World-record hopeful Mark Beaumont took a step closer to starting his incredible challenge of cycling around the world today when he waved goodbye to Scotland and headed for the Paris start-line.

Mark, 24, is aspiring to a major Scottish sporting feat by cycling 18,000 miles to become the fastest person to have ever circumnavigated the globe by bicycle in the Artemis World Cycle Challenge.

The current record for cycling around the world is 276 days, 19 hours and 15mins and was set in 2004. However Mark plans to slash this total to less than 210 days, in a solo, break-neck race against the clock passing through 20 countries in seven months.

As he prepared to head to Paris for the start of his epic journey on 5th August, Mark took time out to give his support to Scotland in winning the Bid to host the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

He said: "I'm really excited about the idea of Scotland hosting the Commonwealth Games, especially so because cycling is part of the sports programme for the Bid.

"Having a new National Velodrome in time for the Games will give a whole generation of Scots the chance to train and compete at the highest level. I'm really keen that young people hear about my challenge and are inspired to participate in sport, and that they are inspired by the prospect of Scotland winning the Games. It would be fantastic for Scotland."

Mark will be wearing a Back The Bid badge throughout his trip and will pass through several Commonwealth countries on his world tour, including Pakistan, India, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.
 
The BBC, a Major Supporter of Glasgow 2014, will screen a documentary about his challenge in 2008, but fans can follow Mark's  progress day-by-day online at www.bbc.co.uk/pedallingaround and at his own website, www.artemisworldcycle.com where a GPS tracker will show exactly where he is.

He added: "Going around the world will be a race against the clock but also a trial of endurance. But while my challenge will be tough I'm also looking forward to having the experience of a lifetime.

"On November 9th, when the decision on which city will host the Games in 2014 is announced in Sri Lanka, I'll hopefully be making my way through South Australia and I'll certainly be listening out for news of whether Glasgow has won. If Scotland wins I'll be jumping - well, pedalling - for joy."

The Artemis World Cycle Challenge has taken a year to organise, with Mark planning a route that takes him through the mountains of Pakistan, the tropical heat of Malaysia and he'll spend a chilly Christmas in Seattle as he heads down the West Coast of the US.