Hill Yes: Cyclists Conquer Malta’s Toughest ‘Everesting Challenge’
James Camilleri and Christopher Vella became the third and fourth Maltese cyclists to complete the highly sought-after Everesting endurance climbing challenge on 7th December.
Everesting requires cyclists to ascend and descend the same hill repeatedly until they achieve the total elevation of Mount Everest that is 8,848 metres.
Supported by a small but dedicated group of family and friends, Camilleri and Vella spent more than 22 hours completing the feat, half of which took place in near-total darkness. Their effort saw them loop San Martin Hill in Mġarr 83 times, covering a total distance of 300 kilometres.
Both athletes are members of Team Fabio, led by world-renowned triathlete Fabio Spiteri, who has taken on numerous ultra events around the world and continuously motivates his team to embrace challenges that test the limits of human endurance.
“It’s such a pleasure witnessing athletes growing both physically and mentally,” Spiteri said at the end of the event.
Camilleri, a triathlete, marked 2025 as his most successful sportive year to date. He completed an Ironman in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, finishing in a personal-best time of 10 hours and 47 minutes. Two months later, he participated in a Double Ironman in Austria, securing a podium finish for Malta.
“My first Everesting attempt was in Switzerland in 2022, but I didn’t manage to complete it,” Camilleri explained. “Although I was disappointed, I learned some important lessons and decided to try again. Everesting is tough, long and somewhat tedious, but I’m delighted I managed to accomplish it, ending the year with my third major challenge.”
Vella began cycling recreationally in 2022 and intensified his training in 2024. In 2025, he competed in a prestigious Gran Fondo event in Switzerland in August and later took part in the first-ever Everesting championship in Sicily in September, racing in the half-distance category.
“I became obsessed with the idea of Everesting shortly after I started cycling, but it always felt like a bit of a pipe dream,” Vella said. “This year I struggled with a serious leg injury that sidelined me for several months. But as soon as I was able to train again, I made this goal my priority, and it motivated me even more. Joining the ranks of elite athletes who have completed the Everesting challenge is nothing short of a dream come true.”
Well done to the duo!
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