News
She Plans to Cycle 22 Hours a Day for 6,000km: From the Bottom of Europe to the Arctic
March 2, 2026
By
Anna F.
Endurance cyclist Dr Sarah Ruggins is set to attempt a 6,000km solo ride from Tarifa, Spain, to Nordkapp, Norway on 5 June, aiming to break the Europe south-to-north world record while raising £60,000 for World Bicycle Relief.
Endurance cyclist Dr Sarah Ruggins is preparing for her most ambitious challenge yet: a 6,000km solo ride from the southernmost tip of mainland Europe to its northern edge, in a bid to set a new world record.
The Canada-born, Gloucestershire-based rider will begin her attempt on 5 June in Tarifa, Spain, finishing in Nordkapp, Norway.
The route spans more than 6,000km, includes 35,000 metres of climbing, and crosses nine countries: Spain, France, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland and Norway.
Ruggins plans to ride for up to 22 hours a day, sleeping only in short intervals to maximize moving time.
The current record of 16 days, 20 hours and 59 minutes was set in 2019 by Dr Ian Walker. Ruggins says success will depend less on peak performance and more on consistency.
“On a ride like this, the hard part is staying sharp when tired,” she said. “The record will come down to thousands of small decisions, repeated hour after hour.”
The challenge, titled One Way North, also supports World Bicycle Relief, with Ruggins aiming to raise £60,000 to fund 500 bicycles for communities in need.
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