In this development, Lael Wilcox from the United States sets the record as the swiftest female cyclist to circumnavigate the globe.
Returning to Chicago at 9 p.m. local time on a Wednesday, after 108 days, 12 hours and 12 minutes of travel, Wilcox smashed the previous best time of 124 days and 11 hours set by Scottish cyclist Jenny Graham in 2018.
"I had an absolute blast – I could've kept going and going," Wilcox shared on Instagram after her journey ended.
The 38-year-old Alaskan is well-versed in ultra-endurance cycling, having become the first woman and American to win the TransAm, a 4,200-mile race across the U.S., in 2016.
Wilcox has also excelled in the Tour Divide, an annual race along the Rocky Mountains, and even clinched victory in the 350-mile Unbound XL in 2021, having already cycled 600 miles to the race's start.
For her around-the-world record attempt, Wilcox commenced in Chicago and pedaled her way to New York.
Her journey was fraught with challenge from the outset. "On day 4, I was sick all day, it never stopped raining and I had numerous punctures. I managed 139 miles, but it was brutal," she reported to her sponsor, SRAM, according to Cycling Weekly.
From New York, Wilcox flew to Portugal, then journeyed to the Netherlands, eventually passing through Germany, the Alps, the Balkans, Turkey, and Georgia.
Following a flight to Perth in Australia, she cycled along the southern coast to Brisbane before hopping on a plane to New Zealand, her final stop before heading back to North America.
From her hometown of Anchorage, Wilcox cycled south to Los Angeles, before wrapping up in Chicago along Route 66.
Guinness specifies that a cyclist must travel in the same direction, start and finish in the same location, and cover at least 18,000 miles – the entire circumference of the globe – for a round-the-world attempt to be considered successful.
As she neared her destination, Wilcox extended gratitude to those who had cheered her on.
"Sometimes I forget that I'm cycling around the world – it just feels like the most enjoyable group ride I've ever been on. The signs, the cheering, and the enthusiastic roadside jumps mean the world to me," she said on Instagram, where her posts are managed by her wife, filmmaker Rugile Kaladyte.
However, Wilcox's record might not stand for long. Indian cyclist Vedangi Kulkarni is currently around 4,800 miles into her own attempt, aiming to finish in a similar timeframe to the American.
Wilcox's love for cycling isn't limited to America; she also excelled in the Tour Divide, an annual race along the Rocky Mountains. Despite the challenges during her around-the-world journey, such as sickness, heavy rain, and numerous punctures, she found joy and motivation in the support and cheers from her followers.
