Climb Every Mountain (to Paris!)
For our 3rd and final blog of the 2025 Tour, we’re heading away from the mighty Pyrenees through stages 16 to 21.
Stage 16 is of course happening for the pros as I type! The iconic Mont Ventoux mountain which weirdly rises independently out of the dusty flatlands of Provence, with its moonscape cap. Despite this climb not appearing until the final kilometres of a 172km day, it was everyone’s focus. It’s known for being a beast with heat beating down on heads, but with some judicious dunking in the water fountains before the climb, several riders managed to bring their core temperature down for the grand finale climb up to the radio tower. A bucket list climb (though still not a first for many of our Loopers – in fact, for one rider this was ‘probably his 20th’ ascent! Chapeau). A HUGE day.
What followed could have been something of a recovery ride if it weren’t for the howling headwinds that are prevalent in this region. Stage 17 became more of a suffer-fest and demanded strong team work riding in groups to reduce the wind’s impact. Another tough stage, but made far more inspiring by the company of our 2nd charity visitors on Tour.
Tom and Abdel from the brilliant Football Beyond Borders joined us for this stage and Abdel did himself proud by riding around 120km of the stage – an immense effort achieved through sheer grit determination.
Abdel’s talk to the group after dinner was particularly moving as he explained his early school years where he was disruptive, bullied, unhappy and at risk of exclusion. Football Beyond Borders visited the school, took him under their wing and over several years provided him with weekly one-to-one mentoring.
Gradually, this turned things around for Abdel, who went on to get fantastic GCSE grades and is now in his 2nd year at Uni studying software engineering. He’s gone from a disruptive, potential school drop-out, to a lovely young man with a bright future ahead. He made a huge impression on us all and we all wish him the best success in his future. Thank you Abdel and Tom for bringing the impact of our fundraising efforts to life and giving us all the motivation we needed for the remaining mountain stages … mountains all the way to Paris!
Stage 18 – The Queen stage of this year’s tour was seriously daunting: over 5,500 metres of climbing, over three massive climbs – Col du Glandon, Col de la Madeleine – and finishing at the highest point of the whole Tour – the 2,304m Col de la Loze above Courchevel ski resort.
Luckily the weather was kind and the scenery glorious for those able to look up from the tarmac. Anyone new to the Alps was given an absolute treat – they were at their finest with the mountain-top finish bathed in Alpenglow. A stage that really did deliver in spades.
But it was another huge day on the back of so many huge days and the fatigue, particularly for our Grand Loopers, was really beginning to show and for some, the wheels were coming off. Some took a bit of time off to recover (unusual – which shows just how very tough this year’s route has been) while the rest of the peloton soldiered on for stage 19 – our final proper Alpine stage. The route from Albertville to La Plagne covers familiar territory with the gloriously photogenic Lac and Cormet du Roselend. Today was cowbells and great pastures (and climbs!) and ticked all the Alps boxes. We also had a ‘treats’ lunch with pizzas and tarts (we needed it!). Of course, there are no easy wins, so the stage finished at the top of a mountain in La Plagne – any excuse for another climb in this Alpine trio.
Our Alps and Mountains Week riders left us here after dinner for their transfer to Geneva. They did us proud, tackling probably the toughest Alpine stages we’ve ever ridden. We are filled with respect and awe at their tenacity, grit and good cheer. They embodied all that makes us proud of our Loopers – bravo!
And so to the final 2 stages of the 2025 Tour for our 2nd Half Loopers and Grand Loopers. A wet morning in the peaceful Jura chilled some riders to the bone – but a hastily re-arranged lunch stop provided cover and a chance to warm up as the rain finally abated and the sun returned. With so many kms in the legs, this was a mentally tough day just to stay riding the bike. But we were so close to Paris that most dug deep enough to find the necessary determination and reserves.
But the Jura is a long way from Paris, so continuing with this year’s theme of coach transfers, we hopped onto another coach towards Paris and a late night hotel to rest our heads for a few hours, before a 2nd leg the next morning to our Paris start.
At last! Paris! A soggy start, but not enough to dampen spirits. We’ve made it! A blast past Versailles and into the city for the obligatory Eiffel Tower shots with many friends and family there to cheer us in. Always wonderful and emotional! Then a loop up to Montmartre, followed by the Champs Elysee to the Arc du Triomph (more enthusiastic whooping and cheering) before the spin to our hotel and a quick change in time for our celebratory dinner on the Seine. And all of a sudden, the 2025 Tour has come to an end!
Our superb riders have raised over £434,000 for the William Wates Memorial Trust and the funds are still rolling in. We’re hoping to reach £455,000 this year which would be a STUNNING achievement. We’ll announce the final tally right at the start of September.
Meanwhile, we’re all just going to have a little rest … maybe watch the pros on telly … maybe eat some more food (that hunger will continue for a few more days still) … maybe have another nap … and just let this moment sink in. What an incredible adventure it has been. Bravo everyone – we’re SO proud of you all.
And if you’re reading this and think that this sounds like the kind of cycling adventure you’d like to be a part of, make a note in your diary for this coming Friday, 25th July at 9am – when we open sales for 2026!
Vive Le Loop!
Vive Le Tour!
