The Tour de France takes centre stage when it comes to road cycling and with the route for next year’s race out there is plenty of opportunity to test yourself on the same roads the pros will use.

With some big mountainous stages dominating this year’s route, there are plenty of huge challenges on offer while the route also takes in the Ardennes and the cobbles of Northern France and Belgium.

Signage is also still in place from the 2014 Grand Depart if heading abroad is unrealistic, with plenty of opportunity to follow large parts of the route from Leeds to Harrogate, York to Sheffield and Cambridge to London.

With the Etape du Tour one of the foremost European sportives of the season too, there is plenty of chance to tackle a Tour stage before the pros follow suit in the quest for the maillot jaune.

This year’s Etape du Tour tackles the 142km route from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to La Toussuire via the Col du Chaussy, Col de la Croix Fer and Col du Mollard.

The sportive takes place on Sunday July 19 2015 – five days before the professionals tackle the same route – and while registration is now closed there are plenty of places available through tour operators and charities.