On 1.10.2003 Leontien Zijlaard-van Moorsel set a new hour record (UCI version) of 46.065 km. Compared with the current men's record of 49.700 km this is pretty close!!! Look at the development of the men's and women's record ("Best Hour Performance") over the years:

For a long time the difference between the men's and women's record was about 8 km. Then the women came quite close to the men's record in the 80's until the men made dramatic improvements from 1993 to 1996. When the UCI changed its rules 1996, Jeannie Longo's record was 48.159 km, while Chris Boardman rode 56.375 km, so again we have more than eight kilometres difference...
Looking at the "UCI Hour Record" gives a different picture:

So far we have just two succesful attempt from Chris Boardman and Ondrej Sosenka after the rules changed (and quite a few failed attempts!). The women improved the old record from 1978 four times, and it seems that they are getting closer and closer to the men's record. Now the difference between men and women is just about 3.6 km! Sosenka improved Boardmans record, but in the figure it doesn't look too impressive compared to the womens' performance :-)
Question: What is the reason for this? Are the women getting stronger - or the men getting weaker? The recent women's attempts were made at high altitude at Mexico City, which should give roughly an advantage of 1-2 km/h, but still...
Lets wait and see what happens...
Remark: The informations about the women's hour record are quite poor. I will try to update the following tables if possible.

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