Cycling / world record

Bristol cyclist breaks world record

By Martin Booth  Monday Jul 8, 2019

Ian Walker took just two days longer to cycle from the northern-most to the southern-most tip of Europe than the SS Great Britain’s first transatlantic voyage from Liverpool to New York.

Walker’s time of 16 days, 20 hours, 59 minutes is a new world record for crossing Europe by bike.

Cycling the route solo and unsupported, the Long Ashton endurance athlete finished his epic ride on Monday morning.

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“It feels great,” he tweeted from Tarifa in Spain.

Walker set off from North Cape in Norway and cycled nonstop, overland to Tarifa.

The 6,300 km journey took the University of Bath academic through Norway, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, France and Spain.

The previous record of 19 days, 11 hours and five minutes was set by Rob Gardiner only four days before Walker’s start date.

Walker’s ride was raising money for Roadspace. To donate, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/toptobottom

Main photo courtesy of @iancyclesalot

Read more: Bristol cyclist hopes to break world record for fastest ride across Europe 

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