Lael Wilcox, an American ultra-endurance cyclist, has set a new world record for the fastest woman to circumnavigate the globe by bike. Wilcox completed the 29,169-kilometer (18,125-mile) journey in an impressive 108 days, 12 hours, and 12 minutes. Her route, which began and ended in Chicago, surpasses the previous record held by Scotland’s Jenny Graham, who completed her journey in 124 days and 11 hours in 2018.
Wilcox, 38, from Alaska, embarked on her record-setting ride on May 28, cycling through 21 countries across four continents. Her return to Chicago was around 21:00 local time (02:00 GMT) on Wednesday. Throughout her journey, Wilcox rode up to 14 hours a day. Her achievement is currently under review for inclusion in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Cyclists of Wilcox’s caliber can burn between 6,000 and 10,000 calories per day, highlighting the extreme physical and mental demands of such a feat. Anne-Marije Rook, North America editor at Cycling Weekly, praised Wilcox’s endurance and determination: “It’s a tremendous effort to maintain such a rigorous schedule day in and day out for 108 consecutive days.”
Wilcox is no stranger to setting records. She was the first female to win the TransAm, a 4,000-mile race across the U.S., and has also set records in the Tour Divide, which follows the American continental divide along the Rocky Mountains.
The Guinness World Records for this category require cyclists to start and end their journey in the same location while traveling in a consistent direction. The total distance traveled must be equivalent to 40,000 kilometers—the Earth’s equatorial circumference—while the bicycle portion must exceed 28,970 kilometers.
Wilcox’s journey took her from Chicago to New York, where she flew to Portugal. She then rode through Amsterdam, Germany, the Alps, the Balkans, and Turkey before flying to Australia. There, she cycled from Perth to Brisbane, then flew to New Zealand. After traversing both islands, she flew back to Anchorage, cycled down the Pacific coast to Los Angeles, and finally took Route 66 back to Chicago.
Jenny Graham, the previous record-holder, expressed her admiration for Wilcox’s achievement: “It’s the most amazing thing to see women pushing their sport in such a way. I’m just a massive fan.”
Rook added that Wilcox and Graham are breaking new ground for female athletes: “What Jenny Graham, Lael Wilcox, and women like them are doing is pushing the boundaries not only in cycling but also in what is possible for women athletes.”
Wilcox documented her journey with a series of social media videos created with her filmmaker wife, Rugile Kaladyte, and published a daily podcast chronicling their experiences.
However, Wilcox’s record may face a challenge from Vedangi Kulkarni, a 25-year-old Indian ultra-cyclist. Kulkarni is approximately 7,700 kilometers into her attempt and aims to complete her ride in 110 days, potentially setting a new record.
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