When British cyclist and six-time Olympic gold medal winner Sir Chris Hoy announced that he had been diagnosed with cancer in September 2023, the news was met with shock. Nearly a year later, he announced that his cancer was terminal. Sir Chris has been diagnosed with primary cancer in his prostate, which has spread to his bones and is now at stage 4.
Macmillan Cancer Support, which is a UK-based charity that provides support and information for people living with cancer and their families, explains that “Each cancer type has its own staging system. This usually uses numbers from 1 to 4 and sometimes letters to describe the cancer’s size and spread.” According to Macmillan, “Stage 4 cancer describes a cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. This is also called advanced or metastatic cancer.”
Tour de 4
Getting a cancer diagnosis, of any form, is devastating news. Sir Chris has launched the Tour de 4, which is “a brand-new cycling initiative, born from Sir Chris Hoy’s vision to change perceptions around stage 4 cancer following his own diagnosis.”
Chris’ vision is to bring together people who have been affected by cancer – whether directly or indirectly – to challenge perceptions, inspire hope and raise vital funds for cancer charities across the UK.
On 7th September 2025, Sir Chris Hoy is hosting an event which starts and finishes at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, Glasgow, Scotland and consists of 4 different rides of varying lengths. The purpose of the ride is to “demonstrate that a Stage 4 diagnosis, while devastating, doesn’t define the limits of what’s possible.” For more information and to join the ride, click here.
The ambition is to raise £1m to support cancer charities across the UK.
To help people train for this event, Tour de 4 have teamed up with Zwift.
Zwift
Zwift are hosting rides every two weeks until the end of May before switching to monthly rides throughout the summer. Zwift will match all charitable donations made by the community by up to £50,000. Those that complete the ride on Zwift will unlock the in-game Chris Hoy Tour de 4 kit. To contribute, feel free to click the following link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/tourde4-zwift, so far, a total of £30,404 has been raised, 61% towards the target of £50,000.
His next event on Zwift is on Saturday 19th April at 10:00AM BST. You can sign up here.
About Sir Chris Hoy
Sir Chris won six Olympic golds between 2004 and 2012 which is the second-highest total by any British Olympian behind Sir Jason Kenny’s tally of seven and he is also an 11-time world champion. He has 17 global titles across four disciplines, which makes him the second most successful track cyclist.
In addition to his cycling achievements, he has published three autobiographies. The latest is called “All That Matters,” published in November 2024 and it is a Sunday Times bestseller.
About Prostate Cancer
According to Prostate Cancer UK, it is the most common cancer in men, and if you’re over 50, or you have a family history of the disease, then your risk is even higher. Current statistics highlight that 1 in 8 men are impacted. To get more information, visit the Prostate Cancer website Prostate Cancer UK, and take their online checker, which takes 30 seconds to complete.
Summing-up
Sir Chris Hoy’s journey from Olympic champion to cancer advocate highlights the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Through the Tour de 4 initiative, he aims to inspire hope and challenge perceptions of stage 4 cancer, while raising vital funds for cancer charities across the UK. Support Sir Chris by joining him on his next ride on Zwift on Saturday 19th April at 10:00AM BST.
