Otto Becomes First Woman to Bike Kilimanjaro in a Day
Hannah Otto completed a solo one-day mountain bike ascent and descent of Mount Kilimanjaro on November 4, finishing on one leg after breaking her tibia.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Cycling
Hannah Otto completed the Beyond the Summit: Kilimanjaro challenge on November 4, becoming the first woman to summit and descend Mount Kilimanjaro by mountain bike in one day. She slipped in mud two miles from the finish, broke her tibia, and pedaled the final stretch with one leg after refusing assistance so the record would count.
Why it matters
The feat sets a women's benchmark on one of the world's highest free-standing mountains, a 26.5-mile route with gradients above 40%. Otto's fundraising for World Bicycle Relief has raised $62,137 alongside the attempt.
The record is documented against a 26.5-mile route with steep pitches above 40% and a 19,300-foot summit, and Otto's prior women's FKT on Mauna Kea stands at 5 hours, 43 minutes and 50 seconds. The film release date remains unannounced.
The players
Hannah Otto
A Utah-based mountain biker who completed the fifth season of the Life Time Grand Prix, finishing 11th overall and missing the top 10 by three points.
World Bicycle Relief
A nonprofit organization that provides bicycles to people in developing regions to improve access to education, health care and economic opportunity.
The details
Otto made an initial ascent with a group and local crew on November 1, then attempted the solo summit and descent, slipping in mud with two miles remaining. She crawled to her bike, used it as a crutch, and finished pedaling with one leg.
Timeline
November 1: Group and crew make initial ascent of Kilimanjaro.
November 3: Planned solo one-day summit attempt scheduled.
November 4: Otto completes the solo one-day bike summit and descent.
Season Trajectory
Otto's Kilimanjaro feat builds on her fifth season of the Life Time Grand Prix, where she finished 11th overall, and extends her prior women's FKT on Mauna Kea to a higher, longer high-altitude route. The result places her among the most visible endurance cyclists in the discipline's extreme-terrain record books.
Otto's record adds a women's benchmark for one-day bike ascents of Kilimanjaro that future attempts will be measured against. Cycling fans tracking endurance records can follow how the mark is challenged on similar high-altitude routes.
The takeaway
Endurance records often depend on refusing help at the moment it is most tempting, as Otto did when she chose to finish on one leg. That choice is what made the result count.
Further reading
Explore more Cycling coverage for context on record-setting endurance rides.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cyclingnews.
