MUSCAT, MARCH 28
Cycling up and down a hill until you’ve tallied 8,848 metres of ascent -- the height of Mount Everest without sleep is not many endurance cyclists would have dared to attempt.
Oman-based cyclist Paul Wilcox and Omani endurance athlete Hashim al Farsi none-the-less have successfully completed such unique challenge called ‘Everesting’ on the Amerat Climb at the weekend.
And on Monday, Willcox and Hashim were ecstatic when their effort was approved by HELLS 500 club at the everesting.cc.
“There is no words to describe our feeling. It’s incredible to complete the Everesting challenge and get it approved'', Willcox, a veteran champion of Oman Cycling Association (OCA) Championship, told Oman 'Observer'.
Willcox and Hashim were the only two to complete the challenge out of 18 cyclists who attempted the Everesting challenge on March 25.
The participants included the local and expatriate riders from the OCA Championship and endurance cyclists.
A total of 30 laps were to be completed up and down the Amerat Heights, and the rider from the United Kingdom was the first to make the finish in 16 hours and 27 minutes.
Willcox started the challenge at 5 pm on March 24 and finished the challenge at 9.30 am on March 25.
The distance covered was 225 km with elevation of 8,968 metres with 8.58 per cent gradient.
“The last two laps I was stretching hard with my energy level coming down. It was the toughest challenge in my life until now. At 4.30 in the early morning some lights went off the hill but the bike light was sufficient to manage the rest of the period before sunrise'', the 43-year-old said.
Hashim, the brand ambassador of Ironman 70.3 Oman, is still to come terms with the achievement.
“Honestly, I didn’t have that much idea about the Everesting challenge before. Now, this is simply the hardest endurance challenge I had ever attempted'', the youngster, who became the first Omani to complete the Everesting challenge, said.
Hashim completed the challenge in 17 hours 26 minutes.
‘HALL OF FAME’
Both Willcox and Hashim have now earned their place in the ‘Hall of Fame’ of the Everesting challenge after official approval.
Renowned cyclists Mark Cavendish, Greg Henderson, Phil Gaimon, Kevin Vermaerke, Guilio Ciccone and Jens Voigt are some of the elite riders in the ‘Hall of Fame’ after successfully completing the challenge.
The Amerat Climb, the regular course during the Tour of Oman, was also used for the first time with the riders in action on its front side.
Among others who were in the challenge, OCA rider Waleed al Fahdi came short of three laps after completing 27 laps.
Bradley Perkins of United Kingdom, Omani cyclists Mishal al Busaidi and Mohammed al Lamki also made valid attempts to tackle the challenge.
Cycle.kom, an Omani team in the OCA Championship race, was the sponsor of the challenge.
Everesting: The rules
Record 8,848m (29,029ft) of total elevation gain
Follow one route on one hill
Descend on the same route you climb
No sleep – you must complete the challenge in a single stint
Breaks (eating, drinking, recharging) are included in your time
You must reach the summit of the hill every time
You must descend safely and get back home
No time limit
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