Cancer researcher Fiona Kolbinger becomes first woman to win 4,000km endurance cycling race across Europe
Germany's Fiona Kolbinger has beaten over 200 men and travelled 4,000km (2,485 miles) to become the first woman to win the Transcontinental Race.
The 24-year-old cancer researcher managed to complete the route, which travelled from Burgas on the eastern coast of Bulgaria to Brest in northwest France, in a time of just 10 days, two hours and 48 minutes. The race was the cyclist's first ever ultra-distance challenge.
British runner up Ben Davies was still 124 miles away as Kolbinger finished on Tuesday morning.
Yet, despite her sweeping victory and daily routine of 19 hours riding and five hours resting, Kolbinger thinks she “could have gone harder” if she had “slept less”.
"I am so, so, surprised to win," said Kolbinger, who was one of 40 women competing in the 265 strong race. "When I was coming into the race I thought that maybe I could go for the women's podium, but I never thought I could win the whole race."
Kolbinger added that she only struggled on the final night: “Last night was too long, too dark and too grim.”
Riders competing in the Transcontinental Race face thousands of miles of testing terrain, from gravel tracks to high altitude climbs including the Col du Galibier in the French Alps, which featured in the Tour de France 2019.
Though cyclists can choose their own route they must follow strict rules and pass through four control points. Competitors can pass through seven or more countries, including Austria, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Croatia, France, Italy, Kosovo, Serbia, Slovenia and Switzerland.
