A brutal team cycling challenge to pedal up the equivalent of Everest resulted in only one rider making the 'summit' after a gruelling 18 hours in the saddle.

The four-man squad from Canterbury Bicycle Club took on the daunting climb, with each tasked with completing 145 reps of the steepest section of Boughton Hill, making a combined elevation of 8,848 metres and 159 miles for each rider.

Their aim is to raise money for the Pilgrims Hospice to help compensate the charity's loss for having to cancel it's own annual charity ride due to Covid-19.

Facing the mountainous challenge on Saturday were Dave Carter, Nick Tatt, Colin Reynolds and Lester Devine - all seasoned long distance cyclists but about to ride into unknown territory of painful, physical and mental endurance.

They started the challenge at 5am but only 46-year-old Dave was left in the saddle at 11pm to complete the punishing total distance.

After 12 hours, Nick and Lester managed half the distance while Colin achieved two-thirds of the target climb.

Nick, 51, from Whitstable, who organised the fundraising challenge, said: "I would say I'm quite a good cyclist but it was torture and I had to throw in the towel half way. It was by far the hardest climbing I've ever done.

"The heat was a real issue but we had built ourselves up to do the ride and were mentally prepared and just didn't want to put it off.

"But the exhaustion was so great that it became almost impossible to eat and when you've no fuel and are dehydrated, you stop.

"But fair play to Dave because he's an absolute powerhouse to have done it and just an incredible rider.

"We were also very well supported by other club members who did a few climbs with us which was very encouraging but Dave was just phenomenal."

Dave, from Whitstable, who works for an outdoor gym equipment company, says it was more of a mental struggle than a physical one as the hours passed.

"I've been cycling since I was 12. and done plenty big rides but it was probably the hardest because of the nature of it.

"What drove me on was the thought that we were raising money for the hospice which so badly needs the funds after having to cancel it's own event."

Dave says he took the day off the bike on Sunday to recover but was back in the saddle on Tuesday in training for cycle racing when the sport restarts.

To support their fundraising for the Pilgrims Hospice, go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/everesting-challenge-boughton-hill

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