Extreme sports fan Jonas Deichmann again goes on a world record hunt – 18,000km from the Arctic to Cape Town. He is accompanied by the photographer and long-distance driver Philipp Hympendahl.
The Munich adventurer Jonas Deichmann rides off again. 18.000 km from the North Cape in Norway to the southern end of Africa and all that without support. The goal is less than 75 days – a whole month faster than the previous world record.
The record ride begins in early September at the northernmost point of Europe and leads the two through Finland, Russia, and the Middle East to Egypt, before continuing across East Africa to Cape Town. The route through 15 countries has long been regarded as one of the greatest challenges in ultra-cycling
For the extreme sportsman, it is not the first impossible sounding project. Two years ago, the four-time world record holder already managed the fastest Eurasian crossing – 14.000km from Portugal to Wladivostock on the Russian Pacific coast in 64 days. Last year then his biggest project so far, the legendary Panamericana from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego alone and without support in 97 days – one month faster than the previous record. “There are three major continental crossings in the world and for two I already have the record. The route through Europe and Africa is the next logical step for me,” says Jonas.
Unlike his last two great adventures, this time he’s on the road with a partner. The Düsseldorf photographer and adventurer Philipp Hympendahl will accompany him on his mammoth project with small camera equipment. “So far I was always alone on the way and it will surely be a completely different experience for two. I don‘t think it will necessarily be any easier, because the teamwork on such a trip will be a big challenge,” explains Jonas.
For the photographer, who already has some experience in the long-distance sector, it will be a great sporting challenge: “I hope that over the long period of time I have grown up to the toughness of Jonas”.
In addition to the long-distance, the journey will also be an enormous logistical challenge. Both are on their way without external support and carry their equipment and food completely on their own. In the politically unstable Middle East and during the 11.000 kilometres through Africa nothing should go wrong, because bike shops and professional help are sometimes thousands of kilometres away. „For us, the difficulties and extreme situations that will surely come are simply part of it. That makes for a great adventure and they are the best memories afterward “, Jonas is already pleased.
With their project both collect donations for the organization OroVerde. The relief organization takes care of the preservation of the rain forest and has various projects in Africa and Latin America. The record trip is financed by sponsors and lectures: In addition to his sporting projects, Jonas also gives motivational talks at companies and events. Joint multimedia shows and a book are also planned. Supporters can follow the world record on jonasdeichmann.com and over social media. In addition to regular updates, there will also be a life tracker.
Contacts:
Jonas Deichmann
- web: Jonasdeichmann.com
- email: [email protected]
- phone: 01705416354
Philipp Hympendahl
- web: hympendahl.de
- email: [email protected]
- phone: 01713154393
“In the politically unstable Middle East and during the 11.000 kilometres through Africa nothing should go wrong, because bike shops and professional help are sometimes thousands of kilometres away.” Not sure this makes sense.