A British teenager’s attempt to become the youngest person to cycle around the globe has turned into an uphill struggle after thieves stole his bicycle.

18-year-old Charlie Condell was more than 100 days into his round-the-world challenge and had already pedalled through 17 countries when he woke up at a hostel in Queensland to discover that his passport, equipment and bicycle were alll gone.

Mr Connell told the BBC that around €4,500 worth of his stuff had been stolen in all.

“I came to the sinking realisation that it was gone and I just had on my shirt and my board shorts and one bag,” he said.

Despite the spoke in his wheels, the 18-year-old is preparing to shift gears and complete the round-the-world challenge in time to beat the current record-holder, who was 19 when he successfully cycled around the globe.