Fancy taking on L'Étape du Tour in 2017? Here's the route (video)

Following the announcement of the route for the 104th Tour de France, we now know the parcours for L'Étape du Tour.

The sportive will cover the same course as stage 18 of the Tour, but will run a few days ahead of the pros on Sunday July 16.

Covering 178km from Briançon, the route climbs the 2,109m Col de Vars before ascending to a summit finish on the Col d'Izoard at a height of 2,360 metres.

>>> Tour de France organiser moves into UK sportive market with purchase of Human Race

The final 10 kilometre section before Izoard sees gradients averaging over nine per cent, which will take its toll after riders have already covered over 100 miles.

Part of this route will also be used for La Course by Le Tour de France women's race on Thursday July 20, the first time the event has been held away from the Champs-Élysées in Paris. The women's peloton will contest the win in the earlier part of the day before the men's race comes through.

Popular in all conditions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yuuxByGUcU

When London's new segregated cycle routes were implemented, there was some concern and pre-emptive criticism that their popularity might be seasonal and weather dependent.

As this video from sw19cam shows us, despite a typical London downpour people were still using the cycleways in their droves. Build and they will come.

Olympic champion looks ahead to final race of 2016

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1EpKxghKuU

Olympic omnium champion Elia Viviani will be looking for stage wins at the Abu Dhabi Tour. Here the Team Sky rider tells us to look out for the on-bike highlights he's be capturing for Velon throughout his final race of the 2016 season.

Expert advice on using rollers

There's no denying it, winter is in the air. Many of us prefer to ride outside, but sometimes that isn't always possible.

Riding on the rollers can make a nice change to the grind of the turbo trainer and is a closer simulation of actually riding your bike.

In this video we show you some tricks you can practise whilst doing your indoor training.

Never a good idea

https://www.facebook.com/Aaronrylan/videos/1138218606267193/

For some reason, this young mountain biker thought a parked up Lamborghini was a good addition to his local street riding circuit. Not for looking at, but riding over.

Irresponsible and pretty ridiculous, the teenager was lucky to have got away with it as the car's owner chose to forgive his stupidity.

Energy balls

Fancy something a bit different to keep you fuelled on the bike? These chocolate coconut energy balls are easy to make a great snack for those long winter rides.

Staying fuelled is essential and too much of the same food can get boring, so give these a go on your next training ride.