Sean Gallagher (46) and Ben Schuessler (42) set a new FKT (fastest known time) along the Great Wall of China, taking 82 hours and 56 minutes to complete 2,457km.
They rode at an average speed of 20.6mph, crushed the previous FKT of 10 days, and averaged 300km/day.
The Route
Stretching for more than 21,000 kilometres in total, the Great Wall of China is an immense network of brick and stone fortifications. However, the classic west-to-east endurance route begins at Jiayu Pass and snakes for roughly 3,000 kilometres (1,854 miles) to Shanhaiguan, where the wall dramatically meets the Bohai Sea east of Beijing.
“We set ourselves a target of eight days to complete the ride,” Gallagher said. “It wasn’t a race. We were doing it for the experience and wanted to see as much of China and the Wall as possible. But once the goal was set, every day had to be planned around it.”
They were rewarded for their hard work as they neared the finish line, “The sun was setting over the Wall when we arrived and we just savoured the moment,” Gallagher said. “That’s the beauty of these kinds of rides. Endurance cycling can be deeply personal. You can choose a route that really means something to you. Riding doesn’t always have to be a race.”
The History
The Great Wall of China’s fortifications were built over a period of 2,000 years, constructed along the northern borders of ancient Chinese states and imperial dynasties to defend against nomadic invasions from the Eurasian Steppe.
Construction began as early as the 7th century BC, with different sections later unified and expanded, particularly under the Qin dynasty. The most famous and best-preserved stretches seen today were constructed during the Ming dynasty between 1368 and 1644.
Extending more than 21,000 kilometres (13,170 miles), the wall stretches from Liaodong in the east to Lop Lake in the west, forming one of the greatest architectural achievements in human history. Beyond military defence, the wall also served as a transportation corridor, border control system, and trade regulation route. Equipped with watchtowers, barracks, and smoke-signal communication systems, the Great Wall is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was named one of the New 7 Wonders of the World in 2007.
