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news
dean_stott_on_his_record-breaking_ride.jpegCyclist who broke Pan American Highway record in time to attend royal wedding rejects claims he cheated
A former member of the British special forces who smashed the Guinness World Record for cycling the length of the Americas and made it back to the UK in time to attend the wedding of his friend Prince Harry has rejected allegations of cheating.
Dean Stott, aged 41, had originally aimed to ride the Pan American Highway from Argentina to Alaska in 110 days and thereby shave a week off the previous record.
During his journey, however, he learnt of the invitation to the Royal Wedding at Windsor Castle in May and upped his pace to complete the 14,000-mile ride in a new record time of 99 days 12 hours and 56 minutes.
> British cyclist smashes Pan American Highway record after learning of royal wedding invitation
However, Mail Online reports that it has now been claimed that he used fake documents to help ease his support team’s passage across borders and that, contrary to the rules for the record, used two bikes – one suited for flatter terrain, the other for climbing.
According to the newspaper, the allegations have been made by a solicitor working for some of Stott’s support crew who left the record bid in Mexico to return to the UK after their relationship with him was said to have broken down.
The solicitor, Simon Fagan, said: “The trip was organised by Mr Stott, his wife Alana and close friends.
“It would appear that during the expedition they facilitated or instructed other team members to create documents needed to bring equipment and machinery across borders to prevent the challenge being delayed.
“The actions of parties working with or for Mr Stott put our clients' welfare at risk.”
He added: “Had they been caught with illegal papers, they would have been arrested and almost certainly imprisoned.”
The volunteer support team members, who say they are owed a total of £120,000 in expenses, include paramedic Paul Lawrenson.
He commented: “We were working for free and felt exploited as none of us were getting any media exposure. It was all just about Dean.”
Stott, who served in the Special Boat Squadron, told the newspaper that while documents had been “copied and pasted” during the challenge, they were concerned only with support vehicles.
He insisted it was “incorrect and misleading” that it had helped his record attempt.
“It is disappointing the huge positives that have come out of this are being overshadowed by unfounded claims,” he added.
His challenge has raised close to £1 million for the mental health charity Heads Together set up by Prince Harry and his brother, the Duke of Cambridge.
Stott himself suffered from mental health issues after a knee injury sustained in a parachuting accident forced him to give up his military career.
He met Prince Harry when the pair were on a six-week military training course together in 2007 and the pair have worked on a number of fundraising efforts for a variety of charities over the years.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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9 comments
According to The Times c/o Cycling Weekly “Guinness [World Records] did a full investigation of these claims and reviewed all the evidence and they have confirmed everything was OK."
It also says he only used one frame but did swap wheels, which was within the rules. It does all reek of "sour grapes".
Quote: The volunteer support team members, who say they are owed a total of £120,000 in expenses, include paramedic Paul Lawrenson.
If they gave their time for free but expected that their expenses would be met then I can understand that they are a bit miffed to be so much out of pocket..................
Quote: (The volunteer support team members, who say they are owed a total of £120,000 in expenses, include paramedic Paul Lawrenson.
He commented: “We were working for free and felt exploited as none of us were getting any media exposure. It was all just about Dean.”)
I find it rather sad that Mr Lawrenson is wingeing about not getting media exposure. If he volunteered to support Dean in his attempt then that's what it was all about. Sounds like some real sour grapes.
If vilification is good enough for Lance, it's good enough for this cheat, especially if that paperwork business could have landed people in jail with Big Carlos as well as the 2 bikes cheating.
I note from your post that despite this report being based on an allegation made by a newspaper that you have already categorised the person as a cheat. Whatever happened to the inocent until proven guilty idea?
He hasn't denied the two bikes, he has admitted to faking documents he has stated that it is HIS OPINION that it was “incorrect and misleading” that it had helped his record attempt. He has ADMITTED to faking documents, what bit of that have you not digested?
It's his opinion that smoothing the path to get equipment etc across borders has not helped speed things up. If that was the case then why would he copy and paste documents in the first place if that were not so? Surely you would want to do it legit right if it's not going to have any impact on the actual time taken?
I'd say that on the latter he his clearly guilty, he's talking utter shite to suggest it didn't speed things up and has been found out, the former re two bikes, he has not denied.
Whatever happened to actually reading what the accused has said/not said?
[/quote]
Whatever happened to actually reading what the accused has said/not said?
[/quote]
I have read what the accused said (as far as this article presents it). I also know that it the legal system which listenes to all of the evidence and mitigation and then decides on a persons guilt or otherwise. It is not for a bunch of people getting a very selected and biased slice of the evidence to determine guilt.
Whilst we are on the subject of actually reading what was said, let me quote from the Daily Mail article for you, "It is disappointing the huge positives that have come out of this are being overshaddowed by unfounded claims", "sources say that during the early stages Mr Stott used two bikes..., claims he denies" and "Mr Stott admitted that "copied and pasted" documents had been used...". Now, I dont know about you, but I cant see the admission that these documents were fake, I often use copy and paste when filling in forms, that doesnt immediately make me a forger.
So, to quote something I read somewhere on the internet, "Whatever happened to actually reading what the accused has said/not said?"
Good on you Daily Mail for rooting out the bad bastards!
Sounds like the Daily Heil would also brand him as a benefits cheat? Can't perform duties for Queen and Country but can cycle across America in under 100 days. I suppose it's all just part of their war on cyclists.