Meet The Team
- Isabel Ashford
- Dr Katharine Patrick
- Aishwarya Prem Renu
- Kate Chandley
- Nicola Laurenson
- Fatima Adnan
- Victoria Clarke
- Lauren Ganderton
- Madeline Walsh
- Kathy Haberman
- Natasja Barclay
- Natalie White
- Michelle Slusher
- Casie Pitman
- Michelle Sharland
- Claire Morris
- Jetta Dorling
- Jill Willis
- Zoe Burton
- Lucy Obolensky
United Kingdom
Q. How does it feel to be riding The Route in 2026
“Riding the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me and one I never dreamed of being able to participate in. I’m excited, nervous and proud but above all I’m so grateful to have this opportunity to connect with other like minded females. We will share our journey of joy, pain, awe and inspiration and come home with memories and friendships that will last a lifetime”
Dr Katharine Patrick
United Kingdom
Q. How does it feel to be riding The Route in 2026
I am a consultant Paediatric Haematologist at Sheffield Children’s Hospital. My job is treating children and young people with leukaemia and those undergoing stem cell transplants. Cure Leukaemia are doing an incredible job raising money to fund the Aticus Network. This is a pioneering project to bring research studies straight to children undergoing stem cell transplants and ensure that every child having a transplant in the UK has access to the latest advances in medical care. I know this will make transplants safer and more effective and will save the lives of children who have no other chance of long-term survival.Outside of work I love running and cycling and I hope that the huge challenge of cycling the Tour de France Femmes route will be an amazing opportunity to highlight the work of Cure Leukaemia and raise vitals funds for a cause I feel so passionately about.
Aishwarya Prem Renu
India
Q. How does it feel to be riding The Route in 2026
Being part of this team and preparing to ride the route of the Tour de Femmes 2026 means so much to me! I’m super excited (and honestly a little nervous) about the challenge ahead in preparation. What makes it even more special is knowing this ride is for a cause that’s really close to my heart and it feels amazing to be a small part of something bigger!I am most excited to meet a wonderful group of strong, determined women from diverse backgrounds and learning from them through our shared love for cycling. I have also never ridden in Europe, so I am excited to attempt some of the legendary routes that will be part of the Tour De Femmes while also being able to see and cheer on the professional athletes!
Kate Chandley
United Kingdom
Q. How does it feel to be riding The Route in 2026
Im so excited (and terrified) to be part of the Route 2026 team. Taking on this challenge in my 40th year, alongside an incredible group of strong women, feels like the perfect way to mark a milestone and support a really important cause.As a relative newcomer to cycling, I’m especially looking forward to taking on the challenge of a lifetime – my experienced cycling buddies have universally told me I’m absolutely mad – and I suspect I’ll have to dig very deep to drag myself up all those mountains! But nothing worth doing in life is easy!
Nicola Laurenson
United Kingdom
Q. How does it feel to be riding The Route in 2026
I’ve followed the evolution of the Tour de France Femmes since before its launch in 2022, so the chance to ride the same route just a day ahead of the pros is incredibly exciting. I’m looking forward to the camaraderie, the challenge, and the chance to be part of something truly special.Being selected to ride as part of the Route 2026 team feels absolutely incredible. It’s a huge honour to represent Cure Leukaemia and take on such a meaningful challenge. There’s a real sense of pride knowing that every mile we cycle is helping to fund life-saving research. It’s also quite daunting, but I’m ready to give it everything I’ve got.
Fatima Adnan
Iraq
Q. How does it feel to be riding The Route in 2026
I’m most excited about experiencing the different iconic routes — the climbs, the scenery, the atmosphere — and turning every kilometer into a step toward raising vital funds to fight blood cancer.It feels surreal — a mix of nerves and excitement! I feel proud to join such an inspiring team of women, all passionate about cycling and determined to make a difference together.
Victoria Clarke
United Kingdom
Q. How does it feel to be riding The Route in 2026
Being part of the team for The Route 2026 feels an incredible honour – to be cycling the same roads that’s the pros are going to be cycling just a day later is such an exciting prospect and with the knowledge that we are raising funds for a charity which is transforming the lives of children diagnosed with Leukaemia is a once in a lifetime opportunity. As a young adult a childhood friend was diagnosed with Leukaemia and being part of a Cure Leukaemia trial gave her treatment that might not otherwise have been possible which, over time, has enabled her to stabilise her condition and live a relatively normal life while living with CML and still continuing daily treatment. I recall feeling helpless when she was diagnosis, so for me, this is an opportunity to show my gratitude for the treatment she was able to access through the trials.
Lauren Ganderton
United Kingdom
Q. How does it feel to be riding The Route in 2026
The Two Wheeled Goose’s greatest adventure to date, possibly ever! I am excited and nervous in equal measure. The Tour de France Femmes is more than an iconic event, and it is such a privilege that little ol’ me gets to be part of it. I am honoured to support a great cause while putting myself out of my comfort zone. There is some hard training ahead of me to get ready for the monumental challenge, and I hope to inspire other women in the process.
Madeline Walsh
United Kingdom
Q. How does it feel to be riding The Route in 2026
I’m absolutely over the moon to be part of The Route 2026 team. My mum survived leukaemia when I was a baby, so supporting Cure Leukaemia is a cause very close to my heart. It is going to be a huge challenge but an incredible achievement. I can’t wait to meet the rest of the team!
Kathy Haberman
USA
Q. How does it feel to be riding The Route in 2026
Awesome to apply my interests in medical research, cycling and travel to help make a difference in blood cancer patient care
Natasja Barclay
New Zealand
Q. How does it feel to be riding The Route in 2026
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Natalie White
United Kingdom
Q. How does it feel to be riding The Route in 2026
It feels incredible! Cycling has become such a huge passion of mine, and I’m so grateful for the chance to ride as part of a dedicated team. The 9 stages will be a huge challenge, but one I’m genuinely excited to take on. Sharing this journey with an amazing group of women who have the same drive and determination will push us all to achieve something really special.Earlier this year, I was diagnosed with an incurable blood cancer, and that gave me a powerful personal reason to take on this challenge. Raising funds for Cure Leukaemia means helping children, families, and people like me, and combining that cause with something I love makes this challenge feel truly meaningful.
Michelle Slusher
United Kingdom
Q. How does it feel to be riding The Route in 2026
I feel simultaneously excited, inspired, privileged, and slightly terrified. Watching the Tour de Femmes every year always brings me a jolt of inspiration and a little envy, and being able to get out there and experience it in real life, (albeit at much slower speeds), is kind of a dream come true.To be able to do it for a purpose, raising funds for Cure Leukaemia, and more importantly for the kids they will be supporting, gives me a reason beyond a challenging bike ride.
Casie Pitman
USA / Bahrain
Q. How does it feel to be riding The Route in 2026
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Michelle Sharland
Switzerland
Q. How does it feel to be riding The Route in 2026
It is a real privilege to be a part of The Route 2026. I am looking forward to riding with an inspirational group of women with a collective goal in raising vital funds for Cure Leukaemia while conquering an epic route, good enough for the Pro Femmes Peloton.
Claire Morris
United Kingdom
Q. How does it feel to be riding The Route in 2026
I’m truly honoured and grateful to have been given the opportunity to cycle with The Route 2026 team. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience that coincides with my 40th birthday year, making it even more meaningful. I know 2026 will bring my toughest physical challenge yet, but I’m certain it will also be an incredibly rewarding and unforgettable journey for all the right reasons.
Jetta Dorling
United Kingdom
Q. How does it feel to be riding The Route in 2026
Amazing! It’s such a privilege to be able to move your body and push yourself, so why not do something great with it that helps other people too? I’m also really proud to represent a bit more diversity in cycling. It’s not as common to see people who look like me in this space, and I think that visibility really matters.
Jill Willis
United Kingdom
Q. How does it feel to be riding The Route in 2026
I am thrilled to be included in this fabulous group of women, and it is a perfect challenge to raise money for blood cancer in memory of those close to our hearts.
Zoe Burton
United Kingdom
Q. How does it feel to be riding The Route in 2026
I feel incredibly excited — and honestly a little daunted! It’s an incredible privilege to be part of such a passionate and inspiring group of women, all riding for a purpose far bigger than ourselves.This summer my niece was diagnosed with leukaemia, and it’s turned something I already cared deeply about into a profoundly personal cause. As an anaesthetist in a children’s hospital, I work with children living with leukaemia, witnessing first hand the impact of new trials and treatments. Clemmie is now receiving a novel drug that wouldn’t have been available without this phenomenal research. Riding The Route for Cure Leukaemia feels like a way to turn helplessness into hope — channelling positivityand determination to fund research that gives more families a future.
Lucy Obolensky
United Kingdom
Q. How does it feel to be riding The Route in 2026
Being part of The Route 2026 team feels incredible, equal parts exciting as it is daunting. To be surrounded by such an inspiring group of women, to quiet my imposter syndrome of “am I good enough, and will I make it?”, and to ride in support of a charity that makes a truly meaningful difference—it feels like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that simply couldn’t be missed. I live in Kenya and only have a mountain bike as you can’t cycle on the roads here, so the training will be tough but so worth every minute.I was inspired to sign up for both personal and professional reasons. As a doctor, I see first-hand the devastation that leukaemia brings; not just for patients, but for their families too. On a very personal level, my daughter’s best friend, Coco, was diagnosed three years ago, and witnessing her courage, resilience, and determination has been nothing short of inspirational.Forty years ago, a diagnosis like hers came with a survival rate of less than 20%. Today, that figure is closer to 90%. That extraordinary progress is entirely down to research and medical advances, and none of it would be possible without charities like Cure Leukaemia. While it’s easy to donate small amounts here and there, committing to raising £10,000 is a real challenge in itself, and a powerful way of saying: this matters.
