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Mike Cotty takes on gruelling Road to Mont Blanc next week (+ video)

More than 1,000km of non-stop riding over 21 mountain passes in "toughest challenge yet"...

British cyclist Mike Cotty will next week embark on what he describes as his “toughest challenge yet” – the Road to Mont Blanc, comprising 1,000 kilometres of non-stop riding over 21 mountain passes with more than 23,000m elevation gain.

Starting on Monday 4 August at 1pm CET, the journey of the Mavic and Cannondale brand ambassador, who last year rode non-stop against the French Alps, will take him across the Dolomites, the Eastern Alps and the Swiss Alps, and he has released a trailer video showing some of his preparations.

Writing on his blog, Cotty said: “Quite how I’ve actually made it to this point sometimes eludes me. In some respect I guess it’s all part of the evolution of growing old, the years roll by and it’s only when you take a second to breathe that you can retrace the road at which you’ve travelled along with your own reflection that makes you realise just how much of your soul belongs in the heart of what you truly believe in.

“Exploration opens up a whole new world beyond physical and mental expectations of one’s self. Despite years of training, sacrifice and preparation there really is no certainty as to where or when the limit will occur. For me, that is the essence of exploration. It’s a beautiful metaphor for life. I mean, if you don’t try how will you ever know?”

Updates will be provided via Mavic’s Facebook page and Twitter feed, and you can also follow Cotty’s progress live on Map My Tracks.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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5 comments

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gr3g0ree | 10 years ago
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And I just did my personal one day best distance and time wise with just under 190Kms.

Never say never, but no way I would ever want to cycle that much in one go.

Good luck.

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sc129806 | 10 years ago
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Good luck Mike  1 I'll be watching the map my tracks jobbie.

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Argos74 | 10 years ago
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I was quite happy with thinking that the definition of insanity was doing the same dysfunctional thing over and over again, and expecting a different outcome.

Back to the drawing board, and I'll bow and doff my caps as deep as my hamstrings will allow, you beautiful bonkers human you.

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ashfanman | 10 years ago
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Yeah, but it's not on a Boris Bike.

Joking aside, this is another utterly ridiculous challenge. Best of luck to him.

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jarderich | 10 years ago
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Good luck Mike, you loony.

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