Cyclist claims world tour record

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/8264580.stm

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A Londoner has claimed to have set a new record after he cycled around the world in 175 days.

James Bowthorpe, 32, of Balham, finished his 18,000-mile (29,000km) tour at Hyde Park - breaking Scottish Mark Beaumont's record of 195 days.

Mr Bowthorpe, who rode 100 miles a day, had a kebab thrown at him in Australia and faced attempted robbery in Iran.

He said he was happy "not to be cycling tomorrow". He will approach Guinness World Records to register the ride.

The previous cycling record was held by Mr Beaumont, from Fife, who in February 2008 finished his round-the-world tour in 195 days.

'Incredibly proud'

Mr Bowthorpe, who set off from Hyde Park in March, finished his race just after 1800 BST.

He hopes to raise £1.8m for research into Parkinson's disease and the cycle ride is the first step.

On his way to Hyde Park he said: "It feels great. I'm just excited. Its a real release not to be cycling tomorrow."

A kebab was thrown at Mr Bowthorpe in Western Australia

Earlier his girlfriend Nadja Coyne, who met him at the finish line, said: "I'm incredibly proud of him. I hope he gets a chance to rest now."

He passed through France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Portugal and Spain during the tour.

During the journey he reported in his blog that he was ambushed by a group of men in Iran and had a kebab thrown at him by someone in a car as he cycled through Western Australia.

Mr Bowthorpe logged the attempt with Guinness World Records officials before beginning the ride.