Andrew added that the secret to surviving such a demanding event and claiming the world title, was a mixture of training and putting the right fuel in the body on race day.
"Nutrition is key to performing well in a race like this. A mixture of real food and sports gels and bars are needed," said Andrew, who consumed about 20 litres of water and electrolyte drink during the race.
Meals of easy to digest foods, like warmed creamed rice, peanut butter and honey sandwiches, instant noodles and roasted kumara, were eaten, Andrew said, with Enervit sports gels and bars taken at one-hour intervals between meals."
Andrew celebrated with a long sleep but believes the worst is yet to hit him.
"[The pain of cycling for 24 hours] probably hasn't hit me yet, tomorrow it might hit more. For general tiredness it usually takes a few days to hit me."
Kim Reyburn, who is Andrew's sister and owns sponsor myBike Whangarei, said she was over the moon for him.
"We were totally stoked to see his end result," she said.
"A world champ, that's a title that you've earned and can never be taken away. We thought a national champion was pretty cool but to go to the next level is amazing."
Reyburn said it was great to see her brother achieve his goal after such a long journey.
"We have followed him the whole way through.
"I couldn't be there and our dad has been sick, he was meant to be over there and be with Matt but had to have surgery before Matt left. He was pretty disappointed he couldn't be there."
Andrew and Gover return to Whangarei at the end of the week.
