Record-breaking cyclist Lee Fancourt dies aged 40

Lee Fancourt, the ultracyclist from Gloucester who set himself the goal of breaking 10 Guinness World Records, has been found dead at the age of 40. Announcing the news on Facebook, Graham Foot, the managing director of Gloucester store Slam69, said he was found unconscious yesterday and later passed away.

Fancourt – who Gloucestershire Live reports had recently changed his name to Ridgway – achieved the fastest crossing of Europe by bike from north to south; three more records for the longest distances covered off-road on a mountain bike over 12, 24 and 48 hours; and most countries visited on a bike in 24 hours – a 323-mile trip that took in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia.

In 2015, he attempted to become the quickest person ever to ride from Land’s End to John and Groats and back again (LEJOGLE), but was forced to abandon due to illness.

Foot supported him on that trip and wrote: “Another image that will stay with me is Lee, trying to pedal in the dark, in the rain, throwing up, all over the road, just before we dragged him off his bike 50 miles from John O'Groats.

“Lee was set to break the LEJOGLE record, Land’s end to John O'Groats and back again but got a terrible stomach infection, which meant he couldn't keep food down. As I say we had to drag him into the van off his bike as he wouldn't stop.”

“His dream was to do the around the world in 80 days but this was not to be.

“Well that was the Lee I knew and he made a lasting impression on both myself and my wife, we often called him parts of the family as we got so involved.

“I trust he's now at peace and we will miss him. RIP Lee Fancourt. Endurance Athlete and World Record breaker.”