Scots cyclist conquers South American peak

A SCOTTISH cyclist travelling across the longest mountain range in the world said yesterday he was recovering after scaling the highest peak in South America.

Mark Beaumont, who became the fastest man to cycle round the world, reached the summit of the 22,841ft Mount Aconcagua in Argentina on Friday.

It was the second major challenge on his eight-month mission to cycle the American Cordillera, a mountain range stretching from Alaska to Argentina.

He set off from Anchorage on 29 May and climbed 20,320ft Mount McKinley in North America in June. Beaumont holds the world record for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe by bicycle.