Le Loop - supporting the William Wates Memorial Trust
Le Loop follows the official route of the Tour de France, one week ahead of the professionals and finishes 21 stages later in Paris
On Friday 26th June 2026 around 100 riders will gather in Barcelona for the 'Grand Depart'. Some cycle a few days, some ride further and others will dip in and out over the following 3 weeks of the tour. I'm aiming to do the whole thing.
All monies raised go directly to the William Wates Memorial Trust whose mission is to help the most disadvantaged young people keep away from a life of crime and violence and fulfil their potential. This is achieved by giving grants to charities that engage young people through the medium of sports, arts and education.
100% of funds raised go to the charity -donations do not pay for my Tour.
It's been a tough couple of years for charities and particularly for young people. This is my chance to give something back and help support young people who aren't lucky enough to enjoy the advantages in life that most of us take for granted.
Le Loop is no small undertaking. Putting in the hard yards training beforehand and then riding the whole thing is going to hurt! Please incentivise me not to cop and reward the pain by giving generously.
Merci bien!
My Updates
The pain in Spain
Tuesday 24th Mar
Upping the target
Monday 16th Mar Having set a target of £5k to raise, that has been reached today thanks to the r amazing generosity of friends and family. Happily most of the family are friends too!
One week in
Sunday 15th Mar Why anyone would be interested in a blog from me is a complete mystery but I'm told it will help with the fundraising so it would be churlish not to give it a go.
And so it begins ....
Thursday 5th Mar
Thank you to my Sponsors
£520
Patti Money-coutts
£520
Max
Mad ride but i am in awe
£259
Bronek
Ben If it’s two wheels, why not a motor bike?
£214.12
Mark Colvin
Good Luck Ben! I wish I could join you.
£212
Ryan Brown
Incredible challenge and am sure you will channel all that inner steel to monster it!
£200
Penny M-c
£200
Tosh
Rather you than me - but then again I know you enjoy punishment.
£200
Malcolm Glyn
Best of luck . Well done. A proper challenge!
£150
Zach Money-coutts
How is it your fitter than me at 60 something years old!
£115
The Kevilles
At your age! Fantastic and very tough challenge. Massive chapeau to you - good luck.
£106
Ian Little
Bon chance mon brave!
£106
Adam Scott
£106
Charles Hobhouse
Easy for those lovely legs. Have fun in the middle as well as at the end. A&C
£106
Liz And George Weber
The very best of luck, just remember that it’s in a good cause. X
£106
Piers Lea
Hi Ben - that’s impressive and sounds like a great cause!
£106
Hugh Dickson
You’ll smash it!! (The challenge rather than bike or bones!)
£106
Christian
Looking forward to seeing you during my much more modest participation of the route!
£106
The Sorbinators
Ben Money Coutts, always giving the best reproduction advice!
£106
Jonathan Bevan
You. Will. Win.
£106
Penny Money-coutts
£106
John And Sara Jervoise
Great effort Ben, best of luck !
£106
Divine Family
Good luck!!!
£106
Chris Money-coutts
Putting us ‘young’ ones to shame! Keep up the good work Dad, Freddie, Claire and I are cheering you on.
£103.60
Olof Winkler
You must be SO amazingly fit ! Wishing you strength
£103.60
Suzan Winkler Von Stiernhielm
From Suzie , what a fantastic effort ( to come ) . Much success !!
£103.60
J Vingegaard
Don’t forget the Vaseline, Ben…smash it!
£103.60
Crispin Latymer
£103.60
Andy Cawker
Madness! Good luck, and enjoy. (And don’t forget to tell IT about your travel plans!)
£100
David Cooke
Good luck Ben, it looks like a proper effort!
£100
Nicholas Dawson Paul
Ben - Wishing you all the best for a truly heroic endeavour!
£100
John M
A quite phenomenal challenge Ben, what an inspiration you are to the rest of us retirees.
£100
Ewen Gilmour
Wow - hell of a cycle ride. Best Wishes
£79.50
Diane Trepagnier
Good luck, Ben, from Diane and David!
£79.50
Teresa And Curt Craighead
Good luck! Right hard!
£53.32
Team Mizen
Go Ben!
£53.32
Pete Dolan
Good luck Ben, what an incredible challenge
£53.32
Paul Watson
Looking forward to seeing you walk like John Wayne after all that! Good luck with it all!
£53.32
Mike Cuthbert
Sounds like a fun ride! Good luck!
£53.32
Mark Mulrooney
Good luck!
£53.32
Jules Brown
Remember, I’m only paying for the uphill bits.
£53.32
David A-s
Madman! Dx
£53.32
William Utten Todd
How can we watch your progress?
£53.32
Mark Hobhouse
I AM MOST IMPRESSED. Well Done.
£53.32
Howard Burchett
fantastic effort, see you down the quins one day if we have not lost faith
£53.32
Jane Lanyon
Huge admiration (for alcohol abstinence as well as massive physical effort) and the cause sounds very well deserved. Good luck - I’ll be rooting (& routing) for you. Jane x
£53.32
Christopher Butler
£53.32
Abi
Good luck! Hope you make it before the pros come through!
£53.32
Julia
Good luck Ben !!
£53.32
Jane Mumby
Rather you than me Ben! Best of luck for such a worthwhile cause.
£53.32
Paul Andrew Abberley
Good luck! Take a packed lunch.
£53.32
Simon Waddington
Don't forget to use a dab of Charlie's chainoil!
£53.32
Andrew Didham
All the very Best Ben. Regards Andrew
£53.32
Mike
Good luck Ben! Great adventure.
£52.12
Daniel Southgate
Good luck Ben!
£50
Patrick Symington
Chapeau Ben!
£50
Alverne Bolitho
An extraordinary effort Ben. Man must be mad. Huge good luck
£50
Peter Maccoll
£50
Whippet
Bonkers but brilliant - if I was 50 years younger I'd join you! Good luck from the Whippet
£50
Phil Barker
£50
Alistair
Good luck on the ride Ben. One big challenge but for a very good reason. Best wishes, no flat tires and some great padded cycle shorts in order.
£48.04
Philip Davies
Bon courage!
£34.93
Peter Hutst
Good luck Ben. £1 a km!
£27.05
Magnus Wheatley
Good luck mate - wonderful to do the Tour!
£27.05
All Other Things Zoggy
£27.05
Jq
Good luck! Amazing challenge and charity. All the best x
£27.05
Alex
Great cause Ben. All the best with this amazing venture
£27.05
Aki Atkins
May the wild always be on your back and the sun shine for you everyday…
£27.05
David Woodcock
Ben , hope you acheive your aim to such a worthy cause. Great job.
£27.05
Colin Berthoud
£27.05
Rob Wildsmith
good luck Ben!
£27.05
Barbara Trepagnier
Keep us posted on your progress!
£27.05
Anne Planner
Ben, great cause all the best. Xx
£27.05
Nik Tall
£27.05
Daniel Underwood
Best of luck Ben, I hope the legs hold up!
£27.05
Charles Seligman
Good luck!!!
£27.05
Mark Greenwood
What a huge challenge good luck and well done great cause
£27.05
Matthew Byrne
Good luck!
£27.05
Richard Todd
Best of luck dear Bim!
£27.05
Mark Bartlett
Best of luck Ben and great effort- enjoy the ride!
£25
Elizabeth Hitchcock
Good luck Ben!
£25
Robin P
Hope you've invested in a good bike fit to go along with the shiny new set of wheels! Good luck 👍
£25
Kathryn Kendall
Good luck Ben!
£25
Paddy Mccgwire
Ben - you are a nutter!
£25
Howard
Ride well, looks a great thing to do.
£25
Seb Moore
What a fantastic achievement this will be and all in support of a brilliant cause. Good luck Ben!
£21.84
Jessica Bone
Good luck Ben - amazing cause ☺️
£20
Peter Heath (froyle)
Bloody amazing Ben. I can't even begin to imagine the pain and distress you will be in towards the end. Marvellous effort.
£20
Guy Prysor-jones
Best of luck Ben! An admirable challenge for a fantastic cause!
£16.56
Edward Clark
Looking forward to the photo of your dressed as a Lobster going up Galibier!
£11.33
Andrew Craig
£5.99
Oliver Platt
Here you go ben good luck
Smash it!