Foster City cyclist rides Tour de France route

Held right before the major professional cycling race, Tour 21 is a leukemia fundraising event, and this year, Twoy was one of only 18 in the world who completed the 2,200-mile route through the French countryside, a notoriously challenging route with mountainous terrain. This year, the race started in Lille on the northwestern side of the country and ended in Paris.

Several decades prior, Twoy’s close high school friend died from leukemia at just 18 years old, which, in addition to his personal ambition, made the race particularly meaningful.

“He never had a family, never graduated. He missed out on life, so it just brought back a lot of memories,” Twoy said. “I never forgot about him.”

Five of the 18 cyclists were from the United States, two, including Twoy, were from California.

Despite the grueling route, Twoy did lots of his training in almost the opposite environment — indoors and from an app called Zwift. But he still completed the route, and while the steep elevation gains were particularly difficult, he said some of the hardest moments were off the bike.

“You’re in a different bed every day. Sometimes you have to take the bus to the starting line,” he said. “Hotels would frown on us because we were always late for dinner, and every day you’re starting in a different location.”

Now back in the United States, Twoy, a retired accountant, still spends much of his time cycling both indoors and outside in the Bay Area. And even though there are plenty of other races in the area, he said there is nothing quite like the French route, which he hopes to complete again next year.

“It’s the ultimate race,” he said. “You and your teammates ride together and you do everything together. You live in the trenches. It’s a huge bonding experience.”