A CONISTON resident has set a new world record for the fastest unsupported crossing of Europe by bicycle.

Endurance athlete Sean Conway’s journey, which spanned nine countries and 3,980 miles, took him 24 days, 18 hours and 39 minutes.

Sean cycled across Europe starting from Cabo da Roca on the west coast of Portugal and finished in Ufa in Russia.

Over the 24 days, Sean cycled across Portugal, Spain, France, Switzerland, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine and Russia.

He takes the title from Jonas Deichmann who cycled 6,450km in 25 days, three hours and 38 minutes in July last year.

It was Sean’s second attempt at the world record. In August 2017 Sean was making exceptional progress covering 800 miles in four days when he sustained an injury forcing him to withdraw from the attempt.

This time around, passing through the point in the Pyrenees where he withdrew last year was his highest moment emotionally.

Just two hours from the finish line, Sean said: “After six years, three failed attempts and 60,000 miles, I have finally achieved a cycling world record!”

Travelling unsupported at all times, Sean cycled for 16 hours a day, slept rough on 19 occasions and showered just four times.

In Portugal, he picked up an animal skull that he named Pedro, which travelled with him all the way to the finish line and he took the decision to travel without a tent and to cut off the end of his toothbrush in order to save weight.

Posting on Twitter after he completed the epic journey, Sean wrote: “And that’s a wrap. It’s taken me 6 years, 60,000 miles and 3 failed attempts at a cycling world record but today it finally happened. 3,980 miles across Europe world record in 24 days. 18 hours. 39 minutes. I think I may lie down now.”