Round-the-world cyclist Mark Beaumont has praised Perthshire for giving him the training ground to pursue his cycling dreams.
Beaumont set a new Guinness World Record earlier this week for the fastest circumnavigation of the Earth by bicycle, completing the challenge in just 79 days.
In a newly-released video for VisitScotland, filmed prior to his round-the-world attempt Beaumont describes the region as having ‘the best terrain in Scotland for road cycling.”
Raised in the heart of Perthshire, the ultra-endurance athlete was filmed cycling at some of the region’s most recognisable attractions and popular activities while describing where he likes to train.
In the voiceover, Mark describes Perthshire as “a great place to grow up”, adding: “This is the heartland of my trade, over the past 30 years I’ve cycled in Perthshire more than anywhere else in Scotland.
“Perthshire is an area where I first dreamed of going on big adventures with my bicycle and I remember setting off to pedal across Scotland, aged 12, and travelling through Perthshire, exploring what was on my doorstep.”
Recent figures have revealed one million day trips and 261,000 overnight trips, which include cycling on a road or surfaced path, were taken by visitors from the UK in 2015, generating a combined total of £106 million for the Scottish economy.
Jim Clarkson, VisitScotland regional partnerships director, said: “Mark is an incredible ambassador for Perthshire, and Scotland as a whole. His record-breaking achievement has helped highlight Scotland as a cycling destination and undoubtedly inspired visitors across the world.
“We are delighted to have worked with Mark to create this video, which not only provides insight into his motivations and challenges but also showcases the stunning beauty of Perthshire and the many other exciting experiences you can have here.”
Inspired by Jules Verne’s classic adventure novel Around the World in Eighty Days, Beaumont set off from France in July on a mission to circumnavigate the globe in the same time frame.
He arrived back in Paris on day 79 of the journey, 24 hours ahead of schedule, and knocking 44 days – a third – off the previous world record of 123 days.
The 34-year-old completed the 18,000-mile Artemis World Cycle challenge despite three serious falls off his bike and facing conditions such as fierce head winds, sub-zero temperatures and forest fire smog.
