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news
Ian To LEJOG record attempt (picture via Plejog on Twitter).jpgIan To abandons Land's End to John O'Groats record attempt
Wiltshire cyclist Ian To has been forced to abandon his attempt at breaking the Land’s End to John O’Groats (LEJOG) record.
The 37-year-old set off from Land’s End yesterday morning aiming to complete the 845-mile journey in less than 44 hours and break Gethin Butler’s record of 44 hours 4 minutes and 20 seconds, set in 2001 and recognised by the Road Records Association (RRA).
By this morning, his support team tweeted to say that he was on the A6 heading towards Carlisle, but shortly afterwards they announced on Twitter that he had been forced to abandon the attempt.
They wrote: “Yesterday Ian suffered with heatstroke. He also had a minor crash early on.
“He's struggled with a bad stomach throughout the night and this morning we've decided, for his safety, to abandon the attempt.
“We choose to go out but we must come back.”
In a subsequent message, they said: “We've informed the RRA of our decision and Ian's now resting up and hydrating.
“Thanks for all your support, it's helped so much to keep everyone motivated.
“We knew the attempt would be tough and the conditions would need to be perfect. Not this time though.”
At the point where To abandoned at around 10am this morning he had covered 470 miles at an average speed of 18.3 miles an hour and would have had to cover the remaining 375 miles at an average speed of 20.5 miles an hour to break the existing record.
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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7 comments
Sorry to hear the news, but better to pack than end up hospitalised.
I'm about two-thirds through a solo, unsupported LEJOG at the moment and it has been very warm. Im not trying to break any records so my route and speed will be a bit different to Ians.
For example, some of the NCN routes have had silly climbs which when the sun is beating down and youre completely sheltered from the wind makes for a very hot, sweaty and energy sapping experience.
Even for me, overheating and dehydrating have been a very real possibility this week.
What a shame hope you have better (nearly said luck) conditions next time.
He had a normal vented helmet on on the 2nd day. It was just really, unexpectedly, hot I guess.
"unexpectedly"? Weather forecasts exist, including those for a tailwind to John O'Groats.
200 miles an hour, didn't seem likely to succeed. Packing probably right.
Good decision, trying to press on can have much worse effects and for what, your name at the top of a list. No serious harm is worth that so I'm glad his team and himself made that call.
Maybe if he got rid of the non vented hat he might have been a lot cooler?
Shouldn't that speed be 20.5?