Montreal cyclist climbs Mount Royal 100 times, raises $15K for front-line workers - Action News
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Montreal cyclist climbs Mount Royal 100 times, raises $15K for front-line workers

James Piccoli, 28, spent almost 15 hours riding up and down Camillien-Houde Way on Saturday.

James Piccoli spent almost 15 hours riding up and down Camillien-Houde Way

James Piccoli, 28, did 100 laps on Camillien-Houde Way on Saturday May 2 to raise money for front-line workers. (Charles Ouimet/@refinedmoment)

James Piccoli, one ofCanada's top cyclists, woke up Saturday at 3 a.m. and started his day with a bowl of spaghetti.

The 28-year-old Montrealer had a big day ahead of him.

His plan was to spend 12 hours cycling up and down Mount Royal viaCamillien-Houde Way to see how many laps he could do.

In the end,Piccoli was in the saddle for 14 hours and 49 minutesand completed 100 laps, a feat no one else has ever accomplished.

James Piccoli started his 100 laps up and down Mount Royal with a bowl of spaghetti for breakfast. (Charles Ouimet/@refinedmoment)

Piccolistarted out with a goal to raise $3,000 to buy personal protective equipment for people working in Quebec hospitals and seniors' homes as they deal with the COVID-19 crisis.

But the fundraiser quickly picked up steam, and by the end he had raised $15,000 for the cause.

"This event exploded," he said. "Iwas shocked. Clearly the cause touched a lot of people."

In all, Piccoli was on his bike for almost 15 hours. (Charles Ouimet/@refinedmoment)

Over the course of one day,Piccolicycled330 kilometres, with half that distancecovering his repeated climb up to the summit of Mount Royal.

He told CBCNews he was inspired by his girlfriend, a nurse at the Montreal Children's Hospital, and her colleagues who were working 12-hour shifts.

He described how many front-line health-care workers in the province were dealing with a "crisis with the lack of masks and equipment."

James Piccoli started his day early on May 3, waking up at about 3 a.m. (Charles Ouimet/@refinedmoment)

Piccoliteamed up with Groupe Laudie, a Montreal-based medical supply business, and launched his fundraising goal.

"If Ican do something in my capacityas a cyclist to help raise money, Iwould be happy to," he said.

Piccoli'scycling day began at 4:30 a.m. and ended around 9:30 p.m. Of course, he took a few breaks in between bursts of effort.

Naturally, Piccoli took a few breaks during his long day of cycling. (Charles Ouimet/@refinedmoment)

Speaking on Sunday,Piccoli said he's tired but grateful to those who supported him.

Friends and family came out to cheer him on and some fellow cyclists joined him for a few laps.

Piccoli cycled over 330 kilometres, 165 of which were uphill. (Charles Ouimet/@refinedmoment)

In 2017, Montreal nurse Marie-Claude Dumaiswas the first Canadian to complete the Everesting Challenge. She cycled up Mount Royal 80 times over 32 hours, conquering the equivalent elevation of Mount Everest (8,848 metres).

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