London, December 23 (ANI):An English language teacher from Italy, who rode out of Naples in the summer saying she was off to cycle around the world, returned to a hero's welcome in the Piazza del Plebiscito after having pedalled more than 18,000 miles alone.
Juliana Buhring had been on the road for 152 days, travelling through 18 countries on four continents and fighting off sickness in India, dogs in Turkey and even birds in Australia.
The last leg of the journey had been among the hardest as heavy snow was falling and the temperature was nine below zero as she cycled back through Italy, the Telegraph reported.
The 32-year-old, who has a British father, was attempting to set a new record as the first woman to circumnavigate the globe alone on a bicycle. She must now wait for the claim to be accepted by Guinness World Records, who act as adjudicators on such matters.
According to the rules, a rider must travel the same distance as the circumference of the Earth - 24,900 miles - in one direction, starting and finishing in the same place. Travel by sea and air is allowed, but at least 18,000 miles of the route must be cycled.
Buhring left on July 23 with no commercial backers and very little money, having only been riding a road bike properly for eight months. But she was serious.
Her trainer was an Italian sports scientist who works with professional race cyclists and she had a patron in the actress Maria Grazia Cucinotta, best known for the film Il Postino.
She set out to cycle the world to raise awareness of her charity Safe Passage Foundation, which aims to help children and young people raised in cults. She also wanted to be known as something other than a cult survivor.
As she rode west through Europe, then across the United States, Australia and New Zealand and on to Asia, Buhring began to attract supporters and sponsors online.
Travelling with just two cycling outfits and a pair of jogging pants, she would look for a place to stay in the nearest town when the sun came down. (ANI)
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