Endurance man Mark off to conquer world
Bid to cycle around the world in record eighty days
Ultra-endurance athlete Mark Beaumont set off on his recordbreaking attempt to cycle around the world in just 80 days on Sunday.
Inspired by Jules Verne’s classic 1873 adventure novel Around the World in Eighty Days, the 34-year-old will attempt to circumnavigate the globe more 144 years later by bicycle rather than balloon as he embarks on the Artemis World Cycle.
Originally from Bridge of Cally but now living in the Crieff area, Mark successfully cycled around the world in 194 days in 2008 – but now hopes to do it in less than half the time.
The Perthshire adventurer departed from Paris at 4am on Sunday, making his way towards Poland en route to Beijing through Lithuania, Russia, and Mongolia before cycling between Perth and Brisbane in Australia.
In New Zealand, Mark will head for Invercargill and Auckland with the fourth leg of his challenge taking him between Anchorage in the United States and Halifax in Canada.
He will attempt to complete his journey by cycling from Lisbon back to French capital by Thursday, September 21.
Prior to his departure, the ambitious former Blairgowrie High School pupil said: “This is my chance to shoot for the stars and take on the ultimate endurance cycling challenge.
“Since I last pedalled around the world nearly 10 years ago, there has been a growing desire in me to push the boundaries of what is possible and to retake the circumnavigation world record at a whole new level.
“I know what I’m getting myself in to, this will be the toughest challenge of my life and will be an immense physical, mental and logistical battle before I reach the finish line.
“I have spent the last three years creating an amazing support team, who are in charge of my nutrition, logistics, navigation and safety, allowing me to purely focus on my performance and being an athlete.
“I don’t think anyone has ever tried to go this fast and this far before and I have been building on my experience as an endurance rider over two decades to prepare for this journey.”
In the run up to his world record attempt, Mark completed a 3300-mile training route around the British coastline in April, setting the pace for his bid to break the around the world record.
To successfully complete the challenge, he will be required to cycle for 16 hours a day – equating to 240 miles for 75 days. The remaining five days allow for two days contingency and flight time.
Meanwhile, the Artemis World Cycle has partnered with Twinkl to create lesson plans and educational material for primary schools across the globe.
Mark also aims to raise £10 for every mile cycled, a total of £180,000 for Orkidstudio, a humanitarian architectural charity which he has worked with for the last decade.
Sponsorship can be by pledged by texting ‘ORKD80 £10’ to 70070 or online at justgiving.com/fundraising/ markbeaumont-80days
Mark has secured international corporate sponsorship from brands including Artemis Investment Management, LDC, Cardtronics, Koga, Altura, Panaracer, VisitScotland, Menzies Aviation, Hiscox/Bikmo, 80 DAYS Digital, Muckle Media, and Thorntons Law LLP.
Keep track of Mark’s progress via the website www.artemisworldcycle.com and social media.