Friday, February 19, 2010
First
to cycle the length of the Americas - Mark Beaumont sets world
record
USHUAIA, Argentina -- After 13,080 miles,
268 days and 12 countries, cyclist Mark
Beaumont finishes epic trip from Alaska to the southern
tip of Argentina , setting the world record for the First
to cycle the length of the Americas.
(enlarge
photo)
It is the first time anyone has both cycled
the journey and climbed the two mountains on the same trip.
The 13,080-mile journey across 12 countries took 268 days
to complete.
Mark
Beaumont reached Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego in a
journey that took him to the top of the highest peaks in both
North and South America.
The 27-year-old from Bridge of Cally, Perthshire,
described himself as "ecstatic" to have completed the momentous
feat.
As well as cycling the length of the continent,
Mark scaled the two highest mountains in North and South America.
Speaking at the finish, he said: "I was pretty
emotional when I got here and I feel pretty tired. I have
run the batteries low. "I have beaten the odds on many accounts.
"It's an incredible relief. Plus, it was a beautiful place
to finish.
"I looked across the bay to Ushuaia, the
most southernly city in the Americas, and saw reflections
of mountains on the water."
"I have been wanting to do this for
years. To have achieved it all, got here on time and to fulfill
that dream, it's fantastic."
Mark is the first person to climb
the two highest mountains in the Americas and cycle between
them in a single season. He began his epic journey in Alaska
on May 29, 2009, where he climbed 20,000ft Mount McKinley.
Since then, he has visited 12 countries
and climbed 23,000ft Aconcagua in Argentina, the highest mountain
in the southern hemisphere.
In 2008, Mark broke the Guinness world
record for the fastest
cycle ride around the world after circling the globe
in 194 days and 17 hours.
His mother Una Beaumont, who acted as
his trip co-ordinator, said there would be a big family celebration
when he returned.
The first part of The Man Who Cycled
The Americas will be shown on Tuesday, March 23, at 10.35pm
on BBC1.
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Related world records:
Fastest
cyclist to cross Southern Australia-Guido
Kunze sets world record
Fastest
to cycle the Pan-American Highway-Scott Napier sets world
record
Longest
journey on mini-bikes-world record set by
Ryan Galbraith and Chris Stinson
Fastest
cyclist to circle the globe-world record set by James Bowthorpe
Bicycling
across Canada-world record set by Cornel Dobrin
Friday, February 19, 2010
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