Scots athlete Mark Beaumont has arrived back in his home country after smashing the world record for cycling across the globe.
The ultra-endurance cyclist said he felt “utter relief” after completing the journey 24 hours ahead of schedule on Monday;Â and arrived in Edinburgh Airport just after 5.30pm on Wednesday.
He set off from France in July on a mission to circumnavigate the globe in 80 days.
Landing in the Scots capital he received a hero’s welcome walking into the arrivals lounge – where he was met with a huge crowd complete with a bagpiper.
Mark Beaumont’s return after smashing the world record for cycling around the world in 80 days pic.twitter.com/01hgehr89r
— Martin Sharkey (@martinsharkey) September 20, 2017
Record breaker Mark Beaumont with fans at Edinburgh airport after cycling around the globe in less 80 days. pic.twitter.com/FddqehGYAu
— Hayley Jarvis (@hejarvis) September 20, 2017
His feat has been given recognition by Guinness World Records, knocking 44 days – a third – off the previous record of 123 days.
Edinburgh-based Beaumont, 34, completed the epic 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.
