Cycling up 100 Pyrenees climbs in 10 days: how can I do it? | Oliver Duggan

With a combined ascent of more than 49,000m, the Cent Cols challenge is a daunting experience. And I've signed up to ride it

From early May to the start of September, the three grand tours of cycling - the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana - see the world's best riders tackle countless punishing climbs amid three weeks of racing.

And then, just as this rolling spectacle packs away for another year, 30 amateur riders will attempt an arguably equally difficult feat of ascending. Participants in September's self explanatory-named Cent Cols challenge will try to ride 100 categorised climbs through the French Pyrenees in just 10 days.