Cyclist Leigh Timmis reveals how he became the fastest person to cross Europe, from an 11,000 calorie daily diet (including Haribo) to 240 miles a day

Timmis cycled 3,956 miles from Cabo da Roca in Portugal to Ufa, Russia It took him 16 days - and he crossed 10 countries along the way Timmis' book - The Race of Truth - on the world record is now out ultra-endurance rider Leigh Timmis became the fastest person to cross Europe, shattering the previous world record by eight days.

Timmis cycled from Cabo da Roca in Portugal, the westernmost point of Europe, to the station in Ufa, Russia - the nearest town to the Ural Mountains, which border Siberia and define the easternmost point of geographical Europe.

He covered this remarkable odyssey - a distance of 3,956 miles (6,366 km) - in just 16 days, 10 hours and 45 minutes, crossing 10 countries along the way (Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Russia).

He covered an average of 240 miles to cut the blows every day, at an average speed of 19 mph (30 km/h).

How did Timmis, 41, who is the day labor manager at the Derby Wellbeing Project, achieve this feat?