Giulio Ciccone is the latest pro rider to complete an extreme ride on his home trainer during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, riding for over 11 hours to complete the Everest Challenge on the Zwift platform.

The Trek-Segafredo rider won the mountains jersey at the 2019 Giro d'Italia and wore the yellow jersey for two days at the Tour de France, but admitted he has never felt so tired after a day in the saddle.

"I was completely empty!"

[7 Ciccone told La Gazzetta dello Sport after the ride. I don't even remember how long I ran. I lost 2.1 kg and burned about 9,000 calories. I was so tired I could only eat one slice of pizza, even though I promised myself I would eat two when I finished. I have never felt so sick, even after cracking up racing in the cold and rain."

Ciccone is the latest rider to complete an Extreme Ride during the COVID-19 blockade. Last week, Geraint Thomas completed three 12-hour bike rides back-to-back to raise funds for the British National Health Service. Burgos-BH's South African, Willie Smit, rode nonstop for 37 hours over 1000 km.

Ciccone, who last month donated two Tour de France yellow jerseys to raise funds to purchase a ventilator for a local hospital, rode 254 km in 11 hours and 19 minutes, climbing 10,397 meters (a little over 10 Alpe du Zwift climbs). He completed the Everest Challenge alone on the terrace of his apartment in Monaco with Italian rider Emanuele Onesti, a member of the Jotti-Victoria Continental team.

"I didn't really plan it, I said 'let's do it' two days ago and planned everything with the team." Trek Segafredo sent Ciccone extra Enervit gels and bars, and he set up a small table next to his bike, loaded with bidets, food, clean jerseys, and chamois cream.

"Everest was something I wanted to do," he explained, "but I was going to do it on the road, probably on the Blockhaus climb (near Ciccone's home in the Abruzzo region of Italy).

"I never thought about doing it on my home trainer. The Everest Challenge is the same climb, at least 8,848 meters, but I decided to keep running and climb 10,000 meters and finish the climb one last time. I like long endurance runs and I like to suffer for a long time."

Despite the success of the Everest Challenge, Ciccone admitted that he could not wait to get back on the road for a real training ride. Cycling is banned in Monaco, as it is in France, Italy, and Spain, and racing is not likely to begin until August at the earliest.

"I hope to be back on the road by the end of May. Otherwise, it will be difficult, if not impossible," Ciccone admitted.

"I've lost track of how long I've been out there, but I must have been riding for almost two months and it's mentally tough. My routine has changed and I rarely go outside now. Fortunately, I have a home trainer that allows me to get quality training, but at the same time I'm worn out.