LONDON, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Prince Harry's friend was "forced to abandon rest days" on a gruelling 22,530-km cycling challenge after learning he had a Royal wedding invitation half-way through the two continent trip, a news report said Monday.

Dean Stott, 41, travelled the Pan American Highway in a record 99 days, 12 hours and 56 minutes, knocking an astonishing 17 days off the previous best.

He finished the epic feat, which took him from the tip of Argentina to Alaska, early on Saturday morning, leaving barely a week to return to the UK and take up his invitation to Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle.

The royal wedding is scheduled for May 19 in Windsor Castle, where Prince Harry and bride-to-be Meghan Markle will tie the knot.

Speaking from Alaska on Sunday evening, Stott said, "When I originally set out on the campaign the world record was 117 days and five hours, my aim was to do it in 110 days."

"I did the South America phase and took 10 days off that world record, so I knew I was in a good position," he said.

The former special forces soldier trained with the prince for six weeks in 2007 and the pair have stayed close, with the groom-to-be finding time this weekend to congratulate his guest on the record-breaking achievement.

The former military man left the armed forces after suffering a knee injury in a parachuting accident.