The Man Cycling 1 Million Vertical Metres in a Year

So how did this challenge come about and how does it fit into mental health?

I had this idea back in 2021 that I wanted to Everest in all 26 municipalities of Portugal and create a six month tourism piece in the process. Unfortunately, the plan fell through. By then though, I was pretty locked in on the idea of completing multiple Everests and so did some maths. I worked out that 52 Everests would give me 460,000m and then rounded up…to 1 million!

I’ve suffered from depression and mental health disorders my whole life and now being in the fortunate position to ride a bike full time, I made it my mission to do it for a larger cause. Cycling has helped me so much and so I want to give back and help those who suffer. The idea of raising €1 for every meter climbed seemed like a good but very ambitious goal and so I set my sights on trying to achieve it.

What is it about elevation that is so significant in cycling – why measure this challenge in metres climbed rather than distance travelled?

We always measure everything in distance, yet we forget the significance of elevation. The part of these challenges that I enjoy is in looking to do something that hasn’t been done before and that pushes the envelope of what’s possible, both in an attempt to push myself and grow as an athlete, but to inspire others. I’ve always loved climbing and so thought I’d spend a whole year doing it!

And you’re looking to get as many people physically involved as possible – what’s the thinking there?

Yeah, like I say, I want to inspire people and want my story to be heard. The more people that get involved, the bigger the story becomes and the more people that are positively impacted. Fundraising is hard, especially as a one-man band, cycling 30+ hours a week. Having the support of others is huge and if we can raise more funds to help others, then I consider my job as an athlete a success. I genuinely want to make a difference and it takes a team to do that.

How can people follow along and get involved themselves?

Jump across and follow the adventure on instagram (@jackultracyclist) or make a donation at jackultracyclist.com – I hope to ride with you guys somewhere, someday soon.