Lael Wilcox has just broken the Guinness World Record for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe by bicycle. In a record-breaking time of 108 days, 12 hours and 12 minutes, the 37-year-old cyclist from the U.S. shattered the previous record, set in 2018 by Scottish cyclist Jenny Graham, cutting it by nearly 16 days.
At exactly 6:14 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11, Wilcox arrived back at Buckingham Fountain in Chicago, smiling ear to ear as she officially claimed the women’s record.
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She was able to document her journey with Wahoo Fitness. Wilcox covered 18,125 miles, crossing four continents and 21 countries. She started her journey in Chicago on May 26, and averaged 175 miles per day. On one particular day she covered 271 miles to escape a heatwave in California.
To meet the Guinness World Record criteria, Wilcox had to ride at least 18,000 miles in one direction, stay within a five-degree margin of course, and pass through two points that are diametrically opposed.
Wilcox said the trip was like running a marathon every day. But the competition isn’t over yet, a cyclist from India is already 65 days and 5,000 miles into her own attempt at the record. If successful, Wilcox’s record could be short lived, but for now she holds the title.
