A participant of the annual Hong Kong Cyclothon on Sunday made waves on social media after he was seen completing the 50km course with a rental bike that anyone can pick up on the city’s streets.

Photos and videos of the rider putting a Locobike through its paces across Stonecutters Bridge and nearby highways went viral online.

Many cyclists confirmed spotting the rider along the route, adding they were humbled by the light-blue bicycle that was never designed for long-distance riding, let alone competing in races.

"A real rider does not need top equipment. Does this put some people to shame?" One user wrote on Facebook.

Others suspected it was a publicity stunt, as the man was also seen wearing a jersey bearing Locobike's logo.

But the company insisted it had no part to play in the feat and was still "thinking of ways" to reward the rider.

The bike-sharing platform also posted a log sheet on Facebook, suggesting the man completed the race in two hours and 28 minutes, translating to an average speed of 20.2km per hour.

What happened to the bike after the race, as some might wonder?

"He took the train and returned the bike safely by locking it," the company revealed.