The Italian athlete faces an adventure of 4,000 kilometers and 40,000 meters of elevation gain through the three arctic border lines
MADRID, 21 One. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Italian ultracyclist Omar di Felice faces from this February 2 the challenge of completing the first round the world by bicycle through the Arctic, in which he will complete 4,000 kilometers and 40,000 meters of positive elevation gain alone.
The challenge will start in the middle of winter and with temperatures of up to 40ºC below zero to complete the trip around the world through the three arctic border lines. The project, which is part of the ‘Bike to 1.5°C’ initiative, launched at the Climate Conference in Glasgow, COP26, wants to give visibility to how climate change is affecting the Arctic region and its population.
The route will pass through all the nations within the arctic borders. Omar di Felice will start cycling 800 kilometers through Kamchatka, one of the most remote and wild lands in eastern Russia, and then move on to Lapland, cycling 1,500 kilometers from Murmansk (Russia) to Tromso (Norway) passing through Finland and Sweden .
You will then head to the Svalbard Islands for an exploration by bike at the northernmost point of the adventure, through incredible landscapes and alongside polar bears and the Northern Lights. Next, you’ll take a trip through Iceland’s Snaefellsnes Peninsula before heading to Greenland, where you’ll cycle the Arctic Circle Route, a 200-kilometre off-road trail from Point 66 to the town of Sisimiut.
The final part of the challenge will be a long journey from Canada to Alaska, passing through Fairbanks and finishing the adventure over the arctic circle line.
Di Felice is an ultracyclist specialized in extreme, solo and winter cycling experiences. His career began in 1995 and he was a professional cyclist with Amore&Vita and Team Nippo Endeka. In 2012, he discovered ultracycling and became the first cyclist to cross the Himalayas in winter and reach Everest Base Camp by bicycle.