Colombian Stairjump Record Story

Colombian bikes up 38-story building
From CNN

May 7, 1999

BOGOTA (Reuters) -- A 26-year-old Colombian man has claimed a new world record by pedalling up 760 stairs to the top of a 38-story office building.

Javier Zapata accomplished the feat late on Thursday in the northwest city of Medellin. He took 23 minutes and 17 seconds to manoeuvre his bike up the 760 stairs in the Coltejer office building.

The previous world record was set by a Spanish cyclist who took 25 minutes and 23 seconds to pedal or "jump-start" his way up 747 stairs in a Barcelona hotel, local media reported.

The key in both cases was to ensure the cyclist never allowed his feet to touch the ground.

Zapata's ascent, which was filmed in its entirety, was supervised by Medellin's police commander as well as a judge from an international cycling federation.

"I need air," was about all Zapata managed to tell reporters, after completing his climb and being told that he had won a place for himself in the Guinness Book of Records.

"I almost died out there," he added.

Additional information from Patricio Escobar: I was surfing through your web page and saw your announcement of javier Zapata (fellow biketrials rider and # 3 in colombia) and thought how good it was that even you guys knew about it. For the record he was invited by Mr. hiroshi hirano and the b.i.u to race in itadori '99 thanks to his grateful record. But just to keep you posted he will try a new record on may 20 going up a higher building in bogota, it has 960 stairs and plans to take 40 min.

See ya! If you have any interests in this odessay let me know and I'll keep you posted.

Ex California resident and Biketrial National Champ(colombia): Patricio Escobar

p.s
nice web!