Saturday the 18th of August sees the world’s toughest and highest competition in the amateur cycling calendar get underway in Geneva, and Cygnus’s very own Creative Director and cycling fanatic, Steve Sellick is taking up the challenge!

The ‘Haute Route’ race (or ‘High road’ race in English) is an intensive test of endurance across the French Alps over seven days, covering a huge 780km (the equivalent of ascending Mount Everest 2.5 times from sea level!)

The course follows a tough and gruelling route from the Jardin Anglais in Geneva to the promenade des Anglais in Nice.

The race, which is legendary amongst ardent cyclists around the globe, is split into four classic stages, two marathon stages and one individual time trial on the legendary and picturesque ascent of L’alpe d’huez.

600 riders from 33 nationalities will compete both individually and in teams, including Steve’s team: ‘Angels and Descenders’. The eight-man team will be kitted out in race tops and t-shirts designed and named by our Creative Director himself.

The Cygnus studio will be checking out his, and the rest of the ‘Angels and Descenders’ progress on the Cygnus blog. With daily stage updates of tales of sweat and tears, make sure you also check and keep up to speed, even if it’s only to see how his Brad Wiggins sideburns are progressing!

Look no typo's!