A HORWICH Cycling Club member has embarked on an unusual way of marking his 60th birthday...by taking on one of the world’s toughest challenges.

For many cyclists, such as Dave Bateson, the Tour de France is the pinnacle of the sport so climbing the most famous cols of the Tour was definitely on his ‘bucket list’.

He said: “As my 60th birthday present, my wife suggested I went on an organised cycling tour which gave me the chance to do exactly that.

“We climbed 10 cols in six days, a total of around 44,000 ft of ascent. It was a fantastic experience to visit these cols, each of which had such iconic status in the history of the Tour.

“The weather was good and the scenery breathtaking.

“The highlight was probably reaching the top of the Col du Galibier, with snow fields around us and eagles and vultures above.

“It was a chance of a lifetime trip and was one of those things I just had to get ticked off my list.”

Bateson has had a lively sporting life after playing football and also fell-running for the Welsh Achille Ratti team. Despite the torrential rain and weather conditions the professional riders had to face earlier this summer, Bateson insists it was easier for him.

He said: “Most of the time the sun was splitting the skies and then it rained during the night when we had finished.

“It allowed me to see some of the best views and scenery.”

Bateson says he has not finished taking on the courses.

He said: “I will be doing things in the Pyrenees but I will be doing it in my own time in a few years.”