Miles for more Melanin

Ayesha McGowan Rides 2025 Tour de France Femmes Route to Fund Opportunities for Women of Color in Cycling.

This summer, retired professional cyclist and diversity advocate Ayesha McGowan will take on the route of all nine stages of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes from July 22-30, 3 days before the professional women’s peloton, in a groundbreaking fundraiser called Miles for More Melanin. 

Mostly self-supported, she will be joined by ultra-endurance cyclist Emily Chappell for Stages 2 through 9. McGowan aims to raise $30,000 for Thee Abundance Project, an initiative dedicated to creating pathways for women of color in competitive road cycling.

McGowan will tackle the 2025 Tour de France Femmes route which includes Stage 1 from Vannes to Plumelec, a short but punchy 79km opener featuring the Côte de Cadoudal climb, Stage 5 from Futuroscope to Guéret stretches 166km, the longest day, and the queen Stage 8 from Chambéry to Col de la Madeleine finishing atop the punishing 2,000m Alpine climb.

“This isn’t just about riding hard, it’s about riding for change,” says McGowan. “Every kilometer is a statement that women of color belong in this sport at every level.”

Founded in 2021 as an offshoot of McGowan’s company, A Quick Brown Fox, Thee Abundance Project, powered by Liv Cycling, SRAM, and a community of Patreon supporters, provides direct support to women of color in cycling through race fee sponsorships, workshops, instructional camps, and fully supported racing opportunities. The program has supported over 80 BIPOC women and funded over 900 days of racing around the United States with goals to support racing opportunities in Europe within the next two years.  

The Riders: Ayesha McGowan made history as the first African American woman to race professionally in the World Tour with Liv Racing. Emily Chappell, author, adventure cycling legend, and former Transcontinental Race winner, Chappell brings her trademark resilience to the cause.

“Thee Abundance Project is proof that real change happens when companies and communities invest directly in riders,” says McGowan.