Ultra-cyclist extraordinaire Sarah Ruggins has smashed another endurance cycling record, breaking the overall record for cycling across Europe by more than three days.
Having started in Tarifa, Spain two weeks ago, Ruggins smashed the record time taken crossing Europe from its southern to northernmost point in Nordkapp, Norway, finishing the 6,020km in 13 days, 20 hours, and 27 minutes. That’s an average of around 420km a day.
The previous overall record, set by Ian Walker in 2019, was 16 days, 20 hours 59 minutes. Live tracking data suggested that Ruggins was a virtual 1,000km ahead of Walker when she reached her finish line.
“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,” Ruggins said.
Along the way, Ruggins also set a new provisional women’s record for the greatest distance cycled in seven days – covering 3,364km to surpass the previous best of 3,258km, set by Alexandra Meixner in September 2021.
The feat is the latest accomplishment for the Canadian-born Ruggins, who lives in Cirencester. Last year she broke the record for JOGLEJOG – riding from John O’Groats to Land’s End, and back again by riding for five days, 11 hours, and 14 minutes. She later revealed her trip was made possible thanks to a new aero road bike she had barely trained on, ginger shots and countless Mars bars. And a hell of a lot of training.
On her latest Instagram post, her team wrote, “This record wouldn’t have been possible without Sarah’s incredible crew – Ryan, James, Dan, Pete, Lena, Dom, Chris, Ben, Vedangi, Sam, Andy, Hannah and Lizzie. They were there to catch Sarah when she jumped into the unknown, and gave everything they had to support her on this journey.
“A heartfelt thank you to you, Sarah’s dotwatchers. Your messages of support genuinely fuelled Sarah through some of the hardest moments of this ride. We’re also incredibly grateful to our sponsors, you literally made this challenge possible and helped Sarah make history.”
Her latest feat is made all the more remarkable by the Canadian’s late conversion to cycling, having only taken up the sport in 2023 having previously trained as a runner. She’s also overcome severe, life-threatening illness that almost left her paralysed and requiring her to learn to walk again. On the way she also gained a PhD in finance.
Into the final days of One Way North, Ruggins showed little sign of slowing down, taking advantage of the long summer evenings inside the Arctic Circle to keep riding into the night. In the final 24 hours she rode more than 420km, opting for 10-minute pitstops and “catnaps” over longer rest periods. Her average sleep over the past two weeks was a staggering three hours a day.
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Ruggins’ ride also has a charitable cause, and supporters have rallied around to donate nearly £8,000 for World Bicycle Relief. The charity’s UK Managing Director, Ben Sadler, was effusive in his praise. “Sarah’s record ride is truly inspiring. The funds she raises for World Bicycle Relief will change lives through the power of bicycles worldwide.”
Ruggins herself described her ride as, “more than a record attempt. It’s a way to show what’s possible when life doesn’t go to plan – we can use what’s given to us to raise awareness around the power of a second chance.”
Raise awareness she certainly has, many congratulations Sarah!
8 thoughts on ““This proves that women can compete alongside men”: Sarah Ruggins smashes outright 6,000km record for riding across Europe by three days… and 7-day distance record en route”
She’s simply magnificent!
As far as I know, the men’s 7-day record is 3,826.47 km.
I am absolutely astonished by both the result and the manner in which the previous record was broken. However, it still demonstrates that women are far behind men in terms of absolute numbers. 15% is far to big a difference to call it “alongside men”.
Just to be clear: this takes nothing away from Sarah’s spectacular achievement. If anything, it reinforces the argument that women’s sport should remain a protected category. And that’s perfectly fair and fine.
Rather than trying to prove that “we can complete alongside each other,” which still seems far from true, why not celebrate our differences and diversity?
The ‘alongside men’ comment was in reference to the overall effort, which was better than any men has managed.
The seven day result was in the context of an overall effort of nearly twice the length. If she’d focused specifically on the seven day record she’d almost certainly have gone further. The fact that it set a new women’s record anyway likely just shows that few women have yet targeted it.
And to reinforce that, the previous record holder appears to have set it at the back end of a successful effort to set a new record for the greatest distance covered in a month – likely she would also have managed significantly further if she’d come to a specific effort fresh.
@tomlew Women’s sport should of course remain protected. Hear hear.
That women can excel at ultra-endurance, where short-term aerobic capacity becomes less and less important and mental strength/endurance becomes a major factor, obviously does NOT mean that we can set aside protection in other sports where aerobic capacity, strength, reaction time, or whatever, are the major factors – where women are at (varying) disadvantages to men.
They’re all amazing athletes at these high levels too, of course.
@tomlew we can discuss both things, I don’t see them as mutually exclusive. On the topic of comparison – have a look at the KOM / QOM times on the Mur du Huy … Demi Vollering’s winning time in 2026 is exactly the same as Tadej Pogacar’s winning time in 2023. Women are closer than you might think.
Let’s see how it goes for Lael Wilcox … she has a chance to set the outright record for riding around the world.
On differences, I for sure enjoyed watching the Women’s Giro this year and got a chance to see 1 stage. The more open access to the racers is quite surprising and gives extra appreciation for how they interact post finish line.
@Motivated I think that pointing at a single data point doesn’t prove a point.
Women do seem to be very well suited to these ultra endurance events and I believe that in running they are similarly exceptional.
We need to be careful with this sort of discussion however because the amalgamation on mens and womens sports would do women absolutely no favours. I appreciate the sentiment and the encouragement this gives women in sport but competing with men shouldn’t be how we try to sell women in sport.
An incredible feat, hat off to her!