Share

'Just Everested' | Cavendish scales Himalayan mountain... on exercise bike!

British cycling star Mark Cavendish and former team-mate Luke Rowe endured over 10 hours in the saddle of an exercise bike to climb 8 848 metres, the equivalent of scaling Everest.

"Just Everested, vEverested, whatever you call it, with @LukeRowe1990," the 34-year-old Isle of Man-born sprinter announced on Twitter.

The pair accomplished the latest homespun feat by a sports star in coronavirus lockdown in 10 hours 37 minutes and 32 seconds.

After the 211km virtual ascent he added: "We had the idea when we knew the weather would be bad.

"I take my hat off to anyone who's completed it in whatever capacity, it was grim."

The cyclist, who requires four more Tour de France stage wins to equal Belgian legend Eddy Merckx's record of 34, last month revealed he had come through a two-year battle with clinical depression.

He is not the first professional cyclist to tackle a vertiginous challenge during lockdown.

Italian Giulio Ciccone managed a climb of over 10 000 metres from his balcony last month on a similar training bike as Cavendish used.

And former Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas raised £300 000 for Britain's National Health Service after a 36-hour indoor cycling stint.

The Welshman rode a trio of 12-hour rides over three days on a turbo bike in the garage of his home in Cardiff in a bid to raise funds to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.

Noteworthy though they are these accomplishments are totally eclipsed by the remarkable exploit of "Captain Tom" Moore.

The World War II veteran, who turned 100 on Thursday, has raised over £30 million for the NHS by doing laps of his garden, with the aid of a walking frame.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
How much would you be prepared to pay for a ticket to watch the Springboks play against the All Blacks at Ellis Park or Cape Town Stadium this year?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
R0 - R200
33% - 1814 votes
R200 - R500
32% - 1771 votes
R500 - R800
19% - 1079 votes
R800 - R1500
8% - 457 votes
R1500 - R2500
3% - 186 votes
I'd pay anything! It's the Boks v All Blacks!
5% - 252 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE