The prestigious Tour de France is underway. The 21-day cycling race is famed for its scenic and challenging routes. North Texas has a strong biking community that’s watching the race from afar, but a man from Aubrey will get the chance of a lifetime to see the Tour de France up close and perso nal. Tim Connor, 50, became a cycling enthusiast after deciding to donate a kidney to a neighbor while he was living in Oklahoma. “During COVID, I started riding my bike more consistently so I could lose some weight in order to be able to donate a kidney to a neighbor,” said Connor. That act of selflessness turned into a love for cycling. Now, Connor is an avid rider who takes part in group rides when he’s not working. Later on this month, he’ll pack up his bike and call France home for 10 days to watch the Tour de France and ride in parts of the country. “So this year I turned 50-years-old, and on my bucket list was to actually go to the Tour de France this year. So somehow I’ve talked my wife into a bucket list trip to France,” He explained. Connor, who is a husband, father and grandfather, is celebrating more than just his trip around the sun. I’ll get to join the final stages of the Tour de France this year, while also celebrating our anniversary and doing some other things while we’re in France. So I am super excited in the coming weeks to be able to be a part of the tour live and in person,” said Connor as he chuckled with excitement. He and his wife, Julie, are marking 27 years of marriage. “Every time I choose to do a ride out on the road, I’m not doing that with my wife; she’s not a cyclist. So being able to put together a trip that is obviously celebrating an anniversary and doing something that she loves, hiking through the mountains and then being able to do the part that I love, which is cycling for the entire day around the Tour de France, we are so excited and looking forward to this trip,” said Connor. Stage 8 of the Tour de France will air on NBC 5 on Saturday, July 11. People can watch the remaining stages daily on Peacock. ...read more read less