Cyclist Lael Wilcox Aims to Break 18,000-Mile World Record
Just months after becoming the fastest woman to cycle around the world, ultracyclist Lael Wilcox is going for the absolute speed record. She'll attempt to circle the globe in just 78 days, cutting a full month off her previous time.
In 2024, Lael Wilcox pedaled more than 18,000 miles across four continents in 108 days, shattering the women's around-the-world cycling record. Now she's raising the bar even higher.
Wilcox announced she'll depart Chicago on June 17 with an audacious goal: break Mark Beaumont's 2017 absolute world record by completing her journey before August 24. That's just 78 days to circle the entire planet on two wheels.
The route will take her east from Chicago to Halifax, Nova Scotia, then across the Atlantic to Lisbon, Portugal. From there, she'll push through Europe to Istanbul, traverse central Asia through Kazakhstan, and continue southeast to Thailand. After a transfer from Singapore to Perth, she'll cross Australia to Sydney, hop over to New Zealand, and make a final transfer to Anchorage, Alaska before the last leg home to Chicago.
The numbers are staggering. Wilcox will need to average 240 miles every single day, spending roughly 16 hours daily in the saddle. That's like riding from Los Angeles to San Francisco, then doing it again the next day, and the next, for more than two months straight.
This time, Wilcox will ride with full support for the first time in her ultra-distance career. Having a team handle logistics, nutrition, and mechanical issues should help her maintain the blistering pace needed to make history.
Why This Inspires
What makes Wilcox's attempt so compelling isn't just the physical feat. After completing her 2024 record, she told reporters "I had so much fun," revealing that the journey meant more than just speed. Now she's proving that breaking barriers doesn't mean you're done pushing yourself.
Her willingness to dream bigger shows what's possible when achievement fuels ambition rather than ending it. Wilcox isn't chasing records out of obligation but out of genuine joy for the challenge and the journey itself.
Come August, the cycling world will be watching as Wilcox attempts something only a handful of humans have ever achieved, and tries to do it faster than anyone in history.
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Based on reporting by Google News - World Record
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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