Italian woman announces 145-day cycling world tour

IVREA, Italy, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- An Italian woman preparing for a bicycle trip around the world said her goal is to complete her journey of about 18,600 miles in 145 days.

Paola Gianotti, 32, said she will leave her home in Ivrea March 8 and will attempt to replicate the success of Greek cyclist Juliana Bhuring, who cycled the same distance around the world in 145 days in 2012, ANSA reported Thursday.

Gianotti said she has been training for the feat with doctors and experts. She said she will draw on her previous experience with endurance events and Alpine climbing.

She said she came up with the cycling plan after the economic downturn forced her to close her business. Gianotti said she decided to use the incident as an opportunity "to reinvent myself."

Gianotti said the first leg of her trip will take her to Lisbon, where she will take a plane to South America to cycle across the Andes and up to North America. She will then catch flights to Australia and Asia.

Gianotti said she will be accompanied by a support team of two assistants traveling in a camper.