National UK blood cancer charity Cure Leukaemia has become the first ever official charity partner of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift in the UK.
As part of the partnership, the charity has launched ‘The Route’, which will see up to 25 amateur cyclists ride the full Tour de France Femmes route in 2024, one day ahead of the professional women’s race.
First announced in 2021, the first Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift got under way in 2022 – helping to boost the impact for female cycling. The race featured eight stages of racing with a similar number of stages planned for the 2023 and 2024 editions. There are also plans to expand the race over the coming years. The inaugural edition saw pro riders tackle 1,033km across the eight consecutive days.
Sitting alongside the Cure Leukaemia charity’s flagship event – The Tour 21 – ‘The Route’ will be organised by Cure Leukaemia and will offer female riders an opportunity to stay in the same hotels as the pros, receive official training and event kit from the charity’s official kit supplier, Santini.
There will also be dedicated physio and mechanical support along the way and rolling road closures throughout the event.
Cure Leukaemia Chief Executive James McLaughlin said “We are extremely proud and excited to be the first ever charity partner in the UK for the TDFFAZ.
“Since 2021, we have had the likes of Sarah Hope, Jackie Fowler and Nicole Perry all complete The Tour 21, and this year we have got a further four females taking part, so every year the number of female cyclists is increasing.
“By launching ‘The Route’, it is the next natural step in offering female cyclists the opportunity to ride the same route as the professionals whilst further enhancing our partnership with [event organiser] A.S.O.”
Former professional cyclist and (now) Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift Director Marion Rousse said “I am truly thrilled to launch ‘The Route’ together with Cure Leukaemia.
“This is yet another example of how the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift inspires generations by further breaking barriers for women in cycling, which is our ambition. I am so proud to see more women riding routes in France every summer and even more so when it helps to raise funds for wonderful charities like Cure Leukaemia.”
A.S.O. CEO Yann Le Moenner said “The collaboration we have with Cure Leukaemia has been so positive that it was obvious that it had to be extended for the coming years to the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. We are really proud to open our events’ doors to Cure Leukaemia to create more awareness around blood cancer and to support the research.”
Alongside the launch of ‘The Route’, the charity has also announced a three-year extension of its partnership with Amaury Sports Organisation (A.S.O) and will see the charity continue their status as the Official Charity Partner of the Tour de France in the UK. The extension will also give the charity access to A.S.O’s portfolio of events and official licences.
Over the past three years, the unique partnership has seen Cure Leukaemia’s major cycling event, ‘The Tour 21’ raise over £4.3 million with proceeds directly funding the charity’s Trials Acceleration Programme (TAP) Network.
www.cureleukaemia.co.uk
www.theroute.org.uk
www.thetour21.co.uk
www.letourfemmes.com
