This year's Tour de France will for the very first time take on the mythical Alpe d'Huez twice in the one day by descending and then ascending the little known Col de Sarenne. Before the Dauphiné tests out the roads this Saturday, PEZ man in France, Chris Selden hit the mountains on his own bike to check out the route on a simply epic 150km and 4800m elevation day.

Book Review: It is that time of year when many of us take out the guidebooks and maps and put together the dream trip. An indispensable set of books that every keen cyclist should have is the series of “Great Climbs” books by Graeme Fife. We are delighted that Thames & Hudson has reissued the majority of the Alps books together in a single fine volume - a glorious second chance!

Every now and then an assignment comes across your desk (or handlebars depending on what you call your “office”) you just can’t refuse. The other day I got just such an assignment. How can you say no to the offer of joining up with Bikestyletours for a week of riding all the classic Tour de France climbs of the French Alps?