Brandon cyclist Grant Hamilton will ride in the Tour de France next year as part of Tour 21. (GRANT HAMILTON / HANDOUT)
Brandon’s Grant Hamilton will take on the gruelling challenge of cycling the entire Tour de France route next year as part of Tour 21, a global charity event to raise funds for leukemia research.
Hamilton is one of 25 amateur cyclists selected to ride the full route, which mirrors the professional race, one week ahead of the official Tour. He is the only Canadian participant in the 2025 event.
“The Tour de France is the toughest challenge in pro sports — and thankfully I don’t have to race it, just ride it,” Hamilton said in a release. “Our goal through this challenge is to finish, while raising money that will help cure leukemia. The ride is daunting, and I have months of gruelling training ahead, but what keeps me motivated is knowing that we will be funding clinical trials to help beat blood cancer.”
Hamilton’s journey is especially poignant, having recovered from a serious bike accident two years ago. He has since become a cycling advocate in his community, founding Bike Brandon and working on the city’s Vision Zero committee to promote safer streets.
Hamilton has partnered with local businesses, including A&L Cycle and Trek Bikes, to cover his training and equipment costs. The rider aims to raise more than $55,000 toward leukemia research as part of a team-wide effort to raise £1 million.
Donations can be made online through CAF Canada or CanadaHelps.org, with all proceeds supporting Cure Leukemia’s clinical trials.
Hamilton’s ride, alongside the Tour de France, begins in about nine months.
