The Alps and on to Paris
And so to our final week of the 2026 Tour – the Alpine stages, Time Trial and the final run into Paris.
We’re used to having the odd day of extreme heat on tour (as well as the odd cold and wet day), but this year has been unique for the heatwave that we met in Barcelona and has never left us. As a result, we took various measures as the temperatures continued to rise.
Stage 17 was our first ‘Alps’ stage. But with heat of 37 degrees forecast (remember, that’s in the shade) we took the decision to shorten the stage by cutting out the first section of the stage – a big loop up into the mountains above Chambery. The pros had made the same decision for their stage 9 and we knew (as did the cyclists) that it was the right call. While of course we know that riding every km is the goal of every Looper (and we do everything we can to facilitate that), temperatures this high presented too great a risk to everyone.
The result was a really great, shorter day that ended at a hotel with aircon and a pool.
The big story of the day though was the epic ride put in by our charity visitors from Free to be Kids; Dan and Jayden. Dan’s talk on the evening of our rest day reminded us all why we’re here – to provide opportunities for young people facing real disadvantage in life – those who don’t have the opportunities we perhaps take for granted.
Jayden is the product of Free to be Kids – a fantastic young guy who grabs opportunities with 100% enthusiasm. He was taken on his first residential with the charity when he was 10, and started to learn how to manage his emotions, behaviours and see ways to channel that energy and enthusiasm into leadership.
Now he is a leader working with younger kids going through the same system – a role he relishes as a ‘big brother’ character. He clearly loves it and thrives on it. His relationship with Dan, his mentor, is a beautiful thing. They’re clearly close – with Dan providing a strongly grounded, positive male influence in Jayden’s life.
For them, Le Loop has been an opportunity to have an adventure together, solidifying their friendship still further, and acknowledging just how far Jayden has come. They took on stage 17 with energy, enthusiasm, positivity (did they ever stop smiling?) and determination. Nothing was going to stop Jayden riding all the way to the finish hotel. They got a well-deserved hero’s welcome on arrival. What a total pleasure and honour it was to have them with us on tour. Chapeau gentlemen!
On to stage 18 which took us straight from the hotel (circumnavigating roadworks laying fresh tarmac for the pros) and into our first Cat 1 climb of the day. What goes up, must come down – for those who love descending this was a whooping drop down to feed stop 2. A flat oven-like drag along the valley bottom was followed by a very hot and long climb to feed stop 3. Even for those who chose to ride the Lite option today (from feed stop 2), this proved too much in this heat and several riders jumped into the back van for the rest of the stage. Sensible decisions given the risks of heat stroke.
For those riders more acclimatised to the heat, they rode on with more rolling climbs until the final steep climb up to the ski station of Orcieres-Merlette for a tartiflette dinner watching the sun go down from a restaurant terrace.
Next up, stage 19 which pulled us into the really high Alps. It was wonderful to be joined by William’s brothers Jonny and Monty who cheered us on (Monty having ridden the previous 2 stages with us, as well as a couple of stages from Barcelona). It’s always great to have the Trustees with us on tour. 100km of beautiful mountain roads (including the climb and gorgeous descent off Col d’Ornon) brought us to the meaty end of the stage – the final 21 hairpin climb up to Alpe d’Huez. A real ‘bucket list tick’ for any roadie, it was important to leave enough in the tank for this final tough challenge. Bravo to all you Loopers who made it – no mean feat!
Our final stage (20) of the Alps Loop was always set to be the most intimidating of the tour: the Queen Stage – a full 171km and an eye-watering 5,600m of ascent. This is also the chosen Etape du Tour stage. After impressive overnight thunder storms, we gingerly descended the storm-debris-strewn 21 hairpins to the official start line in Bourg d’Oisans in the valley bottom. From there, a series of enormous climbs: first the Croix de la Fer, then on to the Telegraph and Galibier for that feeling of being on top of the world! Another descent and then on to the foot of Alpe d’Huez once more for the alternative route up the Col de la Sarenne. A long long stage and a seriously tough one.
We waved fond farewells to our brave and determined Mountains Week and Alps Loopers in Alpe d’Huez, before the coach transfer down to Evian on the shores of Lac Leman to ride the Time Trial stage 16. The sharp-eyed might have spotted we had jumped ahead on our rest day to stage 17 – this is because otherwise, we would have overlapped with the closed-road event that is the Etape du Tour – stage 20 for amateurs in their droves. By moving stage 16 to the Saturday before Paris, we also bit off a chunk of the unpleasantly long coach journey to Paris. At a mere 26km, this was a hoick up hill into lovely farming countryside, before a speedy drop back down to the lake for a picnic lunch and a cooling swim before the rest of the transfer to the outskirts of Paris.
And so – to our final stage 21. It was a relaxed and happy group of cyclists who gathered to ride the 130km into Paris from Thoiry. No pressure – just the chance to savour all that they have achieved. We stopped for photos and lunch at Versailles, before the final run into Paris via Montmartre, the Eiffel Tower where friends and family joined us to cheers us in – and the ride up the Champs Elysee to the Arc de Triomphe. What an extraordinary 3 weeks it has been.
As always, we celebrated with a dinner cruise on the Seine – speeches, drinks, food, laughter, a few tears. It’s emotional.
Trustee and Chairman of Le Loop Rick Wates rejoined us in Paris and spoke for us all:
“You have ridden to the absolute limit on this extraordinary journey. You have battled truly historic heat, fatigue and all the myriad of challenges that the Tour can throw at you. You’ve shared laughter, encouragement and plenty of suffering in equal measure. And you’ve done it not as professional athletes with team buses and domestiques, but as extraordinary people with extraordinary determination. I don’t think any of us could be more proud of what you’ve achieved this year. To our Loopers and our Grand Loopers. Chapeau! …
But what has always made Le Loop so special is that the story doesn’t end with the finish line in Paris. All of your incredible achievements have been transformed into something bigger:
And that is, that through your fundraising, you are giving young people opportunities they might never otherwise have had.
Over the past three weeks, many of you have met young people and mentors from Onwards and Upwards, Community Cycle works and Free to Be Kids. You’ve seen first-hand the extraordinary work that they do.
Our charities don’t simply run programmes. They change trajectories.
They provide trusted adults who believe in young people before those young people believe in themselves. They create safe places where children are seen, heard and valued. They build confidence, resilience and hope. They show young people that their future does not have to be defined by the circumstances they were born into.
Sometimes all it takes is one person to say, “I believe in you.” And because of everyone here, many more young people will hear those words”.
Vive Le Tour! Vive Le Loop!
