By Gordon Berry

ONE HUNDRED and ninety five days and six hours after his epic journey began, 25-year-old Mark Beaumont, from Fife, yesterday swept across the finishing line at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris to notch up the fastest time for a round the world cycle.

Flanked by police outriders as he rode up to a rapturous welcome from family, friends and supporters, Mark was able to step off his £2500 cycle at 2.30pm British time in the knowledge that he would not have to wake up in the middle of the night and set off for another gruelling day on the road.

The former Dundee High School pupil, who comes from Bridge of Cally in Perthshire and now lives near Newburgh, hopes to have raised around £18,000 for charity—a pound for every mile he actually spent in the saddle during his 25,000 mile circumference of the globe.

During his mammoth solo journey he passed through 20 countries on a route which included Pakistan, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

His bid to circumnavigate the globe has been dramatic, and he endured floods, road rage and was knocked off his bike in the American state of Louisiana by an elderly motorist who drove through a red light. He also had his wallet and camera stolen from a hostel after a fight broke out.

In addition to meeting a long- cherished personal goal, the amazing achievement is set to bring Mark a place in the Guinness World Records list after he smashed the existing record by almost three months.

Tributes flooded in as Mark and his team celebrated along with his mother Una, father Kevin and sisters Heather and Hannah, and Dundee High School teachers Val Vannet and Sharon Tonner.

Prince William and Olympic cyclist Chris Hoy were among those who made contact to pay tribute to his efforts.

Mark, an economics and politics graduate of Glasgow University, said he is delighted by his achievement, although it would take a while to sink in.

“It’s an absolutely fantastic feeling to achieve the world record after six months on the road,” he said.

“I could hardly get over the line because so many people came to see the finish.

“The last two days on the road were hard but about 40 kilometres from Paris the adrenaline kicked in and I flew up the last hills.

“The challenge was one of those things which was out there to be done. I love the idea of being the first and the fastest and I felt I was capable of beating the record.

“It’s great to see my friends and family and now I’m looking forward to getting some sleep.”

Mum Una, who organised and co-ordinated a lot of the trip, said she is very proud of Mark.

She said she believed that the record would be in Mark’s hands for a very long time, because it will take another very special person to do what he had done.

Teachers and staff at Dundee High School have been keeping a close eye on his progress throughout the seven- month trip, and yesterday rector Michael Duncan said that as the world becomes smaller and technology has advanced, it has become harder and harder for individuals to pursue adventure.

“Mark’s journey has been a true challenge of spirit and endurance, and he well deserves to take his place in the history books,” he said.

“His journey has not just illustrated the diversity of our planet, which has in itself been a valuable lesson for our pupils, but has provided them with a source of inspiration.

“Mark is an example of what can be achieved through perseverance and determination. On behalf of everyone at the high school, I offer him our warmest congratulations on this outstanding achievement.”

At the finish line Britain’s ambassador to France Sir Peter Westmacott recorded the official time and checked Mark’s logbooks to verify the record on behalf of the Guinness World Records.

A spokesperson for Guinness World Records said all of Mark’s documentation would be reviewed, but the trip had been logged as an official attempt, and it seemed everything is in order.

Among the charities which will benefit are Community Action Nepal; Chicks, which provides holidays for disadvantaged youngsters; Edinburgh Cyrenians; the conservation group Tusk Trust; and young persons’ charity Rainer.

Mark’s effort was not his first marathon in the saddle, as he and a friend cycled from Dundee to Oban when he was only 12, and when he was 15 he conquered the classic run from John O’Groats to Lands End.

In preparation for the journey round the world he also had a training run of a mere 2667 miles from Oslo in Norway, to Warsaw, Poland, taking 32 days for the journey.