How do you prepare for the ride of a lifetime? Brandon resident, Grant Hamilton is finding out!
Last year, Hamilton received confirmation that he was to be one of 25 amateur cyclists to participate in Tour 21, a charity ride officially affiliated with the iconic Tour de France to raise money for Leukemia research.
Tour 21 takes place this summer from June 20-July 28th, one week before the actual Tour de France. The goal is to raise over £1,000,000 ($1,753,949 Cdn) for Cure Leukemia, the official charity partner of the Tour de France. Hamilton has a personal goal of raising $55,000.
In late October, Grant and his wife travelled to France for the official unveiling of the 2025 route, which follows the exact same route as the July 2025 Tour de France.
The route challenges its riders to 21 different routes throughout France that total 3,320 km from June 28-July 20th. It will take Hamilton and his fellow 24 cyclists 21 days to take on the world's most grueling cycling challenge over a variety of terrain through France, from the flatlands and valleys to the very steep - up then down in the Pyrenees and the Alps.
Not only does Hamilton have to push his body to peddle the distance, but the Brandonite is used to Riding Mountain National Park, the Brandon Hills and Grand Valley, but how does that compare to the Alps? Not only are the France cycling miles a series of steep inclines and declines, but with changing atmospheric pressures and lowering oxygen levels the higher he goes it's going to be much different than what he's used to here down in the Prairies.
Nevertheless, being the only Canadian to take this on has been quite humbling says Hamilton.
"I'll be riding with people from around the world. There's a lot of Brits as you might expect, but there are some Americans, someone from Quatar, some from Ireland, someone from eastern Europe," he says. "It will be a real international crew, and that really goes to show that this is a real international cause. I'm very proud to be the only Canadian. I feel very humbled by that opportunity. It's quite special. I'm honored."
"I take it very seriously," he adds. "I really want to show that Canadians can ride with the very best but also fundraise with the very best. Sometimes I think it's very funny for folks to think about little old me, but it's really the cause that I think that people are really attracted to and it's certainly a worthwhile cause."
"Why wouldn't we try to cure blood cancer and improve the outcomes of people living with blood cancer," shares Hamilton. "So, it's kind of a daunting challenge for me to ride around France, up and down the mountains a couple of times, or maybe a dozen time, but what a great cause! I couldn't imagine a better, more worthwhile reason to do it!"
Please listen to more with Grant Hamilton below!
You can follow Hamilton on social media for regular updates on fundraising events and training incentives.
(photo credit Grant Hamilton Facebook page)