Cycling: World record attempt succeeded – Extreme athlete Jacob Zurl from Graz crossed the Himalayas in less than 39 hours.
The winner of this year's ultra cycling marathon Glocknerman set himself the goal of being the first cyclist to ride non-stop over the highest mountain range in the world. The 26-year-old has now been able to fulfill this wish. Without taking long breaks, he conquered the route from the Indian city of Manali to the Khardung La Pass in exactly 38 hours and 40 minutes. Zurl had to cover 530 kilometers and climb 13.500 meters on eight different passes.
During his world record attempt, Zurl had to contend with adverse conditions at times. A large part of the route was not paved and many sections of the road were very narrow and therefore dangerous. In addition, the climatic conditions and the enormous altitude of 4000 meters on average made things difficult for the athlete.
Therefore, before the start, Zurl said: “Cycling at such extreme altitudes is a lot less fun than I thought it would be - it's extremely taxing and draining mentally and physically. I've had doubts a few times in the last two weeks as to whether I'll really make it."
He is now all the happier that he was able to implement his plan. Now Zurl hopes that his time will be entered in the Guinness Book of Records.