Livingston cyclist Josh Quigley 'breaks world record' on North Coast 500
Just nine months on after a horror crash in Texas which left him in hospital life-threatening injuries including a fractured skull, traumatic brain injury, broken ribs and a punctured lung, West Lothian endurance cyclist Josh Quigley is believed to have broken the world record for the fastest time to cycle the North Coast 500.
On Sunday afternoon, the 27-year-old, originally from Livingston completed the route with a time of 31 hours and 18 minutes.
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Hide AdThe first North Coast 500 world record was set in 2015 by round the world cyclist Mark Beaumont who completed the challenge in 37 hours and 58 minutes.
Commonwealth Games medallist James McCallum set the new record of 31 hours and 23 minutes within a year.
The record is yet to be verified by Guinness World Records.
Josh’s challenge began at 5am on Saturday from Inverness Castle and he cycled non-stop, including 12 hours in total darkness, to complete the 516 mile route.
He tracked his progress live online which allowed supporters in the areas he was passing to see when he would pass and allow them to venture out to cheer him on.
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Hide AdInstead of stopping, he consumed all his food and drink while on his bike while he expected to burn a total of 20,000 calories throughout the challenge.
Josh used the challenge to raise money for Baylor Scott and White Central Texas Foundation, the charitable foundation of my hospital in Temple, Texas where he was treated for his life-threatening injuries after he was hit by a car at 70mph while on a round-the-world cycling trip just before Christmas.
He was just 2000 miles short of his 18,000-mile target at the time.
He spent five weeks in rehab in the United States before returning home to Livingston in January.
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Hide AdDubbed as one of the world’s toughest endurance challenges, the route has an ascent of 34,423ft - which is more than Mount Everest which stands at 29,092ft.
On the GoFundMe page, he said: “Ever since my accident, I’ve wanted to do something to thank to the hospital and staff at the Baylor Scott & White Medical Centre who saved my life.”