Mark Cavendish and Luke Rowe complete Everest rides on Zwift
The former team-mates seek pain in order to keep themselves entertained during lockdown

Mark Cavendish and Luke Rowe have been keeping themselves busy during lockdown by completing a virtual Everesting on Zwift.
The former team-mates spent more than 10 hours in the saddle as they ascended 8,848m, the height of Everest, in the Zwift virtual world.
In total, the pair rode 211km in a time of 10 hours 37 minutes and 32 seconds, with Cavendish saying afterwards: "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."
Cavendish and Rowe aren't the only ones to try this challenge, with other riders, both professional and amateur, attempting to vEverest.
>>> ‘No one has ever lived through a season like this’: How pro riders are dealing with lockdown
Trek-Segafredo's Giulio Ciccone managed to climb 10,000m in 237km last month, losing 2.1kg and consuming 9,000 calories during the ordeal.
However, one amateur from a London cycling club, albeit a former 12-hour TT champion, beat Ciccone's time during a club climbing challenge to raise money for the NHS.
Alice Lethbridge of Kingston Wheelers became the fastest woman to complete a virtual Everesting on the Alpe du Zwift by setting a time of nine hours and 24 minutes and hadn't even thought of attempting the virtual Everesting when she started the charity ride.
Two other riders also completed Everesting rides as the club managed to climb a combined 200,000 metres and raise more than £13,000. One rider, Mark Aldred, was celebrating his birthday on the day of the ride and got a tow on Fabian Cancellara's wheel on the Alpe du Zwift, while other members saw Mark Cavendish out on the road completing a half-Everest ride, clearly a warm-up for his full Everest a week later.
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
-
Specialized releases pro-race winning Roval Rapide Cockpit
Integrated rated Roval bar and stem has already seen multiple wins on bikes of Demi Vollering and Fabio Jakobsen this season
By Joe Baker • Published
-
Tour de France: Unchained episode by episode guide
The Cycling Weekly guide to all eight episodes of the Netflix show, from Copenhagen to Paris
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Geraint Thomas 'helps a brother out', aiding Mark Cavendish's valedictory Giro d'Italia stage win
Cavendish now has one final Giro stage win. Will he get one final Tour de France equivalent in July?
By Adam Becket • Published
-
‘He’s the greatest sprinter of all time’ - Geraint Thomas pays tribute to retiring Mark Cavendish
During Monday’s second rest day at the Giro d’Italia, Cavendish announced he would retire from professional cycling at the end of the current season
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
'I’ve lived an absolute dream' - Mark Cavendish confirms he will retire at the end of the season
'It’s the perfect time to say 2023 will be my final season' - British sprinter explains retirement decision on second Giro d’Italia rest day
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Tweets of the week: Special guests at the Giro, Carthy does a wizard impression and Cavendish gets a new sprint train
Taking a look through the best of cycling social media in the last week
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Mark Cavendish ‘hungry’ to land first win of the season at Giro d’Italia
British rider is one of several options for Astana at Italian Grand Tour as they go in search of stage wins
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Complete Giro d'Italia 2023 start list: Who is still in the Grand Tour three days in?
There has not been one abandonment so far in this year's Giro, here's the complete start list
By Adam Becket • Last updated
-
Mark Cavendish takes 'positives' from record-breaking podium at Scheldeprijs
The Astana-Qazaqstan rider says he will "normally" go to the Giro d'Italia next month
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Mark Cavendish takes third at Scheldeprijs, in best result for Astana Qazaqstan
Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin-Deceuninck took the win, with DSM’s Sam Welsford grabbing second
By Tom Thewlis • Published