Good luck to Scottish adventurer and round-the-world cyclist Mark Beaumont as he sets off today to take part in the 2013 edition of the Trois Etapes in the French Alps. The charity event also sees 15 pro riders racing, including Tour de France winner Carlos Sastre, former Garmin-Sharp riders Andreas Klier and Daniel Lloyd, World Champion Evelyn Stevens, Team MTN Qhubeka’s Songezo Jim, Gent–Wevelgem winner Lars Michaelsen, Paracycling World Champion Colin Lynch and Madison-Genesis riders Joan Horrach and Liam Holohan.

The Trois Etapes has already raised an amazing $3.2 million for good causes in just 12 months.

What is the Trois Etapes?

The Trois Etapes provides a fundraising platform for 15 charity teams. Last year’s event raised $1.7 million for charity partners making it the largest pro-am charity cycling event of its kind and one of the largest in sport.

The event is designed to give riders the chance to experience team cycling under race conditions, with the full support that a pro would have in a Grand Tour; it includes a flat Prologue and three mountain stages.

The event is also designed to incentivise tactical team riding. Each team of eight riders (seven amateurs and one pro) has its own team car and Directeur Sportif. Every rider has a radio link with their team car and the Race Director.

The Tour de France style stages include:

PROLOGUE: Les Albiez

Distance: 9.5km

STAGE 1: Orelle – Col du Glandon – Orelle

General Classification: Col du Glandon

Distance: 20km

Climbing: 1,424m

ETAPE 2: Orelle – Col de l’Iseran – Orelle

General Classification: Col de l’Iseran

Distance: 56km

Climbing: 1,720m

ETAPE 3: Orelle – Col du Chaussy – Col de la Madeleine

General Classification: Col du Chaussy & Col de la Madeleine

Distance: 16km + 14km

Climbing: 953m + 1,126m

GC1: Hermillon – Col du Chaussy

GC2: Montoudras – Col de la Madeleine

The event has helped raise funds to have a positive impact on the lives of young people from North London to Rwanda, on communities from the Himalayas to Angola and from wounded British service personnel to the families of those battling Prostate Cancer.

Charities taking part in the event include SHINE, Anne Frank Trust, Right To Play, Walking With The Wounded, Shooting Star CHASE, Prostate Cancer UK, Empower, World Bicycle Relief, 1001 Fontaines, dZi Foundation, Qhubeka, Smilekers and FPDVS.

See Trois Etapes