet open to traffic.
The records achieved in a single event are as follows:
• 1-hour record: covering 36.360 km, nearly doubling the previous record of 20 km.
• 12-hour record: covering 323.200 km, improving the previous record of 286 km by more than 37 km.
• 24-hour record: covering 565.600 km, shattering the previous record of 455 km by 110 km. This milestone was achieved with over four hours to spare.
The event took place in Segrate, a town near Milan, on a closed section of road designed as a future connection for Milan’s East Ring Road. The road, generously made available by Milano Tangenziali, provided an ideal yet unconventional setting for this extraordinary feat.
The choice of November 30 and December 1, 2024, was symbolic. The date, represented numerically as 01-12-24, occurs only once every 100 years and mirrors the durations of the three record attempts: 1 hour, 12 hours, and 24 hours. This alignment added a unique significance to the achievement, making it unforgettable for Boni and those who followed the event.
The weather conditions made the challenge especially difficult. With sub-zero temperatures and persistent fog, the circuit became slippery, particularly during the night hours. Ice formation on parts of the track posed a constant challenge, alongside 17 hours of darkness.
“The hours after surpassing the 12-hour record were the toughest,” Boni explained. “The fog, cold, and ice pushed my endurance to its limits, but with the support of my team and my determination, I was able to push through to the end.”
For this achievement, Boni opted not for a lightweight road e-bike but a 40 kg fat bike with wide tires—a Murgese Marathon model. “I chose this bike to make the challenge more authentic and relatable. A high-performance bike would have made the attempt easier, but I wanted to show that with determination, great results can be achieved even with less sophisticated equipment,” Boni remarked. “After all, my distance in the first hour would have been far from the 56.792 km achieved by Filippo Ganna on an unassisted bike. To avoid seeming ridiculous, I chose a less professional vehicle, closer to what many people use daily.”
During the initial phase of the attempt, Boni wore the helmet of Alvaro Cecotti, an Italian cyclist who, at 81 years old in 2017, set a national 1-hour record of 33.517 km on a muscle-powered bicycle. Cecotti passed away two years ago. “Wearing the helmet Alvaro used during his preparation was an emotional moment for me,” Boni shared. “It was an honor to pay tribute to a friend and role model whose determination inspired many, including myself.”
The three new Guinness World Records are currently under review. Once officially certified, Boni will raise his total Guinness titles to nine. His previous six official records are:
• May 2021: longest distance covered in 24 hours on a minibike.
• May 2022: longest distance covered in 24 hours on an off-road motorcycle.
• October 2022: longest distance covered in 24 hours on an electric scooter.
• February 2023: highest speed on skis on asphalt towed by a vehicle.
• November 2023: longest distance covered in 24 hours on an electric scooter (team effort).
• March 2024: longest distance covered in 24 hours on a 50 cc scooter.
Additionally, Boni achieved an unofficial record recognized by the Iron Butt Association, certifying rides of at least 2,000 km in 24 hours on open roads. His journey of 2,014 km from Sweden to Italy across 11 European countries earned him a place in the Iron Butt Hall of Fame.
At 65 years old, Valerio Boni, born in Milan and now residing in the province of Bergamo, proves once again that age is no barrier. Each record he achieves is a testament to his determination, passion, and ability to overcome challenges.
While the 24-hour cycling marathon has ended, the even longer process of collecting and submitting the extensive documentation required by Guinness for record verification has begun.
This includes time-stamped evidence, certifications from independent witnesses who must rotate every two hours, and uninterrupted video recordings of every second of the attempts—multiplied by three for this extraordinary event.
