Dr Sarah Ruggins has broken the outright world record for cycling the length of mainland Europe, completing the 6,000km-plus ride from Tarifa, Spain, to Nordkapp, Norway, in 13 days, 20 hours and 27 minutes.
Riding solo across nine countries, Ruggins beat the previous record of 16 days, 20 hours and 59 minutes, set by Dr Ian Walker in 2019, by three days and 32 minutes.
The Cirencester-based rider also set a new women's world record for the greatest distance cycled in seven days during the attempt, covering 3,364.08km and surpassing the previous mark of 3,258.38km set by Alexandra Meixner in 2021.
“To me, this record proves that women can compete alongside men at the elite level – and I hope it's a powerful statement to every woman who wants to try,” said Ruggins after reaching North Cape.
The achievement marks Ruggins' second outright world record in endurance cycling. In 2025, she set a new fastest time for the John o' Groats-Land's End-John o' Groats route, becoming one of a small number of women to claim a record previously held by a man.
The scale of the performance is made more striking by the fact Ruggins only took up cycling in 2023.
As a teenager, the Canada-born rider developed a rare neurological disease that left her unable to use her limbs and reliant on full-time care. Her recovery took years.
Three years after getting back on a bike, she now holds two outright world records at the highest level of endurance cycling.
During the ride, Ruggins spent up to 22 hours a day in the saddle, sleeping around three hours a night while consuming an estimated 11,000 calories daily.
She faced temperatures ranging from 35°C in southern Spain to below freezing in the Arctic Circle and climbed approximately 30,000m before reaching Nordkapp.
The record attempt also raised funds for World Bicycle Relief, which provides bicycles to people living in communities where distance is a barrier to education, healthcare and work.
Ruggins isn't the only woman who has embarked on a remarkable feat of endurance recently, with Lael Wilcox now 12 days into her attempt to break the record for circumnavigating the globe by bike.
Read more: "I'm having such a good day" – Lael Wilcox rides 282 miles on day one of her world record attempt
