WITH uphill gradients so punishing they have been likened by cycling fans to a Pyrenean gorge, the hills of Highgate have become the ultimate challenge for London’s two-wheelers as they look to emulate their Tour de France heroes.

Every day Lycra-decked enthusiasts take on the ascent of Swain’s Lane, the dimly-lit vertical road running alongside Highgate Cemetery, finishing the 1.2 kilometres of pure pedalling pain with a glow of accomplishment at the top. 

But imagine cycling up it not once, or twice, but 142 times in a row. 

Cycle forward, Mat Ilic, 29, a charity director who on Sunday will attempt to complete that lung-busting feat in up to 17 hours of continuous uphill cycling.

It is part of a worldwide phenomenon called “Everesting”, where cyclists look to ride the equivalent uphill distance that it would take to reach the summit of Mount Everest in a single ride. That’s 8,848 metres, or those 142 rides up Swain’s Lane. 

Mr Ilic said: “It is a hill close to where I live and our charity is Camden based, so we thought, why not Swain’s Lane? It’s obviously tough but I’ve always been competitive and if you have enough grit you can get through. I have maybe done it up to 15 times in a row before but I am saving anything more for the actual day.”

Mr Ilic will cycle up Swain’s Lane and then come back down Highgate West Hill before starting again on the ­lop-sided ascent. 

Unlike in the Alpine stages of the Tour de France, which starts in England next week, there are no hairpin bends for cyclists to recover and the gradient on Swain’s Lane is greater than the famous bike race’s legendary Alpe D’Huez stage. 

“It’s tougher too because it is mentally boring to go up the same road over and over again,” said Mr Ilic. 

“The key thing is to keep hydrated and to be disciplined. People have done Everesting all over the world and there is a hall of fame online for people who have done it – but Swain’s Lane is one of the hardest ways to do it because it is so steep.”

His movements will be checked by a GPS tracking device as he goes up. New Town Hall cycling champion Councillor Oliver Lewis has welcomed the interest in Swain’s Lane. 

“Our pledge is to get as many people cycling as possible, although they don’t all have to cycle up Swain’s Lane a hundred times,” he said. “It’s great we have this location here. These guys are impressive, we’re talking about the King of the Highgate Mountains here. I cycled up it once, with my son. I got to the top – but he didn’t finish it.”

Cllr Lewis’s son is 12. 

Mr Ilic will be raising money for the Only Connect charity where he works as a strategy director. Based in King’s Cross, it is a “crime prevention charity”, working with young offenders to stop them falling into a repeating cycle of trouble.

l Only Connect is looking for cyclists to join a fundraising “Trans Pyrenean Raid” bike ride in September. 

More information at www.onlyconnectuk.org