Local optometrist has France in his sights

It's always liberating to scratch an item off your bucket list.

On July 18, Dr. Gordon Beange will get to do that as he rides his bike on an actual Tour de France route.

The Sudbury optometrist was selected as one of just eight Canadians selected by Oakley Eyewear to travel to France to ride with thousands of other cyclists from Saint-Jean de Maurienne to La Toussuire - Les Sybelles.

"At first when they called me I thought it was a joke, that maybe one of my friends was pulling a prank on me or something," said Beange.

The nearly 140 kilometre route is not for the faint of heart, as roughly 60 of those kilometers are climbing hills.

Beange, 57, has been cycling for more than 20 years and has conquered some difficult terrain and trails, but nothing quite like this.

"I've done distance rides and I've ridden trails in Whistler and California, but nothing that really compares to this route," said Beange. "My cardio is fine, and I can do hills, but there's really not much around her that can compare to the hill climbing in France. I think at one point there's a 14-kilometre uphill stretch."

The route is one stage in the Tour de France, and Beange and his group of riders will ride it the day before the actual race passes through.

Beange said he's hoping to just soak it all in and enjoy the ride.

"The ride is broken up in waves of 1,000, and it's by ability,” Beange said. “I think we're one of the last groups to go off. We're not racing. I'm hoping we can make some stops along the way to just take everything in and maybe get some photos."

As far as training for this ride, Beange says he's not doing anything that he doesn't normally do. He cycles two to three times a week, and the timing of this worked out well as he just completed the fundraiser Ride for Sight.

“I had been training for that ride so I feel like I'm in pretty good shape and I don't have to do too much training to prepare,” said Beange.

The experience is one that Beange said will be memorable, but he's also excited about the doors it may open in the future.

“Cycling is a passion of mine as I'm sure it is for everyone that was selected for this,” said Beange. “This is an incredible opportunity and I'm excited to meet some other cyclists and make new connections.”

Beange also thanked everyone who has supported his Ride for Sight fundraiser as well as Tour for Kids.

To view the route that Beange will be riding on July 18, visit https://www.strava.com/clubs/145034/group_events/59443.