Meet the team
Le Loop is run by Sarah and Kate with lots of help from our lead cyclist and all the Trustees of the William Wates Memorial Trust.
We are joined on tour by an incredible team of around 30 staff: mechanics, signers, drivers, physios, masseurs and medics.
They are the best in the business!
Sarah Perry manages Le Loop throughout the year and on Tour. She makes sure that everything goes smoothly and everyone has a fantastic time.
She has spent 25 years working in travel and although she has been lucky enough to cycle in some fascinating places (China, Cuba, Egypt, Jordan, Kenya, Russia, Vietnam…), she’s a firm believer that France is best.
Kate Norris works with Sarah on pre event organisation and in particular with the fundraising. A lot of you will speak to her during the year.
She has worked organising events and travel for over 25 years and is as comfortable on a road bike as she is on her mountain bike or tourer. She often joins us to ride a few stages of the tour.
Rick Wates is a Trustee of the William Wates Memorial Trust and enthusiastic Chairman of Le Loop. The other family Trustees of WWMT are Andrew and Sarah, William’s parents, and his brothers Tim, Jonny and Monty.
Will’s family are deeply committed to all aspects of Le Loop and actively participate in the event (with varying degrees of athleticism).
Ben Davies is our lead cyclist. Ben is an experienced ultra-endurance cyclist and qualified cycle coach. He has spent the past 14 years racing and touring extensively through Europe, the Americas and Africa, podiuming in the Transcontinental Race and TransAm Bike Race and cycling solo from Canada to Argentina.
Ben is looking forward to the unique challenge and camaraderie of Le Loop and sharing the road with all the riders and team.
Le Loop Ambassadors are a special group of cyclists who have participated in previous years’ events.
They have taken part in both the cycling and fundraising aspects of the event with massive enthusiasm and are ready and willing to share that with you!
If you would like to be put in touch with a Le Loop Ambassador to ask questions before or after signing up, please ask.
Le Loop staff – mechanics, drivers, signers, medics, physios and massage therapists – are the best in the business and return year after year to work on the Tour.
They are endlessly cheerful, professional and enthusiastic and play a major role in helping you keep body and mind together … not to mention keeping your bikes in good working order.
Friends & Partners
ORRO bikes are a brilliant British bike producer based in Sussex. Their passionate team build beautiful bikes with the highest quality parts to ensure that every ride is a special experience.
ORRO provide the back-up bikes on tour, ensuring that you won’t miss a pedal turn of your Le Loop challenge. Even if you experience a serious mechanical problem, we’ll lend you an Orro bike whilst our mechanics mend yours.
Vegware is a brilliant company that produces compostable food service packaging – low carbon, made from renewable or recycled materials, and all can be recycled along with food waste.
Being an ethical and altogether sensible and lovely company, they’re massively supportive of community projects and fundraising, so we were thrilled when they agreed to donate all the products we need for serving food and drink on tour. Thank you Vegware!
On Your Bike is our favourite bike shop for everything! Not only are they the most efficient, friendly bike shop in London, but they also offer discounts to Le Loop cyclists on kit, services and bike fits.
They handle all of our bike pick ups and drop offs in London and get rave reviews every year from the cyclists who make the most of their offers.
They’re also the only place in London for reliable road bike hire.
Yellow Jersey provide insurance for cyclists. They understand our event and our logistics, particularly regarding our handling of bikes. Their travel insurance and (separate) bike insurance is available to Le Loopers with a 10% discount. They’ll also donate a further 10% to WWMT. Win win! Learn more here.
The Dartmoor Classic Sportive is an annual cycling challenge, organised and expertly run by Mid-Devon Cycling Club.
There are three route options to choose from; 38, 68 miles or 110 miles.
We’ve enjoyed a really friendly relationship with the Dartmoor Classic for several years, and in 2020/21 the WWMT was their chosen charity partner, raising over £4,000 from participant donations.
Rocacorba Cycling is a premium cycling destination located in Banyoles just outside Girona, Spain. Home to professional cyclist Ashleigh Moolman Pasio, Rocacorba Cycling offers fully customised cycling packages.
The quiet surroundings and comforts of the renovated 17th Century Villa are the perfect location to explore the climbs and coastline of Catalonia.
Read more about Rocacorba Cycling.
For anyone struggling through a tough winter of training, a turbo trainer could make all the difference, but they’re expensive to buy and take up a load of space during the warmer months while they’re mothballed.
So when we met the team from Turbo Trainer Hire, we thought this could be really useful to our riders. Check out our blog which explains more, and if you book using this link, they’ll even make a small donation to WWMT for every rental.
Happy training!
We work with as many as 11 brilliant bike shops throughout the UK and event into The Hague. They make our brilliant bike transport service possible. They all offer deals on parts, services and kit to our signed-up riders too.
Once signed up, you’ll have access to our bike transport logistics page in your Rider Account. Check them out there!