A Scottish cycling charity challenge has officially joined forces with professional cycling race, the Tour de France. Le Loop, which was formerly known as Tour de Force, gives “ordinary” cyclists the chance to ride the Tour de France route.Riders can choose the full supported route option of one of 21 stages.
Entries to Le Loop 2018 open on Wednesday July 19, 2017. There are 40 places to ride the full 21-stage tour and another 60 riders can secure a guaranteed place on the Loop of their choice. They will finalise their selection at the end of October once the exact 2018 route is released.
The early release gives 100 riders the security of knowing their place is guaranteed, enabling them to start training and fundraising.
Le Loop 2018 will start in the Vendée – Pays de la Loire on June 25 and will end after 21 stages and around 3,500km of cycling in Paris on July 17.
By signing up to one of 10 Loops, riders can experience between two and all 21 stages of the tour.
The event supports the William Wates Memorial Trust, which helps the UK’s most disadvantaged young people to avoid a life of crime and violence and fulfil their potential.
Riders commit to fundraising a minimum target depending on which Tour Taster they choose. For the majority, this will be £1200. To date, the Tour de Force/Le Loop has raised more than £3 million.
A spokesperson for Le Loop said: “Anyone who has ever watched a stage of the Tour de France knows just how hard it is.
“With Le Loop, it is possible for an amateur cyclist to take on the entire gruelling ride themselves, or even ‘just’ take on a couple of stages without the pressure of a race.
“They get to tackle the cols, cobbles and climbs seven days ahead of the pro peleton and a week later, watch the pros in action on those same stages.”
Rick Wates, of the William Wates Memorial Trust, says: “Le Tour is an immense challenge for any cyclist. Seeing riders tough it out on the roads of France is always impressive.
“Just like the pros, teamwork helps them pull through some stages and at other times, it’s down to the individual to dig deep to reach the stage finish.”
See Le Loop.