A CYCLIST from the region had triple cause for celebration yesterday after winning a round-the-world bike race on his birthday – smashing a world record in the process.

Mike Hall, 31, became the fastest person to circumnavigate the globe by bicycle in only 92 days. He broke the previous record by nearly two weeks.

The engineer, from Harrogate, who averaged about 200 miles a day, also beat the nine other competitors by several days as he crossed the finish line at London’s Greenwich Royal Observatory, more than three months after setting out from there.

His 24,900-mile journey involved him cycling 18,000 miles across four continents to raise money for charity Newborn Vietnam.

About 50 wellwishers gathered to cheer him on as he crossed the finish line shortly before 1pm.

“I think I had a lot of the emotions in the last few weeks on the roads,” he said. “It was quite difficult and I think it builds up – the stress.

“So I kind of released all that in the last few days. Now I just feel pretty calm actually.

“There’s been some moments, some kind of breakdowns, but I keep the breakdowns on the bike, I don’t stop for those.”

Mr Hall said the worst thing to happen to him during the race was when he rode into a big hole in Albania.

“I broke my bike but managed to fix it with some parts I had, then had to ride through the night to get to Greece,” he said.

“There were a few close calls with traffic, but I just tried to keep safe, keep vigilant.”

Asked about the highlights of the trip, he said: “There were some seal colonies off the coast of California, they were pretty cool, and there were some eagles in Turkey.”

Mr Hall began the Quick Energy World Cycle Racing Grand Tour on February 18 and has, so far, raised about £1,000 for the charity, which provides healthcare and medical equipment for newborn babies in Vietnam.

The route taken was down to the individual, but those taking part had to cycle a minimum of 18,000 miles in the same direction with their GPS tracked the whole time.

Mr Hall said he planned his journey meticulously so as to have to ride the least distance possible.

Mr Hall, who has competed in bike races since he was a teenager, said: “I’m not sure I would want to do it again though.”