Higher Faster Stronger?

His previous cycling book, The Science of the Tour de France, had an elite focus, but now author James Witts has turned the dial onto himself. Could this back-of-the-pack straggler turn himself into a frontrunner at the Étape?

- Matt Baird

As a sports journalist for 20 years, James Witts' Rolodex is one of the cycling industry's biggest, and he's utilised it to the full in his latest (and often amusing) book, Riding with the Rocketmen, securing interviews with pro cyclists, as well as bike fits, psychology sessions and wind-tunnel visits with cycling's leading minds on his journey to the Étape du Tour de France 2022 start line.

Driving the narrative of Rocketmen is Witts' aim of completing the Étape in style, with 167km of cycling in a French heatwave, the iconic ascents of the Col du Galibier, Croix de Fer and Alpe d'Huez and 4,700m of elevation gain standing in his way of success.

As a 90kg rider with a fondness for ale over riding in the heat, Witts hatches a cunning plan to cut down on the booze (mostly) and pasties (slightly) while upping the beetroot juice intake. This Everyman also mimics the riding calendar of a pro for a year, battling cyclocross, time-trials and the cobbles of Flanders in the spring, before joining an altitude training camp with Ineos Grenadiers ahead of his date with destiny at the Étape.

Our editor Matt sat down with the author to discover what Witts learnt about both cycling and himself, before he provides his key Étape lessons for amateur riders...

Congratulations on the book, although I'm still a little haunted by the pre- Étape 'evacuations' passage, if that's the right word. Have you eaten pizza since?

Yes, but reluctantly. And not with (unpitted!) olives on. It was horrendous and, if it wasn't for the book, I don't think I would've made it to the Étape's start line. It sounds dramatic but I felt so awful. It was a long weekend.

Apart from not losing your wheel at registration and paying £200 to hire one, what's your key advice for any Étape entrant?