Stafford cyclist to ride 1,000km Tour de France Femmes route for charity
Cyclist inspired by family cancer battle takes on epic challenge
A Stafford woman is set to take on one of Europe’s toughest amateur cycling challenges to raise funds for children with blood cancer.
In August 2026, Laura Ganderton, a deaf amateur cyclist from Stafford, will ride every stage of the Tour de France Femmes route, cycling one day ahead of the professional race as part of The Route 2026 challenge. She decided to take on this challenge after learning about the opportunity earlier this year and officially confirmed her participation soon after.
Laura will cover more than 1,000 kilometres across France, tackling the same mountains and demanding stages as the world’s top female cyclists. Alongside 15 other amateur female riders from around the world, she will complete the entire route before the professionals, raising money for the blood cancer charity Cure Leukaemia. All riders pay their own costs, so every penny raised goes directly to the charity.
The 2026 Tour de France Femmes route, starting in Lausanne, Switzerland, and finishing in Nice, France, is the longest and hardest to date. It includes Mont Ventoux, the “Giant of Provence,” which rises to 1,909 metres and is considered one of the most challenging climbs in world cycling. The 2026 race marks the first time the women’s peloton will climb Mont Ventoux, which forms the Queen Stage of the Tour.
Laura will ride the same ascent just 24 hours before the professionals. “As an amateur rider, the thought of climbing Mont Ventoux is both exciting and intimidating,” she said. Not being a professional athlete makes the challenge even more remarkable.
The cause is personal for Laura, whose mother was diagnosed with blood cancer last year. She credits advances in treatment and care for her mother’s recovery and wants to help others access life-saving support. Cure Leukaemia funds research nurses and clinical trials across the UK.
Laura aims to raise £10,000 to support the charity’s work, specifically for the ATICUS Network, which enables all children to access clinical trials. She recently visited Birmingham Children’s Hospital and met Dr Sarah Lawson, witnessing the work being done for children with cancer and blood disorders.
As a deaf cyclist, Laura has faced challenges but believes her experiences have built the resilience needed for this goal. She hopes her journey will inspire others and raise vital funds for families affected by blood cancer.
Donations can be made via justgiving.com/page/laura-ganderton. Follow Laura’s updates on Instagram: @lganderton.