During the Coronavirus lockdown, many cyclists have become obsessed with a challenge known as Everesting, where riders go up and down their local hill until they’ve covered the equivalent to climbing the 8848 metres of the world’s highest mountain. One early Everesting ride dates back to 1994, when it was completed on a mountain near Melbourne by George Mallory, the grandson of the famous climber of the same name. Mallory’s achievement later inspired an Australian cycling club to turn Everesting into an organised challenge, which has now been completed by thousands of amateur and professional cyclists across the world. Simon Watts talks to George Mallory and to Andy Van Bergen, the organiser of the Everesting club.

PHOTO: Chinese cyclist JJ Zhou attempts to "Everest" on Mount Everest itself (Picture: Andreas Illmer)