Hugh Knowles

Le Loop - supporting the William Wates Memorial Trust

Three Days of up in the Pyrenees for WWMT

In early July I am riding three consecutive mountain stages of the Tour de France route through the Pyrenees. 526km. 8,500 metres of climbing. 

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

This is in aid of the William Wates Memorial Trust which 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  give generously. THANK YOU!

It also seemed like a good way to mark a milestone

I turn 50 this year. And apparently my response to that is not a sensible weekend away or a nice watch (although not opposed to either in principle...cough), but to get very uncomfortable on a bicycle and climb some mountains using leg power. This includes 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....well nothing says denial about getting older more than pretending you still have what it takes to do something stupidly hard.

More on Le Loop (which is a really brilliant thing)

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. It is a brilliantly organised event and raises a fantastic amount for WWMT every year.

I'm (only) 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. Last time I tried this I got to the end of a stage and had to be lifted off my bike because I could not lift my legs up. Yay...fun!

Thank you for anything you donate and Merci!