ADVENTURER Mark Beaumont could capture the new world record to become the fastest man to cycle the length of Africa as early as this afternoon.
That would see the 32-year-old from Perthshire complete the Cairo to Cape Town journey in 42 days - shaving 17 days off the current record.
It would also mean Beaumont finishing four days faster than his own original target of 46 days.
"Ever since Botswana I have been thinking it might be possible to get to Cape Town in 42 days," he said. "I have been really pushing it all 40 days but especially in the last three or four. I have been giving it everything I've got to try and get to Cape Town in 42 days."
This week has already seen Beaumont spend upwards of 15 hours a day in the saddle.
His goal was to cycle a daily average of 150 miles but he has pushed himself to the limits to post upwards of 220 miles each day.
Beaumont passed the landmark of 10,000km (6,200 miles) on Tuesday.
He started his journey in the Egyptian capital of Cairo on April 10 and his route so far has taken him through Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana and now South Africa.
Over the past almost six weeks Beaumont has battled food poisoning, stormy weather conditions, poor roads and mechanical issues. He had to fight off a mugger and has come within inches of being knocked from his bike by passing vehicles.
Beaumont, who has previously cycled around the world and across the Americas, has so far raised more than £30,000 for Orkidstudio, a Glasgow-based humanitarian architecture charity.
The Africa Solo challenge marks Beaumont's first major expedition since 2012 when his boat capsized on a world record attempt to row across the Atlantic Ocean.
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