WATCH: Round-the-world cyclist Mark Beaumont completes Land's End to John O'Groats relay with friend James Lowsley Williams in under 40 hours
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The fastest known time for a two-man cycle relay from Land's End to John O' Groats has just been set. It was achieved by Scottish long-distance cyclist, broadcaster and author, Mark Beaumont and his friend, James Lowsley Williams. They completed the marathon trip in under 40 hours.
Speaking to the Caithness Courier yesterday, Mark explained there is no official record for a two-man relay from Land's End to John O' Groats but 39 hours and 40 minutes is the fastest known time for the gruelling marathon trip.
He said: "We had the conditions and were lucky with the weather but we still had to turn the pedals and do it. It was great fun and a great team challenge in logistics and performance."
Mark and James averaged 22mph on their trip which was completed a fortnight ago but only made public after the film of the journey was released on Monday.
Mark, who first cycled the route as a 15-year-old teenager, described it as "a classic, iconic end-to end" and said it was his first time back on the marathon trip in 23 years.
"It was bizarre when we arrived in John O'Groats because it was 3.45 on a Thursday morning. It was only us there at that time and we were very tired after missing two nights' sleep." So they headed to Evanton where they enjoyed "a hearty breakfast."
"It has been tough over the past 14 months with Covid restrictions so it was great to get back into a project again," said Mark who has been doing some cycle runs in Scotland. "It has been nice to explore Scotland again. It has been good fun," he stated.
Next month, he plans to take part in the gruelling GB Duro 2000 kilometre off-road bikepacking event from Land's End to John O' Groats. Competitors have to carry everything they need, from food to fuel and be entirely self-sufficient throughout the trip. It is being done in four 500 kilometre stages.
Mark (38) has undertaken many endurance challenges and holds the record for cycling round the world, completing his 18,000-mile route on September 18, 2017, in less than 79 days.
But he has also cycled the Americas, travelling 13,080 miles over nine months from Alaska to Argentina, climbing the highest mountain peaks in north and south America on the way. He has cycled solo in Africa and rowed the Arctic. His adventures have been the subject of books and television documentaries.
Over the past two decades, Mark has pushed the limits of endurance, spoken at thousands of events and worked in numerous countries. He lives in Edinburgh with his wife Nicci and their two daughters, Harriet (7) and Willa (5).
