Phoebe Wates

Le Loop - supporting the William Wates Memorial Trust

This July, my sister Ailsa and I are taking on 5 stages of the Tour de France route, including four back-to-back mountain stages in the Alps, and the final stage in Paris.

Along the way we'll be taking on some of the most iconic mountains in cycling, including Alpe d'Huez, the Col du Galibier and the Col de la Croix de Fer. The stats are a bit terrifying: 815km of cycling and 16,600m of climbing (that's nearly 2x the height of Everest).

We're doing this to raise money for the William Wates Memorial Trust, a charity incredibly close to my family, set up in memory of my uncle William. The Trust helps disadvantaged young people stay away from crime by giving grants to charities that engage young people through sports, the arts and education. 

At a time when it feels more important than ever to support young people and help them make the most of their lives, this challenge feels particularly meaningful to my family and I. Every penny raised goes directly to the Trust - none of it covers the cost of the ride itself. 

My transition to wearing lycra in public, spending far too much time with my Zwift avatar, and waddling around in cleats has been a humbling one. And I suspect no amount of channeling my inner Tadej Pogacer is going to make metre 16,599 feel bearable. If you're able to support - even a small amount - it really does mean a lot. Thank you!