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List of Antarctic cycling expeditions

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Antarctic cycling expeditions were made possible with the development of fatbikes: fat tired bicycles designed for riding in snow and sand.

Expeditions

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Expeditions in descending order of distance cycled.

Name Mode of Travel Distance by Bike Support Notes
Juan Menéndez Granados Ski and Bicycle 775 miles (1,247 km) [1] Solo Hercules Inlet to South Pole, 2014
Daniel P. Burton Bicycle 775 miles (1,247 km) [2] Solo, food drops Hercules Inlet to South Pole, 2013–14
Omar Di Felice Bicycle 445 miles (716 km) [3] Solo Starting at Hercules Inlet, 2023
Maria Leijerstam Tricycle 396 miles (637 km) [4] Solo (partial logistical support) Followed the South Pole Traverse, 2013
Keith Tuffley Bicycle and Skis 385 miles (620 km) Unsupported, with two other team members on skis Ross Ice Shelf to South Pole via a new route on Reedy Glacier, 2016-17
Eric Larsen (Polar Explorer) Bicycle 335 miles (539 km) [5] Solo, food drops Starting at Hercules Inlet, 2012
Doug Stoup Bicycle 200 miles (320 km)[6] Solo Heritage range, 2003
Helen Skelton Kite, Ski, Bicycle 103 miles (166 km) [7] Motorized support non coastal starting location, 2012

Doug Stoup was the first person to undertake a cycling expedition in Antarctica. In January 2003 he rode 200 miles (320 km) on a specially designed "ice bike" around the Patriot Hills.[8][9]

In 2012, Helen Skelton became the first person to reach the South Pole using a bicycle. The bike was custom built for her trip with 8-inch-wide (20 cm) tires. She also used skis and a kite to help her pull a sled containing 82 kilograms (181 lb) of supplies.[10] She covered 329 miles (529 km) by kite ski, 103 mi (166 km) by bike and 69 mi (111 km) by cross-country ski. Some of Skelton's claims have been challenged.[11]

In December 2012, Eric Larsen made the first attempt to undertake an expedition solely by bicycle to the South Pole. After covering 175 miles (282 km), a quarter of the distance to the South Pole, Larsen abandoned his attempt and cycled an additional 160 miles (260 km) back to Patriot Hills.[12]

On 27 December 2013, Maria Leijerstam became the first person to cycle from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole. Her journey commenced from near McMurdo Station on the Ross Ice Shelf and accessed the Polar Plateau via the Leverett Glacier. Maria also established the human-powered speed record of 10 days, 14 hours, and 56 minutes[13]

Juan Menéndez Granados, calling himself "Juan Sin Miedo", started his bicycle and ski expedition at Hercules Inlet in December 2013 and finished on January 17, 2014. He traveled the full distance without being resupplied, surviving the last 4 days of the expedition drinking chocolate powder and sunflower oil. When it was not possible to progress by cycling, he used skis to make progress. He became the first person to cycle to the South Pole solo, unsupported and unassisted.[14]

Daniel Burton attempted a solo cycling expedition to the South Pole later in 2014, although there were four caches of food staged along the route, as well as an equipment cache. Burton traveled the full distance pedaling or pushing his bike (without skis such as Menéndez used). His effort took 5 days longer than Menéndez'.[15]

In 2026-17, Keith Tuffley became the first person to cycle a new route to the South Pole. He cycled from the coast of Antarctica on the Ross Ice Shelf to the top of the Reedy Glacier and through the Trans-Antarctic Mountains - this was first ever traverse of the Reedy Glacier. For the first 21 days of the expedition (distance of 377km, to an altitude of 2,846m), 81% of the distance was completed on the bike and 19% on skis. For the remaining 13 days (244km) to the South Pole, the majority was on skis. In total, he traveled 621km, 51% of which was completed by bike (315km), 49% on skis. The expedition was unsupported and unassisted (no food drops, no access to a compacted ice road or to vehicle tracks). He completed the expedition together with polar guide Eric Phillips and Robert Smith who were both on skis.[16]

Omar Di Felice attempted a solo cycling expedition to the South Pole first in November 2022 but it was forced to come back home after a week due to family problem. After winning the Trans Am Bike Race in June 2023, he decided to come back trying to reach the South Pole starting from Hercules Inlet in November 2023. He started on November 20th and after 48 days of riding he was forced to stop and cycle back to be picked up in Thiels Corner (85°05' South on the Hercules Inlet - South Pole track). His attempt called "Antarctica Unlimited" is also part of the project "Bike to 1.5°C" to raise awareness on climate change. The distance he covered is the second longest ever cycled in Antarctica [17]

References

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  1. ^ Cathy Allred - Daily Herald (2014-01-29). "Eagle Mountain man first to ride bike to South Pole". Heraldextra.com. Archived from the original on 2017-07-04. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
  2. ^ "South Pole Epic by dpburton at Garmin Connect - Details". Connect.garmin.com. 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
  3. ^ "Omar Di Felice termina la traversata in Antartide | Antarctica Unlimited". RaiNews.it. Retrieved 2014-01-07.
  4. ^ "IceCycle | World first cycle to the South Pole 2013". Whiteicecycle.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
  5. ^ "Polar explorer falls short of South Pole cycling goal but sets world record". GrindTV.com. 2013-01-16. Archived from the original on 2014-08-08. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
  6. ^ Winterman, Denise (2012-01-03). "BBC News - Polar challenge: How do you cycle to the South Pole?". Bbc.com. Archived from the original on 2018-12-14. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
  7. ^ "BBC News - Blue Peter's Helen Skelton reaches South Pole". Bbc.co.uk. 2012-01-22. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
  8. ^ "Douglas Stoup".
  9. ^ "BBC News - Polar challenge: How do you cycle to the South Pole?". www.bbc.com. Archived from the original on 2014-08-08.
  10. ^ "Helen Skelton plans South Pole mission". BBC News. 13 December 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
  11. ^ "Explorersweb".
  12. ^ "Longest bicycle journey in Antarctica: Eric Larsen breaks Guinness world record".
  13. ^ "Home". whiteicecycle.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
  14. ^ "¡Reto superado! Juan Menéndez Granados llega al Polo Sur en bicicleta". 18 January 2014.
  15. ^ West, Cycling (5 June 2014). "Utah's Daniel Burton Becomes First Person to Ride to the South Pole - Cycling West - Cycling Utah". Retrieved 2020-03-28.
  16. ^ "Why Keith Tuffley decided to cycle to the South Pole". Australian Financial Review. 2017-02-09. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
  17. ^ "Italian ultra-endurance cyclist returns to Antarctica crossing where isolation is the enemy". TheGuardian.com. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
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