Stage 6 of the Tour de France is underway in the Pyrenees today, but 18 amateur cyclists are already two weeks deep into their own tour. They're taking part in The Tour 21, a charity challenge that will see them complete the entire route - all 3400km - of the 2023 Tour de France a week ahead of the pros.
Their goal is to raise over £1 million for blood cancer charity, Cure Leukaemia, the official UK charity partner of A.S.O's Tour de France.
The 18 amateur cyclists - 10 from the UK and eight from the US - were selected from over 400 applicants. When they set off from Bilbao on 24 June they had already raised over £725,000 - a huge accomplishment. The total currently stands at £938,000, with the group well in sight of their £1 million target.
This year's Tour de France route, which traces a diagonal route from the Basque country to the German border, includes stages in the Pyrenees, the Massif Central, the Jura, the Alps and the Vosges.
At 3,404km long, it takes in two countries, six regions, 23 departments, and five mountain ranges - the Pyrenees, Massif Central, Jura, Alps and Vosges.
Cure Leukaemia Chief Executive James McLaughlin expressed his sincere gratitude to the team as they set off from Bilbao.
"I say this every year, but I am once again in awe of our team of dedicated cyclists who will be undertaking this year's Tour. Everyone at the charity are immensely grateful for the sacrifices made by each of the cyclists over the past 12 months in preparing for this incredible challenge. They set off from Bilbao safe in the knowledge that they are making a real difference to blood cancer patients across the world.
The team will become a part of a very exclusive club by tackling all 21 stages of the Tour de France - a feat that very few amateur cyclists can list as part of their achievements.
There will inevitably be highs and lows along the way, but what is important for the team is that they never lose sight of the difference that their fundraising will make for blood cancer patients across the world."
Fundraising from the challenge is directly invested in the Trials Acceleration Programme (TAP) which helps those fighting the cancer across the globe, including three-time winner Greg LeMond, who last year announced he is battling Chronic Myelogenous Leukaemia.
Since 2020, Cure Leukaemia has been the Official UK Charity Partner of the race.
If you would like to assist The Tour 21's fundraising efforts for this year, visit the event's JustGiving page at justgiving.com/campaign/thetour21.
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