A teenager from the United Kingdom may very well become the youngest person to ever cycle around the world after finishing the final leg of his 18,000-mile journey on Sunday.
Nineteen-year-old Tom Davies wrapped up his 174-day trek when he rolled into Battersea in South London to the welcoming cheers of family, friends and supporters who followed him through updates on his blog.
The British teen shared that he experienced quite an adventure during his time on the road, such as fleeing from wild monkeys, being chased by stray dogs in Albania and racing an emu in Australia. After reaching the end of his seven-month ride, Davies was overcome with emotion as he stepped off his bike.
"I've just cycled around the world. It's the best feeling," Davies said. "It's been a lot of pain, a lot of suffering, so it's amazing to finish."
When asked about his achievement, Davies said that he had a difficult time riding through different terrain, weather and even against other drivers on the road. He said that he plans to give his legs at least two days to rest, but that he will be back to riding his bike again soon.
Davies' journey around the world has allowed him to raise close to £60,000 ($93,580) for charity, pedaling on his bike for about 100 miles each day at a 17 miles per hour average speed.
Davies said that while the entire trip was an amazing experience, he did not know what to expect when he decided to do it. He said that it was incredible to visit different countries and experience various cultures on his cycling journey, while pushing himself to reach his goal as well.
He added that he was overwhelmed by the hospitality he received from different people during his trip around the world, which he said made the achievement more rewarding. He also thanked his friends and family for their support and said that he is delighted that the charities will benefit from his journey.
The teenage cyclist shared that he is planning to take several weeks off before going to school. He plans to take up materials engineering at Leicestershire's Loughborough University.
