Ride in the tyre tracks of legends

Few sports offer enthusiastic amateurs the opportunity to follow in the footsteps – or, in this case, the tyre tracks – of legends.

The open road is cycling’s arena and the Pyrenees among the world’s most famous venues – riding the Col du Tourmalet is like playing jumpers for goalposts at Wembley Stadium,  having a rally on Centre Court at the All England Tennis Club or hitting a six at the Melbourne Cricket Club.

Heroes are forged in the mountains and legends emerge on the slopes that have made the Tour de France the race it is. Despite the pain and suffering you’re likely to endure as you haul your way up the mountainside, there is no more inspiration you need to continue than the fact you are climbing in the shadow of Anquetil, Merckx, Wiggins and co.

There are visual reminders, too, and the tarmac which twists and turns its way at an unrelenting gradient up the mountainside on the climb to Hautacam, the final hors categorie ascent of the 2014 Tour and where Vincenzo Nibali sealed his overall victory, is painted with the names of the French heroes of this year’s race – Peraud, Pinot, Bardet, Voeckler – while a statue of Octave Lapize, winner of the 1910 Tour de France, stands at the summit of the Tourmalet for all those who make the pilgrimage to its 2,115m summit.