On Wednesday, Sept. 11, after 108 days, 12 hours and 12 minutes, Lael Wilcox broke the world record for the fastest female circumnavigation of the world by bicycle.
Fastest circumnavigation means completing a continuous journey around the globe by bicycle and other means. The previous record was 124 days, set in 2018 by Jenny Graham.
The 38-year-old cyclist traveled 18,125 miles and 630,000 feet of climbing, including riding through Whatcom County on Aug. 19.
“Thank you to Chicago and thank you to everyone at my finish (especially my parents and Rue’s family),” Wilcox said in an Instagram post Tuesday. “I had so much fun — felt like I could’ve just kept riding forever.”
Wilcox began in Chicago May 26 and traveled across America, through Europe, around Australia and New Zealand. She crossed four continents and 22 countries in all. Wilcox’s partner, Rugile Kaladyte, documented the ride and plans to make a 90-minute film in the near future.
Nick Zeller-Singh is CDN's sports reporter; reach him at nickzellersingh@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 104.
