PJ

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Le Loop and the William Wates Memorial Trust

Le Loop follows the official route of the Tour de France, 1 week ahead of the professionals and finishes 21 stages later in Paris

On Saturday 27th June 2026 around 100 riders will gather in Barcelona for the 'Grand Depart'. Some cycle a few days, some ride further. More will join us over the following 3 weeks of the tour.

I will ride the full 21 stages of the Tour de France route. As all participants, I've committed to raising a minimum amount for the William Wates Memorial Trust (WWMT). The fundraised money is entirely separate from the participation fee - donations do not pay for my Tour

All monies raised go directly to the WWMT 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.

Covid has shown me how hard it can be for young people to make their way in life. This is a chance to give something back and help young people who aren't lucky enough to enjoy the advantages in life that I'd assumed were universally shared.

I know le Loop is a BIG undertaking, the biggest I've done so far. Riding even ONE stage of the Tour de France route is going to hurt! Please reward my pain by giving generously for the young ones.

Merci!

My Achievements

My Updates

Several steps back, one good trip

Saturday 21st Feb
It's winter and I caught 2 colds in a row. I'm still coughing, so February is essentially a write off. That's OK, my training plan adapts automatically.

And not everything is bad: I'm off to Norway to try and see the Northern lights. One of my bucket list items.

A step forward in training

Monday 2nd Feb
This is the kind of workouts TrainerRoad prescribes. That was the 1st Sweetspot. The previous day's 4 hour ride was gentle, but that one was still really tough.

Macro view of my training plan

Saturday 24th Jan
TrainerRoad periodises my training plan. I'm at the moment in a Specialty phase, so it lines up more intense workouts. In March it will cycle back to Base (more long and easier rides for a few weeks) then Build for another few weeks then Specialty again.
Then, it will be time for Le Loop!
Between now and then I'll throw in a couple of 200km or 300km rides, to get used to riding with serious fatigue and practice on the bike nutrition. The 1st one will be Gently Bently.

What things do I use to train?

Monday 19th Jan
Like all engineers, the tools I use are important to me. 

Starting with an indoor bike, because riding in the evenings in London is not safe, even less productive. I put an old bike of mine on a Wahoo Kikr.
To make things a bit more interesting, I ride in the virtual worlds of Zwift.
To make things a bit more efficient, Training Road has built a training plan with daily workouts.

More about this later.

Start of the year

Saturday 10th Jan
After a great New Year celebration in the world capital of Food, Lyon, I looked at my bike and... I got a cold.

I'm looking at it a week later and it's calling me!
Gotta leave you now, I've got a workout to go through.

Thank you to my Sponsors

£259

Rowena Ironside

£222.60

Julian Ayling

Bon courage PJ

£106

Pj Champault

£106

Sarah

Bon voyage! Have a great ride! Really like the cause you are supporting!

£53.32

Nicolas

Bonne chance PJ. Superbe projet complètement dingue comme tu t en rendras compte le jour du prologue .

£53.32

Allister Wood

£52.12

Kurt Stueber

Good luck from a fellow DIRT teammate. I love the challenge and purpose.

£50

Gavin Mitchell

You got this PJ, have a great ride at Le Loop

£37.47

Ian Mcneill

Good on you PJ. Hope you raise lots of money and have a great time

£32.23

Andrew Curry

From a less engaged member of Chiswick Cyclists. That’s a lot of training!

£27.05

Graham R (dirt)

Some people would dream about doing this - for me it would be a nightmare ... and I LOVE cycling!! I know you'll smash it.

£27.05

Andrew Morris

Are you nuts? Have fun - if you can

£27.05

Simon Morrison

£27.05

Ray Foss

£26.45

Arjen Joosse

Ride On my fellow DIRT rider!

£25

Paul Macdonald

Good luck PJ! That's some serious mileage to cover!

£25

Andria Njoku

Wishing you the best of luck Sensei

£21.84

Narinder Dhillon

Amazing ride and charity - good Luck

£21.84

Évelyne Et Rémi

Bravo pour le défi, et l'engagement ! Ce sera magique d'y être, profite !!

£21.84

Mary Dixon-woods

£21.84

Andreas Christophides

Good luck PJ, have a great ride!

£21.36

Bobbi

A fantastic cause, good luck and enjoy the ride PJ

£16.20

Ben Corston

Bon chance, PJ!

£11.33

Jc

Très impressionné par ton projet Pij, un peu fou non ? Comme on !

£10

James Turner

A true epic - chapeau

£10

Luke Charman

Ride like an Android!