Brest - German cancer researcher Fiona Kolbinger won the mixed annual 4 000km cycling Transcontinental Race on Monday, becoming the first woman to do so.
Kolbinger, 24, arrived in Brest, north-west France, after 10 days 2hrs and 48 minutes in the saddle since starting the seventh edition of the race in Bulgaria on July 27.
"I am so happy to win. I was targeting the women's podium, I didn't
think I could win the whole race," Kolbinger, who was taking part in
her first self-supported ultra cycling event, said.
"I could have attacked more, and slept less," she added.
She passed through at least seven countries and four check-points one of which was the Col du Galibier at 2 645m in the French Alps in a course where riders have to plan, research and navigate themselves.
They also carry and consume what they can find and choose when and where to rest.
The more than 260 remaining competitors, racing as solo male and females as well as in pairs are expected to cross the finish line over the coming hours and days.
Celebrating power, stamina and perseverance.
— AFP news agency (@AFP) August 6, 2019
German cancer researcher Fiona Kolbinger, 24, rides her bicycle through Brittany, on her way to become the first woman to win the 2,500 mile ultra-endurance cycling Transcontinental Race from Bulgaria to western France pic.twitter.com/7WThLTnZbL