The Tour 21, the endurance challenge which sees a group of amateur riders tackle the entire route of the Tour de France each summer one week ahead of the pros, has confirmed a roster of sponsors and partners ahead of the 2022 edition of the ride. The event, organised by Cure Leukaemia, the Official UK Charity Partner of the Tour de France, sets off on 24th June from Copenhagen before arriving 23 days and 3,328km later in Paris. The event aims to raise well over £1m in funding.
Returning as headline sponsor this year is Farr Vintners, Britain’s leading fine wine merchant, who have supported Geoff Thomas’s fundraising feats since 2017. Tying in with their official sponsorship of the Tour de France, Santini have joined Tour 21 as the Official Kit Supplier, with this year’s ride kit still to be unveiled. Santini will be kitting all riders out with all the cycling apparel they need to get through the 21 stages of the Tour.
Monica Santini, CEO of Santini Cycling Wear, said of the new partnership: “We are delighted to be partners of “The Tour 21” and to join forces with Cure Leukaemia. The 25 amateur cyclists will wear a special Santini kit dedicated to ‘The Tour 21’. We hope this partnership will help to increase the fundraising and accelerate Leukaemia research.”
Laurent Lachaux, Commercial Director of Amaury Sport Organisation, added: “We are very proud to build bridges between Cure Leukaemia and Santini, creating synergies for both of our partners. This partnership will strengthen the link that unites the Tour de France with Tour 21 and Santini while helping to create more impactful activities that are in line with the Tour de France long lasting charity action plan. A.S.O. is committed to help raise awareness of Cure Leukaemia and we hope that joining forces with a recognized international brand like Santini will help the Tour 21 to increase fundraising and accelerate Leukaemia research.”
British sports nutrition brand High5 will be fuelling the riders through their training and on the event itself as the Official Nutrition Partner of the Tour 21. For a second year running, CRX Compression will be joining The Tour 21 as the Official Recovery Partner and will see the cyclists resting their bodies after each gruelling stage using the latest compression wear firmly embedded in modern sports medicine practices. Their products blend insight, medical grade compression technology and styling that puts comfort and effectiveness first.
Specialized UK have also come onboard for 2022 as an Official Event Partner to help supply bikes to riders for the event.
Other technical partners of the event include MuscleFlo, as the Official Muscle Therapy Partner of The Tour 21, providing massage guns will be accessible to those supporting Cure Leukaemia by participating in events such as the Tour 21 to help pain relief within sore and stiff muscles, and the activation of both the nervous and immune systems.
Game Changer Performance (GCP), a human performance company, recently became the Tour 21’s Official Training and Performance Partner. GCP have already been putting the riders through their paces at two testing days at their St George’s Park base, home of the FA.
While Exhale, producers of organic healthy coffee, have recently been announced as the event’s Official Coffee Partner, helping to fuel and stimulate the amateur riders as they take on the arduous ride around France.
The team riding this year’s Tour 21 consist of a gutsy group of riders many of whom have been affected by Leukaemia and Cancer in their lives in one way or another. These range from the more experienced riders returning for another year, to some who only picked up a bike during lockdown and are jumping right in at the deepest of deep ends. They will be led, mentored and inspired on the ride by Cure Leukaemia Patron Geoff Thomas MBE, 56, returns for another year.
Other partners already confirmed include HCFX, sharedaccess, jmw, Booths, PaceUp Media and Andy Cook Cycling.
There’s still time to come on board for 2022 as an Official Event Partner or as a key technical partner. If you’re interested in discussing partnership opportunities with Tour 21 in 2022 and beyond please contact alex@cureleukaemia.co.uk.
For more information about the 2022 event, including the team riding, visit https://www.thetour21.co.uk/. You can also donate to the Tour 21’s fundraising efforts here.
