Regular RoadCyclingUK readers will be familiar with the exploits of Mike Cotty.

Cotty’s most recent feat saw him ride for 1,000km non-stop, across 21 mountains in the Dolomites, Eastern Alps and Swiss Alps, from Conegliano, Italy, to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France.

The Southampton-based rider, a regular coaching columnist for RCUK, is also a veteran of some of the world’s toughest sportives, registering 35th and 22nd place finishes in La Marmotte and Etape du Tour respectively.

It’s fair to say that Cotty knows his way around the mountains of Europe and his latest project, The Col Collective, aims to provide fellow cyclists with the inspiration, education and support needed to reach the summit of the greatest mountain passes in the world.

The first video has been revealed and sees Cotty guide viewers to the 2,645m summit of the infamous Col du Galibier in the French Alps – a climb on the bucket list of almost every rider.

“I’ve ridden in the mountains for years and every time I’m completely captivated by the experience,” said Cotty. “It’s as if the higher you climb, the mountain evolves to form a new world right before your eyes. Landscapes, wildlife, natural beauty.

“It’s true that to climb any mountain is a difficult task, but it shouldn’t all be about pain and suffering. I wanted to try and bring the special moments of every climb to life in a unique way that hasn’t been seen before, and that are sometimes easy to miss as you pass on by, whilst also using my experience and industry relationships to form a resource that’s really interactive and focused on helping cyclists to experience the same feelings when they ride. That’s the essence of The Col Collective”.

Watch out for future videos at http://thecolcollective.com.