We are taking on an epic cycling challenge: Le Loop.
In July 2025, friends and Holiday Extras colleagues Ian Copley, Simon Hagger and Matt Paxton will be taking on the 2025 Tour de France route, riding the exact route taken on by the pros, a week in advance of the main Tour, otherwise known as 'Le Loop'.
Ian and Simon will be cycling the ‘Grand Depart’ covering 575 kilometres between Lille and Dunkerque, and Matt will be cycling the full three week Tour de France route, a total distance of 3,350 kilometres and 170,000 feet of elevation. To put that into context it is equivalent to cycling from Lands End to John O'Groats......and back again.......whilst at the same time going up Mount Everest six times!!
We will be raising money for the William Wates Memorial Trust. Since William's death during his gap year in Central America in 1996, his family have been striving to make a difference in his name. The William Wates Memorial Trust achieves this by identifying charities to which it can award grants, and invest in their vision to help the most disadvantaged, vulnerable young people keep away from a life of crime and violence, and fulfil their potential.
This will be a super tough challenge, involving months of training to fit in the hours and hours needed in the saddle to prepare for such long distances and elevations day after day. We will be funding all aspects of the trip ourselves, covering all travel, accommodation, food, drink, inner tubes, chamois cream, energy gels.… etc, etc! This means 100% of donations made will go directly to the William Wates Memorial Trust.
We would really appreciate your help and support in taking on this challenge, and contributing to an excellent cause.
With thanks
Matt, Simon & Ian
Thank you to our Sponsors

£500
Pack Foundation

£300
Cripps Llp
Bon courage pour le Tour! From all of us at Cripps

£108
Salome
Epic chaps. You got this 🚲💪. Very best of luck !

£106
Theo Zijlstra
Good luck guys! Brake a leg!!

£106
Sean Hagger
This is mad! Go get em Tigers

£106
David Norris

£100
David Copley
Good luck

£100
Anonymous

£100
David Elms
Enjoy Le Loop!

£54
Kevin Smart
Idiots

£50
Hugh Chappell
Best of luck!

£50
Stephen Copley
Enjoy!

£27
Enas

£27
Elliott Crush & Stefanie Kennett
What an awesome way to spend the sabbatical Matt. Once in a lifetime opportunity!

£27
Daniel Senderowich
wish you all the best of luck amazing challenge. Will be thinking of you going up Col de la Loze

£25
Kane
Amazing work you three. Good luck!

£25
Ruairidh Roberts

£20
Kim Skinner
Well done on all the training - enjoy the hills

£20
Tristan Macintyre-read
What a challenge! I've done the tour de France twice, however, that was in a car! Wishing all you the best for your epic adventure!