Hugh Knowles

Le Loop - supporting the William Wates Memorial Trust

Project 50: Three Days in the Pyrenees for WWMT

I turn 50 this year. And apparently my response to that milestone is not a sensible weekend away or a nice watch (although not opposed to either in principle...cough), but to sign up for three consecutive mountain stages of the Tour de France route through the Pyrenees. 526km. 8,500 metres of climbing. Including the Col du Tourmalet  - which is one of the most famous climbs in cycling - partly because it is over 17km of not very easy up. 

Most sane amateur cyclists sign up for the Etape which is one stage of the Tour. Three back to back is what happens when a man approaching 50 mistakes stubbornness for fitness. Nothing says denial about getting older more than pretending you still have what it takes to do something stupidly hard.

What is Le Loop?

Le Loop sends around 100 riders out to ride the official Tour de France route, one week ahead of the professionals. Some ride a few days, some ride further, and a hardy few ride all 21 stages to Paris. I'm riding the Pyrenees Loop, stages 4, 5 and 6, from Carcassonne to Gavarnie. The last stage alone is 186km with over 4,000m of climbing, which is the kind of number that looks fine on a screen and significantly less fine on the road at hour seven.

Why I'm doing this (apart from having a midlife crisis)

Every Le Loop rider commits to raising money for the William Wates Memorial Trust, and this is the bit that actually matters. WWMT supports the most disadvantaged young people in the UK, funding charities that use sport, arts and education to help kids stay away from crime and violence and find a better path. Every penny raised goes directly to the Trust — donations don't pay for my Tour.

It's been a tough few years for charities and particularly for the young people they support. I'm in a position to do something about that, even if the "something" involves pedalling up mountains until my legs file a formal complaint.

The ask

I need to raise a minimum of £1,200, but I'd love to smash that. Whether it's £5 or £50, it all goes to helping young people who haven't had the advantages most of us take for granted. Please reward my midlife crisis by giving generously.

Thank you and Merci!