Le Loop 2025 – “Every Inch, Every Mile”

How did I get started?

Le Loop is an amazing organisation that raises money for the William Wates Memorial Trust, a charity that helps thousands of disadvantaged young people reach their potential. They do this by organising a fully supported Tour de France experience, with a brilliant team of staff taking care of every detail. There’s no better support out there for this kind of event!

Why did I do it?

I was retiring at the end of 2024, I’d already done it in 2019, and I love cycling — so why not go for it again?

Note: Always check with your family before committing. They sacrifice just as much as you do!

How to prepare

Get a training plan.

The Tour de France is not to be taken lightly: 3,500km and 50,000m of climbing over three weeks. You could just wing it and ride, but for the best chance of finishing, you need a structured plan that fits your life, your fitness, and includes regular progress checks.

For this event, training is about consistency and sustainable improvement. Alphastate Coaching helped me the whole way, tailoring sessions to my fitness and goals. Over 10 months, we steadily built fitness. This was no “12-week FTP buster” — it was long-term, sustainable gains.

What did the plan look like?

Welcome, Zones 1 and 2!

Over 8 months, I logged 8,000km of cycling, with more than 80% in Zones 1–2. That might sound easy, but “going slow to go fast” doesn’t sit well with a competitive brain. You have to trust the process — and it paid off. I started with an FTP of 272 and finished close to 300.

How did the actual event go?

Thanks to the training, I rode every inch, every mile — all 21 days of glorious hills, valleys, mountains, gorges, and endless fields of sunflowers and lavender — alongside a group of warm, passionate cyclists.

The weather tested us with everything from 5°C mornings to 45°C heat. Thunderstorms, fog, sideways rain, and blazing sunshine — it was a true resilience test.

Logistics were another mountain: constant kit changes, endless packing, daily coach transfers. It wasn’t unusual to get to bed at 10pm, then wake at 5am for another bus to the start.

And of course, the unexpected: roadblocks, dug-up roads, pitch-dark descents, even cows! A strong fitness base was the key to staying calm and handling it all.

Friends and memories for life

This event creates friendships and memories that last forever. Amazing people from all walks of life came together, bonded by suffering and the shared determination to finish.

With Alphastate Coaching behind me, I felt strong from day one, and that strength grew each stage. The training, nutrition planning, and testing paid off — by the time we hit Paris, I still had the energy to sprint down the Champs-Élysées cobbles.

Stage by stage highlights

Early stages & heat

We gathered in Lille, buzzing with nerves and excitement. The goal: survive and enjoy the ride. Northern France gave us sunny days, punchy climbs, and stunning scenery.

Stage 2 was brutal — 209km with tough climbs, followed by sweltering stages hitting 40°C. Staying disciplined with hydration and pacing was key. A rainy time trial added drama when I forgot my wet-weather gear. I went all-in to stay warm, smashed the Strava time for our group, and froze. Lesson learned!

First big test — Stage 10, Massif Central

4,400m of relentless climbing, seven categorised climbs, and wild weather: 37°C sunshine, dense fog, and cold rain. I did more jacket changes than a pantomime wardrobe!

Pyrenees

Stage 12 started with 100km before the first mountain — a real leg-sapper. The final climb of the Hautacam nearly broke me. Next day, a “recovery” mountain time trial, then a monster stage with four huge climbs. I nearly stopped on the SuperBagnères after under-fuelling, but a friend dragged me through. Lesson: never ignore nutrition discipline!

Mont Ventoux

A game of two halves: 160km flat, then the beast. Scorching hot again, but with some serious self-talk and an ice cream boost, I made it. The 20km forest descent was magical.

Alps & fatigue

Stage 17’s headwinds set us up for the Queen Stage: 5,500m climbing, three 2,000m+ summits, ending at Col de la Loze (2,340m). The final 7km was part gravel, at 16%. Brutal.

We descended freezing, in the dark, then had to climb back up another col to reach the hotel. Finished at 11:30pm. Back up at 6:30am. The Tour is relentless. Riders were dropping out daily — just staying in the game felt like a victory.

Jura & the final push

A stunning stage turned into a battle against cold and wet. Several riders had to abandon with hypothermia — heartbreaking so close to Paris. I pushed on with two others, generating heat by sheer effort, until the sun returned.

Finally: Paris. A long coach transfer, then a fun stage through Montmartre — dodging tourists up cobbled 8% climbs — before finishing at the Arc de Triomphe.

3,500km. 50,000m climbing. Friends for life.

Summary

This event is not to be taken lightly. You need:

1. A sustainable training plan
2. Nutrition testing and planning
3. Strength & conditioning
4. Support that balances training with family life

The reward? An unforgettable journey and friendships across the globe.

Le Loop raised nearly half a million pounds this year to help disadvantaged young people — that’s the real win.

Would I do it again? As one repeat rider said: “I’m never doing this again… again… again.”

See you in 2029.

👇 More Training Resources:

Need Help Structuring Your Plan?

At Alpha State, we’ve helped dozens of athletes prepare for and complete their first event — and for many, it was just the beginning.

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