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Lael Wilcox has set a new world record for the fastest woman to circumnavigate the globe by bike.

Her journey took 108 days, 12 hours and 12 minutes to cycle 29,169km (18,125 miles), starting and ending in Chicago.

She beat the 2018 record held by Jenny Graham, from Scotland, whose journey took 124 days 11 hours.
Riders are required to start and end in the same place, always travelling in the same direction.

A rider’s entire journey, including flights, ferries and public transit, must equal a total distance equivalent to 40,000km – the circumference of the Earth’s equator. The minimum distance travelled by bike must surpass 28,970 km.

She tells Sportshour’s Caroline Barker about the support she received from people around the world and how it even caught the attention of tennis legend Billie Jean King.

Image: Lael Wilcox holding her bike in Chicago after completing her challenge of cycling around the world. (Credit: Rugile Kaladyte)