Mummu Cycling have been traveling the world, running premier cycling holidays in Europe since 2010. In 2017, highly decorated Australian former professional cyclist, Stuart O’Grady partnered with the company to provide a unique level of exclusivity, inside access and knowledge into the world of professional cycling and a look into the inner sanctum of the sport that cannot be found elsewhere.

Stuart has a lengthy, impressive list of palmarès from his 20 year-long professional career. Most notably – his Paris Roubaix 2007 victory, Gold medal in the 2004 Olympic Games Madison + a total of four Olympic medals, double World Champion on the track and 17 time Tour de France contender. To add – In 1998 and 2001 he wore the yellow leaders jersey for a total of nine days.

Best Guided Cycling Holidays Europe

Since partnering with Mummu Cycling, Stuart has played a pivotal role in ensuring the best guided cycling holidays in Europe are delivered. His level of knowledge and expertise on all things cycling ensure guests an exclusive opportunity to experience the world’s best, biggest bike races side by side with a former winner and top contender of many of the selected world-class events targeted.

Included in Mummu Cycling’s guided cycling holidays in Europe are the Spring Classics; From the Tour of Flanders, to the Ardennes Classics and of course, Paris-Roubaix. As a former winner (2007) of what most state as the hardest one day event in the sport, it’s hard to beat the opportunity to be guided along the very same cobbles he won on and ride into the iconic Roubaix velodrome alongside him. Stuart will share many-a memory throughout and to top, with his victory and honour of the race, comes the famous Roubaix ‘showers’ where his name is proudly engraved alongside other legends of the sport and victors of the race. The experience is unique and certainly a key part of delivering the best cycling holidays in Europe.

As an official Tour operator, Mummu Cycling’s biggest cycling holidays in Europe take place in July for the race that everyone raves about – The Tour de France. Throughout Stuart’s 20-year career, he impressively tackled the gruelling three week Grand Tour 17 times. The number of contentions alone is outstanding, so to then add multiple stage victories and a total of nine days wearing the yellow Maillot Jaune leaders jersey, is nothing short of exceptional.

Having raced there on so many occasions and also choosing to base himself in the South of France and use the incredible French terrain as his European training grounds throughout his career – it’s safe to assume he knows the roads and most famous Tour de France climbs and regions all too well. Add this to his countless race memories and stories to be told, as well as his impeccable level of skill and experience he’ll be sharing, will certainly make for a cycling holiday in Europe to remember.

In 2019, a succession of eight different trips will be available, including guided cycling holidays offering different itineraries. The ‘Pro’ experiences are more Tour de France atmosphere and race focussed, while the ‘Ride’ experiences are predominantly cycling focussed and on riding big kilometres. Non-ride experiences are also available for those who prefer to kick back and take it all in from VIP hospitality zones, champagne in hand!

Stuart O’Grady will also be leading the remaining two Grand Tour’s of the year and again, real must-do cycling holidays in Europe – The Giro d’Italia and La Vuelta a España. Held in the stunning Italy and Spain, both Grand Tours provide some truly spectacular bike racing. Stuart is also a two-time stage winner in the Teams Time Trial at La Vuelta and was a close contender on multiple occasions at the Giro d’Italia, so will undoubtedly have many fond memories to share, race tales to tell and roads to ride with Mummu Cycling guests.

PYRENEES PLEASE

For our final week on Tour we hit the Pyrenees with a BANG, kick starting our trip on the final Tour de France rest day in Carcassonne. Following a beautiful warm up ride on rolling, sunflower filled roads, we caught up with the Astana pro team. What a neat experience following their double stage success! Let’s just say the mood was high.

The next morning we were back to Carcassonne to enjoy some time exploring the departure village before being led around the team buses by Stuart O’Grady, who just so happens to be ‘mates’ with everyone in the peloton – even the yellow jersey himself! Thanks to riders and staff for taking the time to chat with us and take a snap or two for the memory books.

We then got our own taste of the Pyrenean mountains tackling the challenging Pic de Nore climb – tough, yes but incredible views a top and fantastic to get a taste of what was to come.

Next up was our Stage 17 experience. As the shortest stage in Tour de France history at 65km in length, this was a special one to be part of. We set out ahead of the race taking on the Col de Val Louron-Azet and half of the 16km brutally tough Col du Portet – steep, relentless and lined from bottom to top with excited spectators. An experience it was and fantastic to get a real understanding of the suffering to come for the riders.

We enjoyed the Stage from the best viewing spot on the mountain in the VIP Izoard where we were treated to incredible views, live race action, delicious French canapés and a rosé or two!

A special thanks to John Whitney from Cycling Plus magazine and Henry Iddon (photographer) for joining us on Tour for a few days, capturing some memorable moments and getting a taste of the Mummu Cycling difference. We look forward to reading about John’s experience!

The next day, we took on the final 60km of the Stage 18 route – covering gorgeous rolling roads before eventually crossing the official line just hours ahead of the race and then enjoying some podium and behind the scenes action. What a moment and topped off with premium viewing of the finish right on the line in the official VIP area. Safe to say, they came through a few k’s quicker than us, but hey – who got there first?!

To round out an incredible week in the Pyrenees,  we started our final day with an official roll off the Stage 19 start line in Lourdes, just metres from our hotel – what an experience being part of the actual Tour de France caravan and literally having the professional peloton chasing us down. The atmosphere and crowds were exceptional, cheering us on from km 0 as we tackled the first 40km on stunning undulating terrain. To top off a great ride and some team work to make our time cut, we set up road side for some lunch and watched the race blast by.

What a day and completed perfectly with a final group dinner in downtown Lourdes where we shared stories, memories to take home and enjoyed a few words of wisdom from Stuey.  Thank you to everyone who was part of our Pinnacle of the Pyrenees adventure – what a week!

PARIS WAS CALLING…

At last, the day we’d all been waiting for had arrived – the Grand Finale into Paris! We welcomed our new guests with a morning town bike tour of the beautiful city, before freshening up ahead of the final showdown on the iconic Champs Élysées. Our viewing spot in the VIP Grand Stand was hard to beat, positioning us a mere 50m from the finish line. Atmosphere was alive and excitement was contagious as the riders approached the pavé for the first time. From there, it was all action, oo’s and aa’s as we watched on in awe as the hungry peloton sped up and down with ease, eventually concluding with a tight and entertaining bunch sprint as Alexander Kristoff stormed to Stage honours and Team Sky crossed the line arms held high. 

Cheers to an incredible, action packed three weeks at the Tour de France and a big thank you to everyone who has been part of the Mummu Cycling ride – As Stuey would say, ‘It’s been EPIC’!

FEELING HOT HOT HOT

We will without doubt experience some warm days out at La Vuelta. If you’re in the middle of winter, we understand this may be a little difficult to wrap your head around! Try to include an indoor spin class or wind training session into your weekly schedule to get your body working in warmer conditions. Short-sharp sessions are also incredibly beneficial throughout the winter periods to maintain fitness and get in a solid workout in a timely manner. Easier said than done, when it’s dark by 6pm – yes, but you’ll certainly reap the benefits come September!

HYDRATION IS KING!

With the expected warm conditions, hydration becomes all the more important and vital to sufficiency and lasting the days on Tour. Practice making a conscience effort between now and La Vuelta to drink more fluids throughout the day, especially when exercising. Whether you’re in the Northern or Southern hemisphere – the same applies! Each day will be action packed on our trips and at times you’ll be jumping off the bike and straight into spectator mode. To make the most of each day – hydrate!

MASTER THE CLIMBS

Target a few longer climbs in your area (if you have access to). Aim to stay seated where possible to reserve energy and ensure you’re in a comfortable position for the climb. Many riders prefer to put their hands on the tops to put themselves in a slightly more up-right position when climbing. Give this a go and if not, stay in the hoods or mix it up throughout the climb.

During our La Vuelta experiences we will be tackling some tough, yet manageable climbs with varying gradients. Be ready for the odd steep pitch by selecting the right gear and being prepared to get out of the saddle where necessary. You should only need to get out of the saddle for a short period, to get through the ‘steeper’ section without loosing too much momentum. Sit back down as soon as allows, to ensure you reserve energy for the rest of the climb.

Don’t let the distance or average gradient of a climb daunt you. Some of these climbs may be a lot lengthier than what you’re used to, but trust us when we say, ‘you’ll be right’! You’re here for the experience, so take it km by km, at a pace within your comfort zone so you can soak up the incredible atmosphere and surroundings. 

DESCEND WITH CONFIDENCE

• There’s no such thing as a race downhill. Take your time on the descents and don’t worry about losing the rider in front – we will always regroup at the bottom. Try to relax, look ahead and enjoy the view where possible.
• To prepare for some longer, sometimes twisty, hairpin descents – work on your technique. Mastering technique is crucial to gaining confidence and eventually a bit of speed. Ultimately, descending should be fun when done correctly!
• Practice relaxing your upper body a little and only touching lightly on the brakes where needed. Brake (lightly) before entering the corner and not during the corner.
• Choose your lines wisely. When descending with corners, the way your enter and exit each turn can dramatically make a difference to your descent and confidence. Aim to enter wide and exit wide.
• When cornering, use your bike and weight to assist. Practice leaning your bike by putting your weight onto your inside hand and outside foot, while keeping the body upright. Your outside leg should be extended while your inside leg should be bent. The best way to really learn this skill is to kick back and watch the pro’s to see how it’s done from the best. You’d be amazed at how many pointers you can pick up! The other option is to get out into the hills with a more skilled descender and ‘follow their line’ as well as paying attention to technique and body positioning. 
• When you start to feel comfortable, practice getting into the drops when descending. It may take some practice and getting used to, but once comfortable, it really is a much better position for descending more confidently and safely as you are lower and more stable. 

STRESS LESS!

Lastly – don’t stress if you haven’t been able to get in the training time you’d hoped or expected. Our trips are more about the experience and although the challenge is there, if you want it – our rides are manageable distances and we are more focussed on you having a great time. So relax, and do what you can – stress less!

Week two for Mummu Cycling at the Tour de France on our Alpe d’Huez Explorer experience was nothing short of exceptional and we certainly left the Alps with some great memories and tales to tell.

We kick started the week in Annecy on the first Tour de France rest day, greeting our guests and stopping off on route to our accommodation at the Dimension Data hotel right on the lake front. We were welcomed warmly by the team staff and had the pleasure of chatting with Mark Renshaw on all things Tour de France and his experiences as one of the best lead out men in the world, being Mark Cavendish’s right hand man. Also, fantastic to get some behind the scenes insight from the team mechanic, directors and even the team chef who works tirelessly all Tour to prepare the best nutrition for the riders throughout the race. Fueling a full team of hungry, professional cyclists can’t be easy and to do it day-in-day out all from a food truck for three weeks is very impressive! All this, definitely made us more aware of the ‘team behind the team’s’ commitment to the final result, as well as the riders themselves.

From there, it was up and only up to our chalet where we would be enjoying some ‘mountain life’ for a few evenings, as well as a bit of climbing to test out the legs! Following a warm up spin and  a little taste of the hills, we enjoyed visits from a few of Stuey’s ‘mates’ that evening, including Jens Voigt, Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen. What a start to the week!

The next morning we were up and at em’ nice and early to make it to the start line for the professional women’s La Course departure. Fantastic to see the women roll out and show our support. In the end, proving to be a very successful event with exciting, aggressive racing and a battle to the line with World TT champion Annemiek van Vleuten eventually clawing her way past Olympic champion Anna van der Breggen to take the win. All in all, a fantastic display to showcase women’s racing and we were pleased to have been a part of it.

It was then time to chill out in the official Tour de France Race Village and take it all in over a coffee and a croissant as we watched the piles of team buses roll in and riders stroll through the village in cruise mode ahead of the stage – some more relaxed than others as the first official mountain stage loomed. We then had Stuey and Baden Cooke guide us through the teams introducing us to friends of the peloton and getting right up close and personal to our favourite riders. Hard to beat being led through the teams by two former legends of the Tour de France – there were certainly some friendly shout out’s and chats along the way from riders and team staff.

Following the race depart, we set off on bikes in hot pursuit of the race, conquering a climb or two along the way. Highlight of the ride was tackling the testing Col de la Croix Fry and getting a real taste of the Alps and the challenges that lay ahead!

Day 3 for us was a special one as we really became part of the Tour de France circus, joining the offical race caravan ahead of the Stage 11 depart in Albertville. As an official Tour de France Alps operator, this is one of the very best experiences we can offer and provides the perfect opportunity to truly feel like you’re part of the race. We rode through the start line – the crowds already going wild, clapping and chanting for the Mummu peloton. We then rode the first part of the stage on closed roads, lined with official TdF banners and excited spectators all set for the Stage ahead -almost every person cheering us on as we rode by grinning from ear to ear!

We eventually concluded our ride at our lunch stop for the day and set up roadside to kick back and await the race to roll by as Stuey and Baden gave us some live commentary on Stage predictions and team tactics. Very insightful and all up a fantastic day out on Tour.

Day 4 was all about the big one – the iconic Alpe d’Huez. We were on the road nice and early, our guests a bundle of excitement and nerves as they knew the challenge that lay ahead. Any hesitation or feelings of doubt were eliminated, however as soon we hit the base of the climb and were joined by countless other riders of all shapes, ages and sizes as well as the odd superhero, all sharing that same love and passion for the Tour de France – It was truly incredible to be part of the Alpe d’Huez madness and only more motivating being in the thick of the atmosphere to tackle the climb and reach the summit!

Stu and Baden led the pack and following a few snaps at the top and a moment to take it all in, they were off to chat with the SBS TV crew ahead of the challenging mountain stage that approached. Very cool to have the guys up there representing Mummu Cycling at the biggest race of the year and on the most iconic mountain in cycling. To say we were thrilled is an understatement. Thank you to everyone for tuning in!

From there, it was all about soaking up the crazy atmosphere and getting right in amongst the chaos as we set up camp not far from the ever-popular ‘Dutch Corner’ where entertainment was certainly at its peak.

When the race eventually flew by, we caught all the heart of the action from the GC contenders attacking one another, to the absolutely spent domestiques contesting the ‘race within the race’ just to make time cut. Crazy to see how quickly even the guys struggling at the back were going and even more respect having also ridden up there just hours earlier, now with a better understanding of the toughness and brutality of the climb.

Next up, we were off to Grenoble to settle in for the rest of our trip. To mix it up a little and give our guests a break from the mountains, the next day we set off along the Stage 16 route riding the final 50km ahead of the expected sprint stage. We had beautiful rolling French roads to start, followed by a very quick final run in to the finish. Baden led out the group and as we cruised the final 10km at 45km per hour we became confident pretty quickly that the Stage would be a fast one!

Following the ride we got spruced up and ready to hit the official Tour de France, VIP Relais Etape just 1km from the finish – where prime viewing, delicious French champagne and a a five course meal awaited. What a way to sit back, watch the race and discuss predictions as we watched the stage unfold over the roads we had just ridden, eventually proving to be another exciting finale with Sagan storming to victory in a tight and chaotic bunch sprint.

To conclude a fantastic week, we rounded out the trip with a day solely focused on riding and releasing any last bits of energy out in the Alps. A few guests had a little left in the tank, so when we hit the Galibier, the pack in tow behind Stu it was all-go. Safe to say, by the 15km mark everyone was in the hurt box. Conditions were tough as we experienced our first drops of rain and temperatures began to drop rapidly as we neared the summit of the epic 25km climb. This was the reality of the Alps and we were experiencing it! The Mummu crew battled through, however and arrived at the top exhausted, depleted but ecstatic to be up there. Another big climb ticked off the bucket list and some serious satisfaction to go home with. Word of the day – EPIC!

To end on a real high, we enjoyed a farewell dinner up a local Grenoble mountain to enjoy some stunning views and sunset over a delicious meal and great company as we shared highlights of the week, discussed adventures to come and ways to stay in touch.

Thank you to everyone who was part of our incredible week at the Tour de France in the Alps – it was truly awesome!

Join us in 2019 for another unforgettable Tour de France experience. Trip details can be found, here.

Check out Tour de France Alps 2019:

Tour de France Alps Pro Experience
Tour de France Alps Ride Experience

We’ve been lucky enough to get to know a few of the teams during our first week on Tour. Fantastic to get some insight from the riders themselves; the race, their preparations and a bit on what goes on behind the scenes.

Here, we had a quick chat with Mitchelton-Scott’s, Michael Hepburn. Michael – most commonly referred to as ‘Heppy’ is currently taking on his debut Tour de France.

The 26 year old, Brisbane born rider has been with the team since their inception and throughout his professional career has balanced his ambitions between the road and the track. He now carries a nice collection of Olympic and World Championship medals and since the 2016 Olympics has returned to full focus on the road.

Time Trial and Team Time Trial are his specialities, as well as his strengths as a committed domestique for the now highly GC focussed squad, backing the Yates brothers.

What does it mean to be riding your first Tour de France?

The Tour de France is the first bike race I ever heard of and I remember as a teenager watching TDF DVD sets for hours on end with my brother, so to finally be racing here is something quite special. There are a lot of races on the calendar right now but every rider is desperate to ride the Tour at some stage in their career.

You’re no Grand Tour stranger, having ridden the Giro d’Italia 4 times. How does the Tour (so far) compare to the Giro and/or other races?

It’s still early days in this race, but already you can feel the Tour is something different. Everyone’s shape is a little better, everyone’s a little more desperate for a result and that’s resulted in some hectic finishes with the finals starting a long way out. Sports fans from all around the world are looking at the Tour in July and it easily feels bigger than any other race.

The Team Time Trial was a real target for Mitchelton-Scott and you personally, being a big strength of yours. Well done on a great result, despite a few of the guys being a bit banged up from crashes the day prior. Were you satisfied with the performance?

All in all I think we can be really satisfied with our ride in Stage 3. We were involved in some crashes in the first two stages and unfortunately some of our big TTT drivers came down and banged themselves up. That’s racing and some other teams were in the same boat, but in the end we put in a really solid collective ride. We weren’t far off the front and of course winning would have been a magical feeling for us but we didn’t lose much time at all for Adam in the GC so we can be proud with the result.

What do you hope to achieve over the next few weeks before heading into Paris?

The main objective for us this year in the Tour is a result with Adam in the GC. We have some guys that are capable of going for a stage win at some stage but the primary focus is the GC. It’s a really well rounded team of domestiques, so we’ll be looking to support him whenever possible. A lot can happen in 3 weeks and from what we’ve already seen there’s never a dull day or moment to lose concentration.

FUN FACTS

Who’s your room mate on Tour? And don’t you get sick of each other after a while?!

I’m in the room with Mat Hayman here. He’s probably sick of me joking about his age but there are no problems from my side!

Cheekiest on the team?

At this Tour, Daryl Impey. Dazz is always good for a laugh and doesn’t mind geeing people up.

Grumpiest?

Anyone of us after we’ve had a filthy day or hit the deck. The 3rd week of a Grand Tour is when you really see people’s personalities. 

Most craved meal during a Grand Tour?

Patatas Bravas or a good burger. Luckily for us our chef Nicki is quite creative and will often spoil us with nice meals.

Miss (from home) the most?

Loved ones and my coffee machine.

Most looking forward to post TDF?

Not having to work off a schedule. Waking up when I want, eating when I want (not eating rice or pasta), having some super relaxed days and catching up with close friends from home.

We know you’re only 26, Heppy but do you think one day when you retire you’ll join Stuey and the guys on some Mummu Cycling tours? 😉

If I don’t have to suffer up the climbs – for sure!

Thanks for the chat Heppy and all the best for the final few weeks of your debut Tour!

Words by: Stuart O’Grady

Our first GreenEdge Cycling tour was an incredible experience. Mitchelton-Scott was leading the Giro and had won numerous stages when we assembled just out of Treviso in the North East of Italy. Our group, over the next 10 days, were bubbling with excitement, like kids in a candy shop, we were about to embark on a once in a lifetime, cycling experience.

We not only met the entire team, but we also ate dinner alongside the riders and were accompanied by team owner Gerry Ryan & General Manager Shayne Bannan. We had organised to stay in the same Hotel, so running into the guys became the norm’ & it also got us inside access into the Teams buses, trucks & staff.

The guys got to ride some of the most iconic climbs in Italy such as Colle della Finistré, Monte Grappa & the crazy steep Zoncolan. We rode over the same roads as the Pros with our fully supported vehicles then watched them race past live.

We even managed to get the guests into a Team Car to follow the ITT. These are some of the perks travelling with me as most of the Directors are friends and ex-team mates, so if I can make it happen, I will.

We explored the cities, ate together on the side of Lake Como or on a mountain pass as the Giro went by. It really was a fascinating trip. Even for myself who has seen everything there is to see on a bike, seeing it from the other side of the barriers was brilliant… And a lot more fun 😉

Grazie,

Stuey

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The world’s premier cycling tour operator, Mummu Cycling and the most decorated cyclist in Australia, Stuart O’Grady OAM have announced a new partnership offering fans the exclusive opportunity to experience cycling’s biggest races side by side with the former champion.

The two-time World Champion on the track, four-time Olympic medallist, 2007 Paris-Roubaix winner and two-time Tour Down Under winner has partnered with Mummu Cycling to take their world class tours to another level of exclusivity.

Mummu Cycling Chief Executive Officer, Marcel Berger said the partnership will bring fans into the inner sanctum of the cycling world.

“The access Stuart will be able to provide for cycling fans through our tours is unprecedented. As a former winner of Paris-Roubaix, our clients will now have access to the famous showers, meet cycling royalty and access teams. We’re really excited to have him on board and even more thrilled with what it means for our clients,” Berger said.

“Not only will our tours help cycling fans tick the world’s biggest cycling races off their bucket list but they’ll now be able to experience them alongside the most decorated Australian cyclist of all time.”

On the eve of the ten-year anniversary of his Paris-Roubaix win, cycling legend Stuart O’Grady said he was thrilled to join Mummu Cycling.

“I’m extremely passionate about cycling so for me getting the opportunity to share my experiences, knowledge and behind the scenes access from my twenty-year career is something I’m really excited about,” O’Grady said.

“They’re also guided tours so I get the opportunity to sit around after the day’s rides with the group to chat about the day, how the race is evolving and what to watch out for but more importantly, having been on the circuit for twenty years I can also share my local knowledge outside of cycling.”

Mummu Cycling and Stuart O’Grady will kick off their partnership in March with their Spring Classics Tour where O’Grady will host cycling fans on an eleven-day tour through Belgium and Northern France. Cycling fans will have access to ride the course of famous races including Paris-Roubaix and Tour of Flanders together with O’Grady in what will be the most exclusive tour on offer.

About Mummu Cycling

Mummu Cycling has been working in the industry since 2010 delivering world-class, major event travel packages getting fans closer to the action to experience major cycling races like never before.

As an official tour operator for the Tour de France, Paris-Roubaix, Vuelta a Espana and Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Mummu Cycling pride themselves on offering the most exclusive VIP tours to cycling fans at an affordable price.

In 2017 Mummu Cycling will be offering fans VIP guided tours with Stuart O’Grady to Spring Classics and Tour de France. Tours are available now with further information at www.mummucycling.com

About Stuart O’Grady OAM

Stuart O’Grady OAM is a retired Australian professional road and track bicycle racer who rode as a professional between 1995 and 2013.

A former two times World Champion on the track, O’Grady and Graeme Brown won a gold medal in the Men’s Madison at the 2004 Summer Olympics. He rode in 6 Olympic Games, from Barcelona in 1992 through until The London Games in 2012, winning four medals in total. O’Grady also won Paris–Roubaix in 2007, the first Australian to do so.

Stuart O’Grady competed in the Tour de France a record equalling 17 times, his first was in 1997 and contended for the points classification in the Tour de France known as the green jersey, finishing second in the 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2005 races. He wore the yellow jersey of general classification leader for 9 days total in 1998 and 2001.

Achievements:

6 x Olympic Games

17 x Tour de France

17 x Paris Roubaix

3 x Commonwealth Games

2 x World Champion

www.stuartogradycycling.com.au for more information on Stuart and his partnership with Mummu Cycling

For further details, please contact: enquiries@mummucycling.com

Esteban Chaves, born in the 17th of January 1990 and weighing in at just 55kg’s, he remains modest and humble despite all his recent successes!

Last weekend Esteban cemented his name as a general classification contender, outriding previous Giro/TdF winner Vincenzo Nibali and all-time great Alejandro Valverde to win the queen stage of the 2016 Giro d’Italia. An outstanding performance by the 26-year-old Colombian, who started his professional career at the young age of 21, back in 2010. He rode with two Colombian teams before signing to Orica Greenedge in 2014, who quickly set about developing the young Colombian into a general classification contender.

Fast forward to the 2016 Giro d’Italia and this young man is sitting in 2nd place overall! After 15 stages of arguably the toughest event on the cycling calendar he is in a great position to contest for the Pink Jersey.

Stage 14 of this year’s Giro was the one stage I managed fight off the sleep demons, and watch a complete stage (not just next day highlights). With over 5000m of climbing and 5 categorized climbs, it was a brutal stage! Not to mention the altitude the stage was raced at, well over 2000m covering a total of 5400m of climbing alone. As with many of the Colombian riders, Esteban lives at altitude back home in Colombia, and spends the majority of his time training above 3000m. It was interesting to see which riders had done the work at altitude and which riders possibly spent too much time racing at sea level. Valverde for instance, has raced everything this calendar year spending little time at altitude, whilst his teammate Quintana has gone back to Colombia and won’t even race till July due to his massive altitude training block. In short to win at altitude you need to train at altitude and Chaves has done just that!

After his win on stage 14, the Queen stage of the 2016 Giro, Esteban made sure to thank absolutely everyone, from all the staff in the offices, to the riders at other races and the whole family that is Orica Greenedge. It was a pleasure to watch someone so grateful, modest and undeniably talented win such an important stage and move up in the General Classification.
However, things have not always been smooth sailing for Chavez, in 2013 his future was in serious doubt after a crash during the Trofeo de Laigueglia in Italy in February that year. In the crash, he suffered brain trauma, and fractures in his right collarbone, the petrous and sphenoid bones (at the base of the skull) and his right cheekbone was damaged, his sinuses and numerous abrasions. Another diagnosis revealed a fractured jaw, broken inner ear bones, and torn quadriceps. It was later discovered that his axillary nerve was torn apart and the suprascapular nerve partially so from his arm being pulled so far back”. He spent 5 weeks off the bike and his first ride back could only muster a mere 40min of riding. Shortly after his accident he was then contacted by Orica Greenedge who put their trust in the young Colombian’s ability to recover, hence the reason Esteban is has been so grateful towards Orica Greenedge.

Esteban’s win has really brought back my love for cycling, and grand tour racing. It’s great to see a rider, so modest, passionate, humble, thankful and courageous win! No matter how the rest of the Giro d’Italia pans out, it has been a massive turning point in the career of Esteban Chaves, all eyes are now on him. I certainly hope Chaves can hold a podium place at this year’s 2016 Giro d’Italia or even somehow manage to claw back the two minutes to Kruijswijk from Lotto Jumbo. All the best for the rest of the race and your future Esteban we at Mummu Cycling love your attitude and the way you race and we hope you make it to the 2016 Vuelta a Espana.

submitted climbmybbike.com on 22/07/2014

After seeing the velta struggling up the Angliru in 2013 I decided to head out and have a go in July 2014 as my father in law stays in Oviedo anyway and is a great excuse for a “family” holiday. Immediately after collecting my hire bike from the local shop I headed straight for the climb. Riding through wonderful gorges and typical stunning mountain scenery and with light courteous traffic with very few tourist traffic all putting you into a false scence of security. After a gentle climb to la Vega where the Angliru starts, the gradient is not too bad for the first 5k only ramping to about 10% or so. Then it is followed by a flattish section for a k or so but then you look up and see truly what lies ahead. A good contrast would be if you have ever seen The Lord of the Rings and when Frodo and Sam see the fiery hell of Mordor mountain up close for the first time would not be too far off. From there the climb ramps up to 21% and doesn’t let up for a K or so. It does back of the gradient but only to 12% min and this does not last long. The gradient only ramps up from here on with little mercy. My computer registered 21% a number of times before the mighty 23.5 % part. Then all is calm after a few more hairpins with a fantastic view.

By Laurence Guttmann

Recently, the Vuelta a España has come of age, and like a young adult learning from past mistakes and discovering their place in the world, it is finding its feet and establishing itself as a truly grand Grand Tour in the process.

Dumoulin was a revelation of the 2015 Vuelta

For much of its history, the Vuelta has been third of the three grand tours by various metrics:
• The last to begin each year (since 1995 at least).
• The last to inaugurate (in 1935).
• The least international (for example, 23 of the first 25 finishers were Spanish in 2004).
• The most interrupted (along with the two World Wars, there were also breaks in the 30s and 50s).
• The least mythologised (you probably know Ventoux and the Stelvio, but do you know Lagos de Covadonga, La Farrapona and Puerto de Pontón?).
Last but not least…anymore
Its late start in the calendar year has caused problems in the past; think rider fatigue combined with less motivation compared to the Giro and the Tour. But combine more exciting routes with a longer season, and the race’s tardiness is less and less a problem. Some say it offers grand tour riders who failed to fire earlier in the year a chance to salvage their season, such as 2014 when both Froome and Contador raced after crashing out of the Tour. While there may be some truth in that, the Vuelta is not simply a consolation; last year’s edition included the top four finishers of the 2015 Tour de France (Froome, Valverde, Nibali and Quintana).

Spicing things up
For the seasoned fan, the Vuelta has become the most exciting of the three grand tours. Not long ago, lengthy flat stages through nowhere – there to attract the sprinters – were the norm. It was boring. Now, the race is anything but. With 10 summit finishes spread throughout the three weeks in 2016, the racing will be spectacular. And with the penultimate stage ending atop the Alto de Aitana (22.3km, 5.5% with sections of 12%), fans can expect fireworks until the very end (just like last year when Aru took the maillot oro from Dumoulin on the final mountain stage).

Its proximity to the UCI Road World Championships has also been a boon for the race, as riders use it as a final tune up. While not there to win the overall, those eyeing the Worlds certainly animate the race. One of the most notable examples of this occurring was Tony Martin’s long-range solo breakaway on stage 6 in 2013 – attacking from the gun, he averaged nearly 45km/h for 175km, only to be caught 20 metres from the line.

Riding in Spain
If you ever have the opportunity to ride in Spain, don’t think twice. As one of Europe’s most mountainous countries, its landscape is truly breathtaking. Add to that a rich and varied culture, beautiful cities and towns, perfect weather and delicious food, and you have everything you need for the perfect cycling holiday.

While not in the 2016 edition, the Angliru – which first featured in 1999 – is worth mentioning as it has quickly become part of Vuelta folklore. It is a 12.5km climb that averages just over 10%. That alone would make it tough enough but a relatively tame first half means the last 6km averages over 13% with sections above 20%. You can ride it, along with some other great climbs, on the 2016 Mummu Vuelta trip.

Mummu Cycling is excited to announce its appointment as VIP Official Tour Operator for cycling’s Grand Tour, La Vuelta a España. Mummu Cycling is offering guests from around the globe the opportunity to get up close and personal with the fastest growing cycling tour on the planet.

In 2016, cycling fans can enjoy the warm climate, dramatic landscapes, late night tapas and Spanish hospitality over 7 exciting days from Saturday 27 August to Friday 2 September. Never before have cycling fans been able to test themselves on the steep ascents of the Spanish Asturias, Cantabiras and Basque Country climbs minutes before the pros, go behind the rope to access team compounds and experience the exhilarating racing of the final of three Grand Tours, la Vuelta.

“We are excited to add the third Grand Tour, la Vuelta a España to our tour calendar for 2016. Our clients have enjoyed the premium access, friendly service and “once in a lifetime” experience of our Tour de France tours, and the team are proud to have extended our relationship with the A.S.O. to offer Spain as another premium cycling destination“ said Marcel Berger, Chief Executive Officer of Mummu Cycling.

“We’re happy to announce the extension of our relationship with Mummu Cycling by appointing them VIP Official Tour Operators of La Vuelta España. We’ve had a close relationship with Mummu Cycling since 2010, their premium services are warmly welcomed by the A.S.O and La Vuelta”. Said Charles Ojalvo, The Director of Sponsorships and Public Relations, Unipublic.

The 2016 La Vuelta will see an epic battle over 3,277km between the world’s best cyclists and may include the likes of Chris Froome, Alberto Contador, Nairo Quintana and last year’s surprise Estaban Chaves. Mummu’s 2016 La Vuela Tour will take in six official stages including Stage 10’s mythical climb up to the Lakes of Covadonga with guests able to test their legs on the same climb the following day.

Since 2010, Mummu Cycling has delivered incomparable touring experiences to its global cycling clients. Working with the most elite teams in cycling, Mummu Cycling has held official partnerships in travel and operations with the UCI, Phil Anderson, GreenEDGE and the recent 2015 UCI Road World Championships in Richmond, Virginia. 2016 has seen Mummu Cycling expand on this experience to offer cycling fan an experience like no other at major cycling events.

Join Mummu Cycling at the 2016 La Vuelta a España and experience the beauty of Spain on two wheels.

Further to the Vuelta España, Mummu Cycling have expanded their offerings further into 2017 offering a full range of tours to all the major events!

For all enquiries please contact Phil Skerman at enquiries@mummucycling.com

In the past, the majority of organizations have chosen to drive employee engagement and improve performance by awarding particularly successful staff with cash bonuses and the like. However, more recently businesses have begun offering non-cash rewards such as travel incentive trips to their employees, to great effect.

The experience that an incentive travel program provides is something that cold, hard cash can’t offer. When cash rewards are given, employees often treat this as part of their salary and end up spending their bonuses on bills or living expenses. However, when you provide incentive trips to your employees, you’re providing them with lifetime experiences and which further enhances their personal development.

Stress is the main cause of employee dissatisfaction. Fortunately, this can easily be managed through travel incentive programs.

“According to a CCH Human Resources Management study, nearly 40% of employees “feel more productive and better about their job” and more than 50% of employees feel more “rested, rejuvenated and reconnected to their personal life” when returning from vacation”.

Research has shown the benefits of travel incentive programs far outweigh the benefits of cash incentive programs. Travel incentive programs create lasting impressions and help to lift your employee’s spirits, in turn providing far better results for the employer. On the other hand, cash bonuses can create tense situations, where employees consider a bonus as part of their annual salary.  This creates two problems, the first being employee dissatisfaction if one year they do not receive the cash bonus. The second and most important point being, cash incentives provide no real benefits to the employer.

Get more out of your staff by rewarding them with incentive based trips!

We would like to thank The Pedla for such excellent service and quality garments. Our stock will be arriving soon but we will be taking pre orders on the Mummu Cycling Kits on the inquiry form below. Available for purchase will be The Mummu Cycling Jersey, Bib Shorts, Gilet, Arm Warmers and Leg Warmers (not in picture). *We will be shipping internationally. 

By Laurence Guttmann

When you’re really fit, you rarely get a flat tyre because you’re more lucid. I had a puncture once, in 1970, and then never again in 10 years. The other secret is confidence. I often started with the idea that I was going to win. I missed my chance once or twice but no more than that.

-Roger de Vlaeminck

De Vlaeminck was stylish on and off the bike

As we approach the 114th edition of the Paris-Roubaix, much will be written about who will win the historic race that is known variously as the Queen of the Classics, l’Enfer du Nord and a Sunday in Hell. But it’s important also to look back at what and who has made this race the extraordinary event that it is.

From 1969 to 1982, the name Roger de Vlaeminck was almost synonymous with Paris-Roubaix and vice versa. In that 14-year period, de Vlaeminck, also known as Monsieur Paris-Roubaix, won the race four times (‘72, ‘74, ‘75 and ‘77), came second four times and, besides his DNF in 1980, never placed worse than 7th. He also did well in many other races (he is one of only three to have won all five Monuments) but his consistency in Paris-Roubaix is special.

With his big sideburns, Brooklyn Bubblegum jersey and bright blue Gios, he oozed style. On the bike he was smooth – over the cobbles, he rode with his hands on the hoods, his elbows dropped and his back flat. He came from a cyclocross background and somehow managed to meld the smoothness required in that discipline with the speed and position of a time-trial specialist.

Pros and amateurs alike often partake in secret training but de Vlaeminck took this to another level. He explains it best:

I used to get up at 5am. When it was good weather I went out behind a Derny with my lights on. I used to meet Godefroot to go training and I’d already ridden 120 kilometers. I used to pretend that I was tired because I’d just gotten out of bed and try to persuade him we should have a shorter ride together. I don’t know if I fooled him but I needed to bluff the others to raise my own morale.

Rumour has it, he even pretended Godefroot had woken him and would make him wait while he got his kit on.

His preparation for the race itself was also unique in its extremity. Again, the man describes it best himself:

I knew how to get ready for Paris–Roubaix. I used to ride three days of 350 kilometers a day in the week before. I used to ride Gent–Wevelgem and then ride another 130 kilometers having just changed my jersey. One year I rode 430 kilometers in a day. I needed that, that sort of training, to start the race in a good frame of mind.

De Vlaeminck and Merckx presumably discussing a steep hill
What makes his dominance of the race even more impressive is that his career ran more or less parallel with Merckx’s. They competed every year from 1969 to 1977. In that period, de Vlaeminck took all four of his victories while Merckx ‘only’ took two of his three. And while statistics don’t tell the whole story it goes some way to explaining why de Vlaeminck took the moniker Monsieur Roubaix.

Continuing with statistics, one man it could be argued is the contemporary Monsieur Paris Roubaix is Tom Boonen. He too has won four editions and has the chance to go one better this year. Although you won’t hear de Vlaeminck offering much praise. On Tommeke’s 2012 victory, he was less than complimentary;  “I knew beforehand that he would be next to me [as the only other four-time winner]. Tom cannot help it that this time he had no opposition. They were not second, but third-rate riders.” And with that, he says it like he rode it – hard and fast.

Climb better

If you ever get the opportunity to ride the famed mountains of the Tour de France, you will want to be in a condition that enables you to enjoy the climbs. Training for hills can sometimes be difficult, especially for those of us who don’t live near any big climbs. And while at the end of the day there’s no avoiding climbing hills to get good at climbing hills, there are some things you can do on the flat that can make a difference. In a recent interview with Olympian and Ridewiser cycling training advisor Rob Crowe, we got to talking about this very topic.

Thomas Voeckler climbs during the 2014 Tour de France. Michael Rogers, in the fluoro colours of Tinkoff, would go on to win the stage to Bagnères-de-Luchon. Photo: ASO

There are various approaches bandied about on how to train for hills without riding up hills. One recommendation is to ride on a trainer with your front wheel chocked up. While this will, to some extent, simulate the position of climbing, it won’t exactly simulate the muscle strain of climbing. Another method once promoted was single-leg pedalling. This has since proven to be counter-productive as it puts your axis off centre, therefore promoting an unbalanced pedalling motion. It also overloads the working knee.

Rob Crowe mentions a session that Cadel Evans did during his big Tour years, which consisted of 4, 5 or 6 ascents of Kinglake, seated in 53/13. While this is not recommended for developing riders due to such high strain loads, for an elite level professional athlete training for the Tour, it ensured a low cadence and extensive strain on the muscles, particularly the glutes. Crowe is careful to point out that this is not a suggested session for most people. Evans was 20 years into his career at that point and had the training and strength to withstand the strain this put on his body.

But a variation of Evans’ session can be useful. As Crowe says, “The closest simulation to climbing when you’re not on a hill is to overload the gears.” This is known as strength endurance training and ensures that all of the biggest climbing levers – glutes, lower back, shoulders, quadriceps and hamstring muscles are working hard. One method Crowe suggests is to ride, for example, three intervals of between 4 and 6 minutes in a hard gear such as 53/14 (53 being the number of teeth on a traditional large chainring) at lower cadences (70-80 rpm), so preferably into a headwind.

Crowe recommends doing this type of session on a flat road on which you can ride your interval without interruption (ie. no traffic lights), as it enables you to pedal at a constant cadence, like you would when climbing. He would choose the headwind direction and then do 3 repeats. The first interval will be “rough and difficult”. The second, after a good recovery riding back with the tailwind, should be smoother as the muscles, lungs and joints will be mobilised. The third repeat should be hard but you should be able to maintain the same speed/power as the previous – the goal is to become more competent or comfortable under the same load. If you find this easy to achieve, you are ready to increase the load of the gears or the duration of the intervals. Conversely, if you struggle here, the session is too much and you should decrease the load and/or shorten the duration of the intervals.

Alessandro De Marchi proved his climbing credentials during the 2015 Vuelta a España with a win at the murky summit-top finish of Fuente del Chivo. Photo: ASO

Another caveat: loading the gears is a ‘strength’ training drill. It doesn’t constitute true climbing training. For that, you need the mixture of gravity against gear load and high heart rate plus high cadence, which is something that can’t be achieved on the flat. The strength endurance training is important to prepare your muscles for climbing but it will only take you so far. There comes a point when you have to go to the hills. Crowe points to himself as an example here to highlight the difference. His Olympic coach once said to him, “Oh Robert, I see your best abilities as a time-trialler, not a road climber,” to which Rob replied, “But I won the Tour of Austria over mountains every day.” His coach responded, “Yes, you are very  strong over the mountains, but you’re not a pure climber , you’re just very, very strong.” At that time, Crowe didn’t see the distinction between being strong and being a top level tour climber. While his strength enabled him to  prosper in short tours and hard one-day title races with some of the best, when it came to the bigger tours and 20km climbs at a gradient of 10%, he would be left behind.

These days, Rob Crowe O.A.M. runs Ridewiser in Melbourne, where he uses his experience and motivational outlook to train cyclists of all ability levels using his own specially created Ridewiser Ergo machines and educational road-rides, among other methods.

To try these tips on the same roads as the pros, view our Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Other tours here.

For most, the 1998 Tour de France is (infamously) remembered for the Festina affair, which saw the expulsion of the team from the race after team soigneur, Willy Voet, was intercepted at the Belgian-French border with huge amounts of EPO, growth hormone, testosterone and amphetamines. TVM were also ejected and in hindsight, we know that almost the whole peloton was doped.

I remember it very differently. I was an exchange student in France at the time and a family friend from Pau invited me to stay and see a Pyrenéen stage. I was aware of the polemics surrounding the race but these thoughts were more or less erased by the thought of seeing my heros tackle some of the Tour’s most famed climbs.

Besides the cycling, a great thing about visiting the Tour is seeing parts of France you otherwise may not. While Paris is a beautiful city, it could be argued that the true beauty of the country is to be found out of the capital where things move a bit slower and traditional ways of life persist. This is definitely true of Pau. The locals speak differently – with l’accent du sud as the Parisians say – it’s softer, friendlier even. The food is rich, the countryside lush and green and the mountains tall and steep.

On the morning of Tuesday July 21, my friend, Mireille, and I packed some baguettes and set off for the Col d’Aubisque. It was the first climb of a big day that also included the Col de Tourmalet, Col d’Aspin and Col de Peyresourde.

The atmosphere on a Tour de France mountain pass is hard to describe – there’s a frisson, as the French would say. The excitement builds throughout the day. Camper vans line the road parked at unlikely angles. Families sit around makeshift campsites, chairs and tables tilted, listening to their radios and relaxing.

We climbed until we found a good vantage point and then settled in for the day. I familiarised myself with the surroundings – making sure to locate the perfect spot to take photos. Then I took out my chalk and wrote ‘O’Grady’ in giant letters on the coarse Pyrenéen asphalt. Every now and then, an amateur cyclist lumbered past, grinding his way up the slope. Everyone would cheer, as if rehearsing for what was to come.

The tension continues to build. About two hours before the first riders come through, the advertising caravan – a long, heaving behemoth of cars festooned with decorations and slogans – lumbers past. It consists of about 250 vehicles, each playing music and ejecting hats, bottles, bags and other merchandise. In any other context it would be a bit obscene, but it’s an integral part of the Tour and is yet another element that shapes the day into something special and spectacular.

Eventual winner, Pantani, and defending champion, Ullrich, during the 1998 Tour. Photo: www.spiegel.de

Once the caravan passes, a period of silence ensues – everyone prepares themselves for the main event. And then we wait one more time. The fog on the day added to the suspense as it was only possible to see about 100 metres down the road. The first sign of the approaching cyclists is the distant rumble of the race helicopters. People rise from their chairs and emerge from their caravans. Then the lights of the first vehicles appear – one motorbike passes, then another and a car.

Finally, the strung-out peloton materialises. As this was the first climb of a long day, the riders were more or less together. Nonetheless, there’s a lot to see on the side of a steep hill as the action is slowed down. You can notice little details – Ullrich climbing in the big ring, Pantani out of the saddle in the drops, Robin’s jersey unzipped and flapping despite the cold. I cheer for my heroes – O’Grady, McEwan, Stephens (all my heroes were Australian at that stage!).

And then, as quickly as they emerge, they are gone. The voiture balai (broom wagon) marks a full stop on the action. I was exhilarated for days afterwards. I picked up three bidons and a Lotto-Mobistar cap, stained with sweat, that had been discarded by passing cyclists. These are better than any souvenir you can buy and, along with my memories, I treasure them to this day.