Entering Le Loop 2027

This week I officially entered the 2027 Tour of Tours with Le Loop — a three‑week endurance challenge built from some of the most iconic and demanding stages ever ridden in Tour de France history. It’s a huge milestone after a long couple of years: a High Tibial Osteotomy in 2023, plate removal in March this year, and a full Achilles rupture in June 2025. That rupture was the injury that stopped me riding Le Loop last year, when I’d hoped to take it on alongside Martin, a fellow Newbury Velo Club member. Martin has just finished his Le  Loop, and watching him complete it is both inspiring and terrifying as I start my own journey toward next July.

There’s still some rehab to finish. My knee surgery is now pretty much settled, and my Achilles is in the latter stages of healing, strong, stable, and finally behaving itself. On 23rd July I’m having a steroid injection to deal with a hip bursitis issue, which should clear the last remaining niggle before structured training begins.

From August, the real work starts: building durability, consistency and confidence over the next eleven months. This blog will follow the journey from the first training block all the way to the start line next July, and hopefully through the Tour itself, if time and sleep allow…!