The most fearsome Rapha Rising Challenge yet has been unveiled ahead of the Tour de France Grand Depart.

Inspired by the gruelling cols of cycling’s greatest race, the challenge – presented in collaboration with Strava – is inviting riders to tackle an altitude of 8,800 metres between July 19 and July 27.

With the professional peloton set to tackle the Yorkshire Dales, the Alps and the Pyrenees, Rapha have combined the elevations from the toughest days in each of the three areas to set the challenge elevation.

It means the highest Rapha Rising yet, with riders invited to log their progress on Strava and share their stories on social media with the #rapharising hashtag.

A Rapha Rising roundel is up for grabs for anybody completing the challenge on Strava, with a link provided upon completion.

And those looking to follow in the tyre marks of their heroes, and perform the challenge on the same gradients as the professionals have plenty of ascents to choose from.

Yorkshire’s Holme Moss and Oxenhope Moor offer short, sharp, leg-sapping climbs while the Pyrenees provide long, brutal ascents such as the Montee de Saint-Lary Pla d’Adet – an 8.3 per cent average gradient, which drags skyward for more than ten kilometres.

The Alps, meanwhile, could see riders tackle the Col d’Izoard, which rises to an altitude of 2,360m.

For more information visit http://pages.rapha.cc/events/rapha-rising-2014