>>Team entries accepted. Raise sponsorship money for your school, club or charity<<
Enter online here: http://www.drovercycles.co.uk/events/everesting-gospel-pass/
One of the world’s toughest sporting challenges returns to Powys in June, when cyclists are invited to ride the height of Everest - without ever leaving the UK.
The Gospel Pass Everesting Challenge will see cyclists ride a gruelling 8,848 metres of ascent - the height of the world’s tallest mountain.
They will pedal from Hay-on-Wye on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park to Gospel Pass in the Black Mountains - officially the highest motorable road in Wales.
And they’ll have to repeat the effort another 15 times to clock up the total ascent.
The unique event - organised by Hay-on-Wye’s Drover Cycles - will draw on the success of their debut Everesting challenge held last year.
Alongside a category for solo riders, Drover also provide for team entries in an effort to make the event more accessible, with riders taking turns to cycle the climb to Gospel Pass.
Organiser Anna Heywood explained: “The concept of Everesting is simple - pick any hill and ride up and down the same route until you’ve clocked up the height of Everest.
“It’s a tough physical challenge, but it’s also very mentally demanding - staying motivated on the same route over and over again is key.
“We want to make the event as fun and accessible as possible, so we’re also offering team entries which mean you can split the shift with your family, friends or cycling club mates. This is also a great way to raise sponsorship money for your school - so get some fellow parents involved and drag them along, too!”
The concept of ‘Everesting’ was invented by the Hells 500 Club, an elite band of endurance cyclists obsessed with tough hill climb challenges.
Everesting events have taken place all over the globe but this is Wales’ only organised challenge.
Under the Hells 500 Club rules, the full 8,848m of ascent must be ridden without stopping for sleep.
Completing the task as a solo effort earns the rider a place in the Everesting Hall of Fame, plus a coveted Hells 500 ‘grey stripe’.
In a nod to the mountain which inspired the challenge, Drover is donating 20% of entry fees to the Himalayan Quests Foundation, which provides free healthcare to rural Nepalese communities.
Drover’s Everesting challenge ‘base camp’, at their store in Hay-on-Wye, will include stands from Stealth Nutrition plus Ridley bikes, with a chance to put some Ridley demo models to the test.
Said Anna: “This event is absolutely unique in Wales and it’s a fantastic showcase for one of the UK’s best-loved - or loathed - hill climbs!
“Last year’s event was particularly tough as it was a really hot day. Just a handful of solo riders managed to complete the event - it would be great to see some more names enter the Everesting Hall of Fame by riding Gospel Pass.”
Enter the Gospel Pass Everesting Challenge through the Drover Cycles website, here: http://www.drovercycles.co.uk/events/everesting-gospel-pass/ More stories