GARDENER Simon Potter, a member of Alton Cycling Club, has won the first-ever Virtual Race Across the West.

The 32-year-old from South Warnborough become the champion after completing the gruelling 950-mile bike ride from home in just over three days, having only three hours and 40 minutes of sleep during that time.

As a full-time gardener, and lifelong sufferer of Ulcerative Colitis, Simon defied all odds to beat more than 80 other riders.

The race included world record holders and professional ultra-cyclists.

Simon said: “I’m relatively new to the ultra-cycling world and this was my first time cycling for over 24 hours.

“The amount of uphill climbing made it much harder than I could have imagined, but I’ve proven to myself that I’m able to dig deep and motivate myself, even at the point of exhaustion.

“I’m so proud to have won this race – and even prouder to have been able to cycle alongside some of the world’s best ultra-cyclists.”

The race, completed on a turbo trainer from his kitchen, is the virtual version of the Race Across the West which was cancelled because of the pandemic.

The VRAW saw cyclists ride virtually from Oceanside, California, to Durango, Colorado, in the USA, with more than 25,000 metres of uphill struggle.

A fellow cyclist noted it was ‘the hardest thing’ they had ever had to do.

Despite sleep deprivation, leg injuries and physical exhaustion, Simon was able to battle through as the dark horse of the race to victory.

He will attempt to emulate this feat when he endeavours to complete the full Race Across America as a solo cyclist in 2021.

Using the roads around the south of England as his training ground with Alton Cycling Club, Simon hopes to cycle 3,000 miles, from the west to east coast of the USA, across 12 states, and climb more than 170,000 vertical feet in under 12 days.

He will be riding for charity, with proceeds from his fundraising going to Crohn’s & Colitis UK.

And after his spectacular win, Simon hopes to no longer be the underdog, but to make a name for himself as an elite athlete.

To follow his race preparations, visit @Simondoesraam on Instagram.