Mark Beaumont is LDC’s Corporate Ambassador and is an adventurer and film-maker. Mark is a previous world record holder for the solo cycling circumnavigation of the world, he has also cycled between the two highest mountains in the Americas, he has rowed to the magnetic North Pole, survived a capsize on a Row the Atlantic and hosted a number of network television documentaries.
In 2007/8 Mark Beaumont smashed the World Record for the fastest cycling circumnavigation of the world by over 80 days, covering 18,296 miles in 194 days and 17 hours. He then became the first to pedal the length of the America’s, also climbing the highest mountains in the Western world en route and in the same season. Having made four documentaries and worked for the BBC in over 100 countries, Mark is an experienced broadcaster. Last year, Mark accompanied the Queen’s Baton Relay on its 288-day, 118,000 mile journey through 70 commonwealth nations through to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony on behalf of the BBC.
Mark Beaumont’s Journey
Cairo to Cape Town is the iconic African journey. Mark Beaumont aims to smash the cycling World Record for this 10,000km (6,300 mile) route. He set off for this challenge last Friday (10th April) and he currently is heading south through Egypt, in the searing heat of the Sahara desert, to meet the Highlands of Ethiopia before racing the gauntlet of great grasslands to South Africa.
The current World Record is held by South African Keegan Longueira which stands at 59days 8 hours and Mark believes he can knock 9 days off this. The route includes Mark cycling through 8 countries including Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa. He is planning to cover over 140 miles a day with daily risks that include busy road traffic, human conflict, malaria, unforgiving terrain, heat exhaustion and wild animals!
You can follow his progress through the GPS map which will be updated half hourly at markbeaumontonline.com and on twitter using #africasolo
LDC are backing Mark’s African record attempt alongside Endura who provide the kit for the top cycling team Movistar and for whom he will be testing their hot weather gear in the Sahara.
Mark commented “I am proud to have LDC backing the Africa Solo expedition, having worked closely with them over the past decade. The team at LDC and I share the same spirit of ambition, of taking on what others often consider impossible and for meticulous planning. Breaking World Records is an uncertain and intimidating pursuit, but brilliantly rewarding and I am pleasured to share the journey and successes with LDC.”
For a full interview with Mark Beaumont featured in ‘The Herald’ click here.
