31-07-2025
Kilgetty cyclist completes Le Loop's Tour de France route
Ceri Stone, from Kilgetty, took on the challenge once again as part of Le Loop, a charity ride that follows the exact course of the Tour de France, just one week ahead of the professionals.
This year's route covered more than 3,500 kilometres and more than 55,000 metres of climbing over 21 days.
Mr Stone, who grew up in Begelly and was educated at Pentlepoir CP and Greenhill Comprehensive, is believed to be the first person from Pembrokeshire to complete the feat.
He said: "This year's tour was the toughest so far.
"I put it down to two reasons: the first is that I was ill for the first three days of the event and regularly had to stop for comfort breaks in cornfields.
"I don't know how I made it through those first few days.
"I put it down to determination and resilience and also the fact that I have been so well supported by my sponsors that I could not let them down."
Le Loop raises funds for the William Wates Memorial Trust, and this year's ride has already brought in £435,000.
Mr Stone is a member of the Pembrokeshire Dragons Cycling Club and credits the club with helping him prepare for the challenge.
He is also the author of Le Loop, How to Cycle the Tour de France, which tells the story of his 2019 ride.
This year's route began in Lille on June 28 and was described as the toughest in more than 50 years.
Only about half of the 50 riders who started the challenge completed every stage.
Mr Stone said: "Despite all of this I somehow found an inner resolve to ensure that I made it to Paris, having cycled every single inch of the route.
"I have now cycled 71 stages of the Tour de France, but I am pretty sure that is my last."
At 58, Mr Stone celebrated his achievement with a glass of champagne in Paris, though he says he isn't ready to commit to riding the tour again just yet.
