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Ultra-endurance icon Lael Wilcox is about to embark on the ultimate battle of ultra-cycling. On June 7 at 4:00 a.m., the 39-year-old will roll away from Buckingham Fountain in Chicago, Illinois, with a singular, historic goal: to become the fastest person ever—male or female—to bicycle around the globe.
Photo: Lael Wilcox Instagram While Wilcox already holds the women’s Guinness World Record for the feat, setting an 18,125-mile time of 108 days, 12 hours, and 12 minutes in 2024, she is hunting the outright world record held by Mark Beaumont, who completed his circumnavigation in 78 days, 14 hours, and 40 minutes. To break it, Wilcox needs to shave a massive 30 days off her previous time.
Pune Girl Vedangi Kulkarni had set the youngest female to bicycle around the globe record in 2018.
The Math: 240 Miles a Day for 11 Weeks
To eclipse Beaumont’s nine-year-old record, Wilcox must return to Chicago by 6:40 p.m. on August 24. To qualify for the Guinness World Record, riders must cycle a minimum of 18,000 miles in one direction, start and finish at the same spot, and cross at least two antipodal points.
Wilcox’s meticulously planned route is broken into seven riding sections and six transfers:
Section 1: Chicago to Halifax, Nova Scotia
Section 2: Lisbon, Portugal to Istanbul, Turkey (across Europe)
Section 3: Across Kazakhstan
Section 4: Bangkok, Thailand to Singapore (through Southeast Asia)
Section 5: Perth to Brisbane, Australia
Section 6: Across New Zealand
Section 7: Anchorage, Alaska back to Chicago
To hit her 77-day target, Wilcox will have to average roughly 386 km every single day.
Marginal Gains: Wind Tunnels and Buzz Cuts
Her 2024 record ride was fun-first, community-driven, and highly social. She chatted with people, stopped for the view and enjoyed herself.
This time, it is all business. As for the first time in her career, she will be fully supported by a dedicated crew, maximizing her time in the saddle.
She even spent extensive time optimizing her aerodynamics inside Specialized’s wind tunnel in Morgan Hill, California. Her dedication to saving time is so absolute that she recently shaved her head, so she could save 10 minutes a day not having to wash and brush her hair.
Inside Wilcox’ Custom Specialized S-Works Roubaix
For a task this monumental, Wilcox is running a highly customized, ultra-optimized setup.
Component Specification Frameset Specialized S-Works Roubaix with Future Shock suspension. Custom-painted by Emily Hallewell, featuring her route, signature, and the reminder that “we’re all connected and just a bike ride away.” Drivetrain SRAM RED AXS with 48/35T chainrings, 170mm cranks, an integrated power meter, a 10-36T cassette, and wireless blips. Wheels & Tyres Zipp 202 NSW and 454 NSW wheels wrapped in Specialized Mondo tyres. Cockpit Zipp Vuka Evo aerobars with a one-of-a-kind custom carbon mount block fabricated by Ruckus Composites to hold her Wahoo computer, phone, and lights. Accessories Exposure lights, Wahoo ROAM computer, Quadlock phone mount, and custom bags by Revelate Designs. Kit Rapha’s new Brevet kit, Specialized helmet and shoes, and Roka Oslo 2.0 sunglasses. With a fine-tuned bike, a full support crew, and a fierce determination to redefine what women can achieve in ultra-endurance sports, Wilcox is ready to make history. Follow along as she rolls out of Chicago this June. You can read more about her 2026 attempt here.
Source: Cycling Weekly
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