Aviemore cyclist huffs and puffs to become Strathpuffer 24 champion
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Kyle Beattie conquered one of the toughest 24 hour mountain biking challenges when he claimed victory at Strathpuffer 24.
The Aviemore cyclist was crowned men's champion when he completed 25 laps in 23 hours 52 minutes and 27 seconds at Torrachilty Forest.
He beat Robbie Mitchell into second who completed the same amount of laps in 24:31:26.
Last year's champion Marty Ross from Maryburgh had to settle for bronze completing 24 laps of the course in 23:44:34.
Speaking about his victory, Beattie (23) said he nearly collapsed when he crossed the finishing line.
"What a race, it was crazy, it was nuts," he said.
"I think that I got too stoked and combusted and blew up.
"The sugar levels were low but the stoked levels were high."
Beattie said competing during darkness in the middle of winter was a different experience to what he had competed in previously.
"Night riding was super different to anything that I have competed in before," he said.
"There was a few factors including riding in ice and cycling through puddles which iced over.
"It was so different and that is why I love this place, it is amazing."
Zara Mair won the women's title completing 18 laps of the course in a time of 22:14:23.
She was one lap ahead of Natalie Munro who claimed silver in 23:50:14 and Claire Campbell who won bronze in 23:54:00.
The Edinburgh cyclist managed to claim the women's title despite falling off her bike during the race and being sick
"It was tough," she said.
"I felt sick for about five laps of the race and then I had a massive chunder and I had a new lease of life."
Mair says she would have preferred if the conditions were colder during the 24-hour challenge.
Speaking about the course conditions she said: "Being wet and grimy it was not great.
"I would have preferred it to have been absolutely freezing and been ice.
"But I put spikes on as I fell off once and I couldn't afford to fall off again.
"I was really grateful for it."
Full race results available here
