A few months after completing the first Arctic World Tour, ultra-cyclist Omar Di Felice is ready for a new adventure on the ice. Titled “Antarctica Unlimited”, the ultracyclist plans to cross Antarctica. It is scheduled to start on November 18, 2022.
Through a series of adventures, Di Felice is trying to bring the issues surrounding the climate crisis to the public’s attention. If he achieves his high goal and completes the project in its entirety, it will be the longest Antarctic crossing ever on a bicycle.
Omar Di Felice’s childhood dream comes true
Antarctica has always been the destination of the greatest adventurers in the history of modern exploration. Omar’s goal will be to cycle the “Coast to Coast” connection. The route begins at Hercules Inlet, near Union Glacier Camp, passes over the South Pole, and ends at the base of Leverett Glacier.
If Di Felice will reach the base of the glacier and he will still be able to continue, it is planned to return to the South Pole, again by bike of course.
If the project can be successfully completed, this will be the longest pure ‘bicycle tour’ through Antarctica. In the past, some athletes have attempted shorter distances, or mixed crossings, using the bike in combination with skis.
“It is the biggest and most ambitious project of my life. I have decided to go back to university by enrolling in the “Environmental Science” course, which will accompany my educational process so that the public outreach is as accurate and timely as possible. In the next few months, during which Antarctica will take up every inch of me, I will not only try to cross the most remote and fascinating continent on Earth, but to study it carefully with the help of scientists and experts, as well as associations. In addition, I will bring my experience to schools through an educational campaign. “Antarctica Unlimited will be the crowning achievement of my life and career”.
Special bike and clothes
In recent weeks, all the schedule details of the bicycle expedition have been published, which will undoubtedly be the most delicate and fascinating phase of the entire project, strongly linked to the seasonaility with which permits are issued to cross Antarctica.
The bike used will be a special model, which had been developed according to the specifications of Omar, based on the requirements associated with the crossing. This is a special, so-called “fat bike”, a bicycle with specially thick tires, which should facilitate riding on the expected surface of ice and snow. The frame will not be as light as possible, as in the previous “Arctic World Tour”, but special attention was paid to stability and temperature resistance.
As for clothing, it is very important to survive temperatures that can fall below -40 ° Celsius. Due to the famous katabatic winds (air masses blowing at high speed over the Antarctic plateau due to temperature differences), the perceived temperatures can be even lower. Omar Di Felice will wear a special high-altitude suit. similar to mountaineers above 8,000 meters, but with special features that make pedaling comfortable. Thanks to the live map created by ENDU, the crossing can be followed live.
Follow his website: ANTARCTICA UNLIMITED
Heiner Kubny, PolarJournal
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