Rupert Guinness embarks on American road trip as cycling adapts to COVID-19 world

Who would attempt to cross America on a bike and survive the COVID-19 pandemic? Veteran cycling journalist Rupert Guinness, that’s who and from the safe surrounds of his lounge room.

Veteran journalist Rupert Guinness rides a stationary bike in his Edgecliff home in training for the virtual Race Across America in June.

Rupert Guinness is cycling across America — from his living room in Edgecliff.

When COVID-19 postponed the Race Across America (RAAM), the endurance cyclist teamed up with filmmaker Anthony Gordon to create a virtual edition of one of the toughest bike races in the world.

Now, entrants can cycle the gruelling 4828km, 170,000 vertical feet ascent from anywhere in the world.

“The challenge will be different, you’re not actually going anywhere,” Guinness said.

“But it’s generating positivity, showing there is a pathway forward in sport, that we can still be connected with people and participate in something, wherever we are.”

Veteran journalist Rupert Guinness rides a stationary bike in his Edgecliff home during training for the virtual Race Across America in June.

While he has been pedalling the kilometres on a stationary bike in his living room since September — up to 368km a day — Guinness will relocate to the G-Brothers Mercedes showroom at Mona Vale in Sydney on June 16-28 for the actual race in front of live-stream cameras.

The veteran sports journalist was completely captured by cycling in 1981, when Phil Anderson became the first Australian to wear the yellow jersey in the Tour de France.

He has since covered 33 Tours de France — along the way penning Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oui Oui, Oui, Australia’s history in the race — and excelled at endurance events himself.

Cycling also helped Guinness with his own self-esteem and mental health battles.

Guinness is well known through his association with the Tour de France having covered 33 editions of the famous road race.

“I used to be a rower, I loved it, but with your weight, we were jumping on scales like boxers and jockeys,” Guinness said.

“One thing led to another and I developed bulimia.”

Guinness will never forget the day that he walked away from rowing.

“I was rowing for Mercantile and I was on the scale at a regatta. I came in at 68.9kg, I’m about 81kg now, I knew deep down that was crazy and bulimia was getting the better of me … I just stopped that day, I knew it was my last regatta,” said Guinness, 58.

“I steered towards cycling because, I thought, this is one sport you actually have to eat while racing. With rowing, I was starving myself just so I could race.”

Guinness originally rowed before taking up cycling.

Guinness hits the pedals in his loungeroom.

Guinness and Gordon believe the Virtual Race Across America will improve the mental health of entrants during this difficult period of isolation.

The event has been brought to live by Australian platform FulGaz, with real footage of mostly North American bike tracks.

“Anyone in the world can jump on a smart trainer, download the app and participate,” Gordon said.

“It won’t be the actual RAAM course, but it will match the daily mileage and elevation,

“And the smart trainers will simulate everything, you’ll feel like you’re on that road. When you’re riding up cobblestones, you’ll feel them under your bike.”

Solo riders from around the world can participate in the Virtual Race Across America (4828km), the Race Across the West (1488km) or the 60 (riding one hour over each of the 12 days).

Guinness says cyclists can tackle the gruelling 4828km, 170,000 vertical feet ascent from anywhere in the world.

Originally published as Rupert Guinness embarks on American road trip as cycling adapts to COVID-19 world