The Everesting Challenge, a simple concept and fiendishly difficult ride to complete, was created by Hells 500.
CLICK HERE to read more about the challenge.
The idea is to pick any climb – anywhere in the world – and ride repeat after grinding repeat, until the rider has notched up 8 848m vert in one ride.
The trio started riding up Linksfield Ridge on the Friday afternoon: Schoeman at 4pm and Sands and Brown at 5.30pm.
Buffeted by fierce thunderstorms and riding through gale force winds and even hail, the challenge was completed by Saturday lunchtime by Schoeman – and by Sands and Brown on the Saturday night.
“Our motivation was a sketch of the route from Kathmandu to the summit of Everest, which we drew on the side of Sean’s car,” said Sands.
“We marked off goalposts along the way including: Lukla at 2 853m; Namche Bazaar at 3 440m; Everest Base Camp at 5 400m; the Death Zone at 8 000m and the summit.
“The plan was to make each goal, before we took a break to eat or took a quick power nap.
“Using my trek to Everest Base Camp in 2015 as a reference, we managed to ‘mentally’ climb the mountain as well.
“Many friends came to cheer us on and ride a couple of laps with us – which was a tremendous help.
“We even had complete strangers joining us and cheering us on.
“Sean and I managed to motivate each other – luckily when he was really tired and ready to quit, I was feeling strong and vice versa.
“We worked so well as a team.”
Sands added that one of the hardest moments for her was when, with only six repeats left, she and her fiancé Brown were caught in a bad storm on the Saturday evening.
“The lightning was dangerously close, so we had to go to the car for shelter.
“Getting back out to ride again in the rain after nearly 30 hours on the bike, nearly broke me,” she said.
“It was a massive mental challenge and I came close to giving up.
“This time it was Sean’s turn to motivate me – and slowly but surely, we ticked off the laps until we were certain we had climbed 8 900m.
“The following day, the enormity of the challenge kicked in.
“We were exhausted, incredibly sore and emotionally finished.
“It was without a doubt, the hardest thing that any of us had done on a bike.
“The most satisfying feeling however was now that we have done this, we should be able to do anything.”
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