Lachlan Morton’s Epic Cycling Journey Around Australia: Headwinds, Hunger, and a Close Call with a Kangaroo

Professional cyclist Lachlan Morton is on the verge of completing a grueling 8,800-mile (14,200-kilometer) lap of Australia in record time. Despite battling fierce headwinds, intense heat, and even a near miss with a kangaroo, Morton is set to break the current record of 37 days, 20 hours, and 45 minutes, established by David Alley in 2011. Morton, known for his endurance cycling feats, began this epic journey a month ago from his hometown of Port Macquarie.

Enduring long, isolated days in the saddle—cycling up to 17 or 18 hours daily—Morton has faced numerous physical and mental challenges. “It feels like a lifetime I’ve been out here,” Morton told CNN Sport, reflecting on the extreme fatigue he’s endured throughout his journey.

One of the biggest hurdles has been braving Australia’s notoriously unpredictable weather. Morton highlights the mental difficulty of riding straight into relentless headwinds for hours on end. “It’s very loud. You can very quickly convince yourself that it’s someone working against you, like it’s some sort of plot,” he said, emphasizing the importance of reminding himself that “you’re just on a bike ride.”

To mitigate the extreme heat in northern Australia and avoid the dangers posed by heavy trucks, Morton would often start cycling at midnight after going to bed around 5 p.m. Despite these efforts, safety remained a challenge, as Morton joked about his constant effort to “complete the route and also not get run over.”

Morton’s journey follows the strict guidelines set by the Road Record Association of Australia, which mandates that riders must cover a distance of 14,200 kilometers or more and pass through at least six key cities, such as Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, and Perth.

The emotional toll of solitude has also weighed heavily on Morton. “It can be very monotonous,” he explained, detailing the mental tricks he uses to endure the long, straight roads. Yet, amid the struggles, Morton has also found moments of beauty, from birdsong at dawn to awe-inspiring landscapes.

Fueling his body for such an intense endeavor has been another challenge, with Morton relying on “regular food” like sandwiches, eggs, and cookies to sustain him, along with six cups of coffee per day. He notes that some days his appetite is enormous, devouring much more food than on others.

Throughout the expedition, Morton has been supported by his EF Education–EasyPost team, which has documented the journey on social media. He’s also raised over A$100,000 (approximately $68,500) for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, which provides books and educational resources for Indigenous children in remote areas of Australia.

Morton’s endurance cycling background is marked by extraordinary achievements. In 2021, he completed the Alt Tour, riding every stage of the Tour de France solo, and in 2022, he cycled from Munich to the Polish-Ukrainian border in a 42-hour non-stop push, raising funds for Ukrainian refugees. His current record-breaking attempt around Australia, however, presents its own unique challenges due to the country’s vast and unforgiving terrain.

Among the many memorable moments of the trip, Morton recalls a close encounter with a kangaroo that almost sent him flying over his handlebars and run-ins with snakes on the desolate Nullabor Plain. Despite these challenges, he continues to view the journey as an adventure, a new way to push the boundaries of cycling and explore life beyond the competitive peloton.

As Morton nears the end of his remarkable expedition, his achievements serve as a testament to the power of endurance and a deep love for adventure. “The different experiences you can have just using bikes are pretty remarkable,” he reflects. “It’s just been a journey, you know?”