UK athlete shatters around the world in 79 days on pedals

A Scottish cyclist has set a record for the world by traveling around it in 79 days - beating Phileas Fogg of Jules Verne novel fame by a day.

Mark Beaumont rode into Paris 78 days, 14 hours and 14 minutes after he left it, smashing the record of 123 days for a global bike ride.

"I've taken myself beyond anything I have ever done physically and mentally," Beaumont said. "The dream was to get around the world in 80 days, and to get back here in 78 days and change is an absolute dream come true."

"I have been to emotions and a mental depth that I have never experienced before. It's the hardest thing I have ever done," he said after arriving in Paris.

During the 18,000 mile (29 000 kilometre) route, Beaumont broke a tooth and badly damaged his elbow, but he said the hardest thing to contend with was the sleep deprivation.

He cycled through Europe, Russia, Mongolia and China, before crossing Australia, New Zealand and North America, before ending his journey in Europe.

Averaging 240 miles (386 kilometres) a day, he arrived back at the Arc de Triomphe, the exact same place he started his challenge on the 2nd of July 2017.

Among a crowd of media and cheering supporters he also received a second Guinness World Records title for most miles cycled in a month, from Paris to Perth in Australia.

Beaumont, who also beat the time for the farthest distance cycled in a month, had held the round-the-world record until 2009 when it was bested by a New Zealander.

For the record, Fogg took 80 days to complete his voyage by train, ship and balloon in 1873's Around the World in 80 Days.

Although Beaumont flew over the Atlantic and the Pacific, he cycled the rest of the way, spending 16 hours a day in the saddle for 76 days to cover 29,000 kilometers. Three days were spent on flights.