The man who cycled around the world in 78 days
Red Bull How To Be Superhuman is a brand new podcast which sets out to examine what it really means to be 'superhuman'. Record-breaking ultra runner Rob Pope speaks to athletes who have completed seemingly superhuman feats of endurance about the journeys they've undertaken – and how they found the strength to travel to the extremes of human endeavour.
In this episode, Mark Beaumont chats to Rob Pope about how he broke the world record for cycling around the world in 2017 – a record which he himself had broken in 2008, but was later taken off him.
Averaging 240 miles a day for 78 days and 14 hours, Mark talks about the challenges he overcame to finish the ride 44 days faster than anyone had before. From battling extreme exhaustion to recovering from illness and injury, to dealing with the loneliness and emotional pressures that come with being at the centre of such a knife-edge attempt, Mark explains how he pushed the limits of his own physical and mental capabilities.
Mark cycling through Avtodoroga Baykal, Russia, on day 16 of his trip
© Mark Beaumont
Rob also quizzes Mark about some of his other expeditions –including his infamous Atlantic row that nearly cost him his life – as well as his reasons for taking on such perilous self-propelled journeys around the world.