A Knebworth amateur cyclist taking on a race across the USA for charity was cock-a-hoop at the weekend as his team won gold.

Mark Pittaccio, a self-described ‘Eddie the Eagle of cycling’, took part in the Race the World supported team cycling challenge to raise cash for the William Wates Memorial Trust, which tries to help vulnerable youngsters through sports, arts and education.

The victory for Mark’s team was slightly blemished as they were beaten in the last of the 13 stages in Florida, but their cumulative record across the challenge was still the best.

The race across the States took Mark across the Santa Monica Mountains from LA to Arizona, then east through New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana and Alabama to Florida, where they finished looking out over the Atlantic Ocean in Miami.

“I am just so proud to be part of the winning team at the inaugural Race the World event,” said the 52-year-old.

“We had a fantastic group of riders and it was our great teamwork that got us across the line first. It has been such an epic adventure and certainly an experience I will always remember.”