Over ultra-endurance 100 cyclists spent last Saturday dancing on the pedals for hours on end while ascending Italy’s Mount Etna volcano seven times at the inaugural Everesting World Championship, one of cycling’s most taxing endurance races.

After covering 277 kilometers of distance and accumulating 8848 meters of vertical ascent, the same height as Mt. Everest, Canadian Jack Burke crossed the finish line first, earning the title of Everesting World Champion.

The 30 year-old former pro and two-time winner of the epic Austrian Ötztaler Radmarathon completing the amazing feat in 7:30:52, followed by 36 year-old Australian Jack Thompson 8:23:24 and 42 year-old German Volker Voit 8:44:13.

A breathless Burke commented afterwards, “It’s an amazing feeling after so many hours on the bike. I really enjoyed it, especially the camaraderie with the other riders as we crossed each other while going up and down Mount Etna.”

For the women it was Britain’s Illi Gardner, the current Everesting world record holder, claiming her first world title. After smashing the Mount Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb record last month, the 26 year-old delivered another incredible performance to finish in 8:28:40. 49 year-old Annette Griner 9:57:15 of Germany and 29 year-old Belgian Delphine Thirifays 10:24:11 filled the remaining podium positions in that order.

Complete Everesting World Championship results HERE

Photo Credit: Everesting Challenge

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