Damian Watson is doing it the hard way.

The former Wodonga Catholic College student is taking on what has been described as the most physiologically and emotionally demanding of athletic events — the Tour de France route.

Watson, 31, will ride this year’s Tour route to raise money and awareness for Crohn’s disease, a bowel disease that causes infla­mmation in the small intestine and can affect any part of the digestive tract.

There is no known cure but Watson, who was diagnosed with the disease in April 2002, hopes to raise $100,000 during his arduous 3500?km trek through Monaco, France, Spain, Andorra, Italy and Switzerland.

Trying to raise money and awareness of any plight is commendable, but there are certainly easier options than taking on an at times hellish ride that has been described as the equivalent running several marathons a week for nearly three weeks.

The journey will test his physical and psychological limits, and Watson admits he “doesn’t have a cyclist’s body type or a cyclist’s aerobic capa-city.”

But he is ready for the challenge.

“I want to see a cure for Crohn’s disease in my lifetime … and if this helps me realise that goal, then that’s the most important thing I could achieve,” he said.

“While I am determined to complete the course, if I don’t make it, I won’t see that as a failure.

“As long as I can achieve my goals, I will consider the project … a success.”

Watson grew up at Yackandandah before moving to Melbourne in 1996, and last week flew to Europe to prepare for the ride.

He is part of a team known as the Crohn’s Crusaders that includes his partner Marika Mulqueen and best mates Dale Buchholtz and Robert Merkel.

They start riding tomorrow, with the group scheduled to finish before the actual Tour starts on July 4.

And while Watson won’t be competing against the best riders in the world, he will have a constant battle with a more formidable opponent — himself.

On the eve of the Crusaders’ departure, Watson said the anticipation of the challenge ahead was a great motivating factor.

“I chose the Tour de France route because it’s the ultimate physical, emotional and psychological challenge for a cyclist,” he said.

“There are 21 stages including 10 flat stages and seven mountain stages with three mountain finishes.

“And for the first time ever in the Tour de France, there is a massive mountain stage on the second last day before riding into Paris.

“I’m trembling already … it’s going to be tough but it will also be great fun.”

Watson’s idea of fun may be somewhat skewed, but he hasn’t left anything to chance.

The keen cyclist has trained with vigour for the past year in preparation for the trip.

Starting in July last year with “a very light” ride of 41km, Watson progressively increased his distances to 100km in August and to more than 200km in October.

Overall, his preparation has ­totalled 7193km which has taken him as far north as the Gold Coast and back to his roots in the North East — as part of his mountain training schedule, Watson clocked 1000km in Victoria’s Alpine region.

Although he described the climbs around Falls Creek, Bright and Mount Hotham as “minuscule” compared with what he will encounter in Europe, Watson said they had prepared him well.

Overriding the pain of riding up and down some of Europe’s most intimidating mountains will be the determination to help find a cure for the disease.

“I aim to raise $100,000, (which will be enough to) fund a six-month research project to help find a cure,” Watson said.

“There is no cure for Crohn’s disease and I’m passionate about playing my part in changing that.”

Anyone interested in following the Crusaders or making a donation can go to thecrusaders.com.au, where daily video updates, an e-newsletter, screen shots from Watson’s heart rate monitor and Watson’s daily thoughts will be posted daily.