known as the Women's Tour de France.

The "Grand Boucle'' entails covering 1,418 kilometres of road in a gruelling 15 days and is considered the most prestigious female stage race in the world.

The Island's fastest woman on two wheels has been invited to join the combined team of Canada and Spain, following recommendations from the French team Etoile Conde-sur-Noireau, with whom she rode earlier this year.

For the 38-year-old Claude, in only her second year of international competition, the race distance will be more than twice as far as she has ever ridden, and to last the course is her main aim.

The race starts on August 6 in Milan, Italy and follows a demanding route to the finishing line in Paris, France, where it is scheduled to end on August 20. Claude flies out on Wednesday.

Claude will be faced with some of the toughest mountain terrain France has to offer, including the Col du Tourmalet, a hors-categorie class climb -- considered so tough it is beyond normal classification -- made famous by former Tour de France winner Greg Lemond.

"It will certainly be a challenge and it's difficult to say how strong I will be and whether I complete it -- and that is my main goal,'' said Claude.

"It's just the terrain and the speed they will will be going.'' The mountains hold few fears for Claude who said she had trained for them by practising repetitively on some of the Island's steepest hills -- a technique which has worked for her in the past when preparing for events such as the Killington stage race.

She added: "I'm not really nervous, I know my calibre. I'm more curious than anything and maybe a little anxious. But I am looking forward to it.

"I put my base mileage in in the winter and lately I've been concentrating on interval training, time trials and speed work.'' Claude's coach and husband Paul Claude was confident that she had the strength and mental fortitude to complete the Tour.

"Her experience in stage racing will be her main weakness with her longest performance thus far consisting of only a six-stage event of 700 kilometres,'' said Paul Claude.

"The experience of racing in longer stage events, as well as adequate team support will be the key ingredients of success in completing the Tour. But then again we should certainly not discount the human spirit effect demonstrated by Melanie.'' Melanie Claude: facing her toughest-ever challenge.