Bold claim: Sam Shaw just rewrote Auckland-to-W Wellington endurance records, redefining what’s possible on 638 kilometres. Shaw completed the route in 17 hours and 21 minutes, establishing the fastest known time for this corridor in New Zealand. He crossed the finish line on Monday evening, New Zealand time, surpassing the former FKT of 18 hours and 26 minutes set in February 2025 by Lachlan Morton, and becoming the first rider to finish under 18 hours.
Strava data shows Shaw rode with an average speed of 36.8 kph and sustained a weighted power output of 277 watts throughout the ride.
Morton’s 2024–25 attempt, which inspired Shaw to attempt the challenge, was captured in a Rapha-produced YouTube video. The film drew controversy for foregrounding Brian Fleck, the record-holder from 1983–1984, while not acknowledging Brian Lambert, whose remarkable 41-year record stood before Lambert’s later recapture. Lambert’s family later criticized the video as presenting a misleading narrative, prompting Rapha to issue an apology to Lambert’s relatives after his death from Parkinson’s disease in 2022.
Lambert’s son, James, publicly congratulated Shaw on the new record, while noting that the time still awaits formal ratification by Cycling New Zealand. He added that the Auckland-to-Wellington journey is deeply rooted in history and continues to attract ambitious riders who respect the challenge.
Separately, Morton’s broader feat—the 14,200-kilometer Great Southern Journey around Australia’s coastline, completed in October 2024—remains the standing record for that route. In industry news, Rapha announced it would end its clothing sponsorship for EF Education’s pro cycling teams at the end of 2025, clearing the path for a new kit sponsor, USA Cycling, to take over in the near future.
