My name is Kyle Martin and welcome to 3 Grand Tours For Teenage Cancer Trust, a non-profit fundraising website. In 2013 I have challenged myself to cycle 10,000 km in 63 days when I will attempt to solo cycle the 3 Grand Tours of Europe – the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a España.
Just like my Tour de France For Teenage Cancer Trust ride in 2012 it is a memorial cycle ride for my late father Bob Martin and once again I’ll be cycling as a fundraiser in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust, a charity devoted to improving the lives of teenagers and young adults with cancer. In 2012, with help from family, friends and local businesses, we raised £5,464.63. In 2013 we’d like to raise £10,000 – as little as £1 for each kilometre cycled.
Many people hold a secret ambition to do something amazing in their life. For many years mine had been to ride the Tour de France. In the summer of 2012 I fulfilled that ambition when I successfully undertook the challenge of soloing the 2012 Tour route. This year I hope to fulfil another ambition when I will go one better (well, two actually) and ride all 3 Grand Tours.
In 2013 – 3 Grand Tours: The Giro, Le Tour & La Vuelta
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Tour de France, 2012
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In 2012 I fulfilled a lifelong ambition when I successfully undertook the challenge of soloing the 2012 Tour route. The challenge was simple. Supported by my wife Kay I cycled a stage each day, exactly like the professionals, starting one week before them.
About Teenage Cancer Trust Every day in the UK, six teenagers are diagnosed with cancer and at Teenage Cancer Trust they understand that cancer doesnât stop these teenagers being teenagers. They know that young people have a much better chance if they are treated by teenage cancers experts, in an environment tailored to their needs.
So Teenage Cancer Trust have created specialist units that arenât like ordinary cancer wards. Everything about them has been designed to give teenagers the very best chance of a positive outcome. And they want every teenager and young adult in the UK with cancer to have that chance.→ Official Website |
2012 Tour in Pictures |
The Grand Tours of Europe A Grand Tour refers to one of the three major European professional cycling stage races – the Italian Giro, French Tour and Spanish Vuelta. They occur each year, usually in May, July and September respectively, and last for 3 weeks. Each tour has 21 days of racing with 2 rest days and a total race distance of up to 3,500 kilometres. The routes vary each year and include a mix of flat and mountain stages.
Over the years only a handful of riders have ridden and completed the Giro, Tour & Vuelta in the same year. It is rare for a professional cyclist to even start all three tours in one year. And for those that do – usually sprinters and their lead-out men – the aim is to win stages and retire from the race before it reaches the high mountains. In fact, only 32 riders have ever ridden all three tours to their conclusion in the same year. |
The 2013 Giro route was unveiled in Milan on 30th September 2012. The total race distance is 3,455 km and it will start in Naples on Sat 4th May and finish in Brescia on Sun 26th May.
The 2013 Tour route was unveiled in Paris on 24th October 2012. The total race distance is 3,404 km and it will start in Porto-Vecchio on Sat 29th June and finish in Paris on Sun 21st July.
The 2013 Vuelta route was unveiled in Vigo on 12th January 2013. The total race distance is 3,359 km and it will start in Vilanova de Arousa on Sat 24th August and finish in Madrid on Sun 15th September.