“The key to tackling a sportive is just to prepare well really,” Burke said. “Jonathan, being an Olympic champion, will know the basics of it but it’s going to be different for him because preparation for the triple jump is so much different to preparing for a long endurance ride, with the climbing.

“I’ll advise him as best I can – I’m off out for a training session with him so it will be a case of advising on how to get the gears right on the climbs, and also working on his climbing technique.

“Clothing is important, too – the conditions could be pretty grim on the day – even in July you never know – so you need to be prepared.”