Hongkonger sets record in Arch to Arc – the ‘toughest, most brutal’ triathlon on earth

Mayank Vaid became the 44th and fastest person to run, swim and cycle from the Marble Arch in London to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The Hong Kong lawyer completed the feat in 50 hours and 24 minutes on Tuesday – slicing more than two hours off the existing record set only two days earlier.

As things got tough on the bike, Vaid was struggling to stay awake and not crash. His wife, Theresa, was giving him coffee and sluicing his face at breaks, but he needed something more, so began to talk aloud.

“I was talking to my kids about their school and sports,” Vaid said. “I was recalling childhood memories. I decided to put in place a stream of thoughts in my mind and express them aloud. I thought about my work and how I can make things better.”

“I did surprise a few midnight souls in France wondering who this lonely biker was talking to. It seems that it worked. I knew that if I could stay awake until daybreak I would be fine. The moment the horizon was alight, my sleepiness was history,” he said.

Vaid had already completed the Arch 2 Arc as one of a pair, but returned solo to win an official finishers number not given to tandems. The A2A is organised by Enduroman Events, but is not a race on a specific date – individuals and pairs attempt the challenge throughout the summer. He said the course was “truly the toughest and most brutal triathlon in the world”.