Brussels cyclist Giorgio Fouarge became the first person to ride a wooden bicycle around the world on Sunday, ending his journey at Parc du Cinquantenaire, La Dernière Heure reports.
After travelling more than 30,000 kilometres in a little over a year, the 24-year-old was greeted by over a hundred people in Brussels. His trusty bike was crafted by the brand Zafi out of wood from the Sonian Forest.
"It's a bike made for those who want to ride long distances. I used to spend 8 to 12 hours a day on my bike. And it's a very comfortable bike," the young cyclist told La Dernière Heure.
The journey was not just a childhood dream – Fouarge raised money for Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque, an association that brings underprivileged children with heart defects to France for life-saving cardiac surgery.
What is next for the Brussels globetrotter? After travelling through Europe, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Columbia, "The first thing I'm going to do when I get home? Hug my family and rest a bit."
