A local cyclist is preparing to take on the challenge of scaling Mount Everest in one continuous virtual ride next month.
28-year-old Knutsford-based cycling enthusiast Rick Price will use online training program Zwift – which enables users to interact, train and compete in a virtual world – to tackle a single activity hill climb where he will endure 8,848km (around 8.5 climbs of the Alpe du Zwift) and the equivalent height of Mount Everest on a stationary trainer.
Throughout the duration of the ride, the resistance of the stationary trainer bike will also increase and decrease to simulate the climb and descent of a hill.
This will give Rick what is known as a simulated “road ride” experience.
And not only will Rick be attempting this mammoth challenge that many of us could barely even begin to imagine in just one ride on one day, but he has also set his own personal challenge of completing it in under the 10 hour and 37 minute time.
10 hours and 37 minutes was the time set by professional road racing cyclist Mark Cavendish – who is known as one of the all-time cycling greats, with 30 Tour De France stage wins under his belt.
But he’s set his sights high for a very good reason.
Through tackling the ride of his lifetime, Rick is raising funds for the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), which is leading suicide prevention movement tackling the stereotypes of masculinity, suicide – known as the single biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK – and mental health to help save lives.
CALM also provides a free and anonymous helpline – 0800 58 58 58 – as well as a webchat service (5pm-12am daily), which is staffed by trained professionals.
Rick has launched a JustGiving fundraiser ahead of the ride, which will take place on Sunday 21st March.
Speaking on his reasons for choosing to support CALM through this challenge, Rick said: “I chose to ride in support of CALM as I have had my own struggles in the past and continue to manage them,
“Cycling has really helped improve my wellbeing in every aspect of life.
He continued: “Too many young men lose their lives, as they think they have run out of options or chances in life [and] it’s understandable, life is daunting, more than this ride could ever be [but] CALM works towards making sure people always know there is hope.
“If any money raised can go towards preventing more unnecessary deaths, the tragedy it brings with it, and helping improve the conversation around mental health, then it’s been a success.”
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To donate to Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) to help Rick reach his £2,000 target, and to find out more about his Mount Everest challenge, head to his JustGiving page here.
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Pep Guardiola hints at when Manchester City fans can expect to see their latest arrival
Danny Jones
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has given supporters a rough timeline as to when they can expect to see their new signing, or at least their latest arrival, make his first appearance.
The Blues wrapped up the January transfer window with four major signings: their new attacking number seven, Omar Marmoush (who has already bagged a hattrick on his home debut) promising defensive duo, Abdukodir Khusanov and Brazilian Vitor Reis, as well as their ‘mini-Rodri’, Nico Gonzalez.
However, the club has had another late arrival who was technically signed back at the start of last year but who has spent for the last 12 months or so loaned back to his previous parent club, River Plate in Argentina, waiting to make the move over to the Etihad Stadium – and now he’s here in Manchester.
Speaking on his touchdown in 0161, Pep said Claudio Echeverri won’t be thrown into first-team action straight away but did give a rough estimate as to when City fans could expect him to get involved. You can see him discussing the integration plan in his post-match press conference following the Spurs win.
The mention was only brief but there’s still plenty of reason for Man City fans to be excited by the late January signing.
“Yeah, he [Claudio Echeverri] is going to start to train and mainly will be for the end of the season, maybe the [Club] World Cup and as soon as possible [that] he arrives he can adapt quick for the future.”
As mentioned, the 19-year-old Argentinian attacking midfielder from Resistencia officially put pen to paper with CFG back in January 2024 and was quickly dubbed ‘the next Messi’.
Now, although the football world is often quick to jump the gun with these things and he isn’t the first and certainly won’t be last to be slapped with this premature title, he’s done more to back up these claims since then than he has rubbish them.
Starring at the 2025 Under-20 South American Championships, netting six goals in nine games to finish the tournament as the second highest scorer thanks to notable braces against Brazil and Uruguay as the young Argentine’s finished as runners up.
He also notched 48 senior appearances for River Plate thus far, netting four goals and grabbing eight assists in that time, not to mention having already captained his national team at the 2023 Under 17s World Cup, where he scored another five.
Safe to say there’s plenty of talent to be tapped in this lad.
Once again, Echeverri won’t go straight into the senior set-up for a little while yet, barring a major injury crisis, but he’ll be a more than exciting addition to the City Football Academy and for future first-team lineups for years to come.
Who knows, maybe he’ll be included in an FA Cup matchday squad? Nevertheless, you can expect him to not just come of the bench but hopefully show what he can do at the Club World Cup this summer.
City‘s first fixture as reigning champions of the competition will be against Moroccan side Wydad AC on 18 June 2025.
You can watch Echeverri’s first full interview as a Man City player down below:
The new Man City signing is excited to be finally be part of the club 13 months on from agreeing his contract.
Rochdale has been named Greater Manchester’s ‘Town of Culture’ for 2025
Emily Sergeant
Rochdale has officially been named Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture for 2025.
Taking over the reins from Bolton – which held the title in 2024 – and following in the footsteps of Stockport before that, which held the title in 2023, and even hosted a massive ‘Town of Culture Weekender’ festival with 50+ free events to celebrate and bring its title year to a close, it’s now the turn of the north-eastern Greater Manchester borough of Rochdale.
Rochdale’s year will build on the town’s already-rich cultural history and international reputation as the home of the co-operative movement.
More than 35 arts organisations will be bringing together an ambitious programme of festivals, exhibitions, events, and performances throughout the year.
Unfamiliar with what the ‘Greater Manchester Town of Culture’ title is all about? It’s an accolade that’s handed out every year to different boroughs across the region.
Bury was the inaugural title-holder 2020 and held onto it in 2021 too due to the COVID pandemic, before being followed by Stalybridge in 2022, Stockport in 2023, and of course, Bolton in the year just gone.
The title celebrates Greater Manchester’s culture and heritage.
As well as getting a new title to shout about, it also sees the towns given a grant from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) culture fund to help develop a programme of cultural events and activities throughout the year.
Rochdale has been named Greater Manchester’s ‘Town of Culture’ for 2025 / Credit: The Manc Group | Rochdale Council
In Rochdale’s case, you can expect the ‘very best local talent’, as this year is promising to put ‘people power’ centre stage, with residents helping to plan, develop, and deliver a lineup of creative activities, alongside a number of major events.
This includes the popular free days out for families, an exciting new urban arts festival, two different food and drink festivals, a lantern parade, the Ignite Fire Festival, a Pride parade, and so much more.
You can also expect live music performances, a new people’s gallery, and even some major international collaborations that are yet to be announced.
Rochdale is taking over the reins from Bolton, which held the title in 2024 / Credit: Rochdale Council
“Rochdale is a place with a rich cultural history, so it is great to name it Greater Manchester’s town of culture as it’s town hall and town centre enter a new era,” commented Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham as the borough was crowned this week.
“Rochdale submitted a fantastic bid for this which, was incredibly exciting and ambitious, while being firmly rooted in its local talent and deep history.
Emily Sergeant -
17th February 2021 
