Scots cyclists pedal Tour de France route to raise £891,000 for cancer charity

Amateur cyclists from West Calder and Glasgow are among a team of 18 who have completed the full 2,000 mile Tour de France race route to raise a gargantuan £891,000 for charity.

Keith Vance, 46, rolled down the Champs Elysees at the end of last week after completing all 21 gruelling stages of the world famous cycling race as part of The Tour 21. The annual endurance challenge sees amateur bike riders tackle the whole route just one week ahead of the professionals, with the cash raised supporting Cure Leukaemia.

Along the way, architect Keith, dad Allan Dickson and the rest of the squad - which includes Crystal Palace footballer and cancer survivor Geoff Thomas - have endured energy-sapping mountain climbs, 40C heat at the peak of the European heatwave, broken bones, crashes, punctures and illnesses. But sadly along the way Allan, who joined the event after his daughter was diagnosed with cancer, had to drop out following a positive Covid test.

Gutted Allan said on social media: "Wasn’t the way we’d planned the finish of this epic adventure. Not something we really have any control over. However, we did manage 14 stages, 2,388km & 97,880 ft vertical elevation on some of the most iconic TDF mountains including The Galibier & Alpe d’Huez.

"Thank You, thank you, thank you to everyone who took the time to follow our journey, for all the love & very generous donations you’ve given to date."

But those who were able to keep going, along with reserves, arrived in Paris three weeks after setting off from Copenhagen to rapturous applause from friends and family. The Scots have raised more than £40,000 between them for the cancer charity after completing the arduous mission.

The equipe was spurred on during its journey by an