About

Hire Bike Fleet Manager

I was born and grew up in the South West of England. At age 15 I followed in the pedal strokes of both my father and grandfather by starting to cycle regular time trials on a Thursday evening. I also spent many years playing hockey which gave me the opportunity to travel and see many parts of the world. I have always enjoyed the outdoors and every day of holiday from my work as an engineer was spent playing sport or riding my bike.

In 1997, during a cycling trip traversing the Alps, I made the decision that life had to change and I must live in the mountains!

Life did change and in 2000 I gave up my job and set out to find a new home. After 6 months of exploring, I settled down in Ax les Thermes where since 2002 I have been running the Alpage, a B&B providing evening meals. I met James in 2003 and started to host some of the Marmot Tours groups. I also started to lead trips the following year. In order to continue to lead trips and share my passion of the outdoors with others, I set about passing the French walking and mountain biking Qualifications. After 4 years of studying and hard work, I am pleased to say that I am now one of the only English people who have got this set of qualifications.

I still continue to compete regularly in local mountain runs, montain and road bike races, as well as the odd triathlon.

Whilst I’m taking a break from guiding, I have now taken on the role of Fleet Manager, looking after the ever growing numbers of Marmot’s custom built titanium hire bike fleet to ensure you have a great ride when hiring one of our bikes.

What our clients say about Alan…

Alan is great guide, competent and friendly. R Walker, Classic Cols of Corsica

Great, couldn’t do enough to help and was very knowledgeable of the area and of riding in general. Peter, Classic Cols of the Pyrenees

Alan was very supportive, always encouraging, giving tips, maintaining and managing the bikes and generally helping were ever he could….couldnt have asked for more…..from a personal perspective when I bonked on the climb to Col De Vars he came back and ensured I was hydrated and fit before proceeding and monitored me on the rest of that ride…generally felt he was safely managing the event. D Martin, Raid Alpine

Calm, steady, reassuring support throughout, always cheerful and upbeat. T Sutherland Classic Cols of Corsica

Extremely professional while also being cool and friendly! Nothing was too much trouble for Alan. When we were cold and wet in the rain, there he was. Amazing. N Cavill Classic Cols of Corsica

Alan excels as a lead guide, he is comfortable and competent and provided the whole group with a great service during the week. S Tobin Raid Pyrenean

True professional, always making sure guests are enjoying their break, top bloke, you could feel his passion for Catalonia too. M Gorshkov Classic Cols of Catalonia

I thought both guides were really excellent. helpful, patient and good fun. The information they gave us was spot on and always timely and the advice they gave us with relation to riding was always valuable. The guides were one of the best parts of the trip. A Saunders Raid Pyrenean

Guide

Cycling is still fairly new to me compared to many of the Marmot team. A friend of mine had done three of the Raids with Marmot and I had always been intrigued about what he was doing but I was busy doing my passion of competitive skydiving. I learnt to skydive in 1996 and in 2005 took it up a level to train with 3 great team mates to win the World Championships in 2006. I continued to compete at World and National level winning several medals over the years, whilst also taking out a few years to coach at National and World Cup level too.

For various reasons I stopped competing and coaching. I loved every minute of what I did. It was as exciting to see a team I had coached achieve their goals as much as it was to achieve my own. But it was time for a change and new challenges so I ran my first and second marathon in 2012 and between these events my friend encouraged me to do more cycling and buy a new road bike and that was it…I was addicted. I signed up for the Raid Dolomites after just 3 months of cycling and one 60 mile sportive in the Cotswolds.

The Raid Dolomites was amazing – hard work but stunning scenery. After just a year of cycling I always knew it was going to be tough. Each day was a challenge but the tour leaders Merv and Nathan were amazing giving me a boost when I needed it.

I took a summer off from my usual work as a Chartered Physiotherapist to work with Marmot Tours and to cycle in the mountains as much as I could. I wanted to be able to help others in the same way that the tour leaders had helped me on my Marmot trips. I loved seeing the skydivers that I coached achieve their goals and I hope that I can help you to enjoy your challenges that you take on with your Marmot trip.

I have now set up my own clinic, Bodyfit Physiotherapy (www.bodyfit.org.uk) in West Sussex and work closely with a local bike shop doing a ‘Physio Pro Bike Fit’. I will be back with Marmot Tours each summer to get my ‘fix’ in the mountains.

What our clients say about Amanda…

Amanda was so kind and considerate. She was attentive to your needs. A great advert for your company. D Cooper, Classic Cols of the Dolomites 2016

Always smiling and willing to help C Walker, Classic Cols of the Dolomites 2016

Great at keeping us organised and supplying food and warm clothing when required C Foott, Dolomites Minibreak 2016

Fantastic attitude, great knowledge and incredibly supportive. Made the trip an absolute pleasure. D Crawford Raid Pyrenean 2018

Amanda was very responsive and helpful, thinking ahead about people’s needs. J Meigs Classic Cols of Corsica 2018

Amanda was brilliant. I often saw her on tops of the climbs! Always happy to help and provide advice. Great fun and very knowledgeable. A Watkinson Powell, Pyrenean Classics 2019

Lead Guide

Why be inside when you can be outside?

My passion for anything outdoors and spending as much time in the fresh air possible, started at a very young age. From the age of 6 I used to set off on solo camping adventures and in summer I never spend much time sleeping in a bed as I preferred a bivac in the farmer´s fields underneath the stars (and many rain clouds).

Dutch by nationality, I grew up with road biking, speed skating and horse riding. My parents encouraged a free spirit and as I grew older, I started extending my outdoor activities further away from home and chose to study tourist management to allow me to travel. As work experience I went to Austria and got addicted to the snow… 6 weeks after my first day skiing, I entered my first ski instructor exams! As you can imagine, it was a steep learning curve and being surrounded by some 300 Tyrolean ski heroes, type Herman Maiers, Franz Klammers, Marcel Hirschers, I felt pretty incompetent. I was always last, could really not ski that well and had ´great fun´ trying to decode the Tyrolean dialects! I ended up staying in Tyrol for 7 years! Spending my summers as a raft guide, climbing, mountain biking and enjoying yodeling on the Alm huts! My Tyrolean became excellent, my German improved and skiing is still my biggest passion every single day I am on the planks!!

Looking for a new experience I moved to France, Meribel, mainly to improve my French and worked for a French Ski school. Let us say, it was a ´special’ and real French experience that left me with a better (and more selective) knowledge of French. For details, ask me sometime! In France I came in contact with Scots who brought me to bonny Scotland…

The first two years I combined the outdoors with my work as an holistic therapist but eventually returned to spending all my days in the hills: mountain biking, walking, climbing, skiing and camping, or on the water, rafting, canoeing and surfing as an instructor/ guide, sharing my knowledge and passion for the great outdoors with others as well as for personal fun. I did many of my outdoor qualifications here, for example the Summer, Winter and International Mountain Leader, Trail Cycle Leader and Mountain Bike Leader training. Scotland was the country that got me seriously back on my bike as it is the perfect country for MTB. Living in Aviemore, we had a great team of riders and we used to do crazy things like night riding in winter or little 3 or 4 days bothy expeditions, which mainly consisted of carrying the bike a lot on our backs and trying to get the whisky and the beer in one piece to the bothy! Many of us have now got back on the road bike too.

10 years in Scotland left me with a serious passion for whisky, an enormous bag of outdoor experience, the title of adopted Scot, a fine Scottish accent and top skiing skills on ice, windblown snow and heather! Whilst in Scotland I also worked a lot in the Alps and ski touring in the Oberland, I met some Basques who convinced me that their country was well worth a visit and soon I was invited to visit not just the Basque Country but also Asturias, Galicia, Cantabria and the Pyrenees! I was sold, moved across, learned Basque and Spanish. The north has such a rich natural environment, spectacular mountains, a wild coastline with fantastic waves, delicious food and the perfect climate for being active that it wasn´t long until it felt like home, despite the struggle with the many cultural differences. The Basque Country and Spanish Pyrenees are where I am currently based and from here I run since 5 years my own little adventure and guiding company, Mountain Minds, specialized in skiing, snowshoeing, hillwalking, trekking and climbing.

I am really excited to be part of the Marmot Team, to support you during your cycling holiday and make sure you have a fantastic, fun experience! I am looking forward to seeing you on your bike soon in some of the world’s wonderful places!

What our cyclists say about Christel…

Wealth of experience, real enthusiasm and pleasure to be around. Really nice manner while efficiently getting on with what was needed I MacCafferty, Classic Cols of the Picos 2016

Christel is a fab guide. So encouraging, never gives up on you & is always there to answer your questions!! Her experience as a guide and her knowledge of the local area left you in no doubt that we’d still be having a great day’s cycling no matter which route we took J Burke, Classic Cols of the Picos 2016

Thank you Christel for your encouragement, photos and the laughter, especially when I dropped my multitool on my foot. Where was the first aider when I needed one ! oh yes, too busy laughing! R Wheeler Classic Cols of the Picos 2015

So professional and hard working, while being fun and supportive. She was really knowledgeable about the routes, the area, bikes, everything really! The best guide I have ever had on a cycling holiday and I have been on lots. C Rank Classic Cols of the Dolomites 2018

Very encouraging and supportive and gave us all the info required to make the most of our holiday. A real asset to your company and in short, a legend. D, G and L Innes Classic Cols of the Pyrenees 2018

Christel is the best guide we have ever had on a holiday – absolutely superb. Always helpful, kind, supportive, fabulously well organised and a very inspiring woman to boot. You have a real gem there! K McPherson Raid Sardinia 2018

Christel met me at the airport and from that moment she always was available to answer questions and help. She worked so hard and dealt with every situation and event that occurred. Just brilliant. K James Classic Cols of the Dolomites 2018

Tireless, caring, supportive always, THE BEST. S Cummings Raid Dolomites 2018

Outstanding! So friendly and accommodating, nothing was too much bother. Very knowledgeable and approachable. A fabulous guide. A Stafford Dolomites Classics & Stelvio 2019

Guide

I was born and raised in the Northwest of England, where from an early age our holidays to Castleton and the Peak District inspired a love of beautiful mountains and countryside. As a child I also have early memories of watching the TDF with my grandma and being completely mesmerized by the mountains and stunning terrain.

I cut my professional teeth in the world of hospitality, working for large international hotel chains for over a decade and here I grew my curiosity for travel and enjoyment of meeting new people from all over the world. My work took me to sunny Scotland, where I met my husband and got to discover a whole new playground of awe-inspiring mountains – walking, camping and later learning to rock climb and ski. My first ski trips to the Alps blew my mind and still do.

My passion for health and fitness grew beyond my role in hospitality and I trained to become a Group Exercise Instructor and Fitness Professional. My work grew until I could sustain a living from teaching health & fitness full-time. Teaching Indoor Cycling classes was up there with my favourites when back in 2013 I discovered road biking and started cycling outdoors (following gentle coercion from my super keen spin class participants who were also local bike club members, I think just wanting to get their own back and see me suffer on the road!).

Still considering myself as a rookie rider, I am grateful for every chance I get to get out on my bike, explore new routes and challenge myself either alone, or with friends and fellow bike riders I meet on the way. I love riding hills. Something about the air, the space and general epic-ness! I have been fortunate enough to have ticked off a few L’Etape du Tours in my relatively short ‘cycle life’ alongside a few brutal Scottish sportives, and a Mallorca 312. I love the challenge, of course, but I really think the magic is sharing those experiences with everyone else on the road!

Following the challenging years of the pandemic, in 2021 my family and I took the leap of moving our lives to a small town in the Aude region of France where I’m now usually found teaching yoga or cycling, walking, paddleboarding, rock climbing, and occasionally kite surfing (badly). I am a keen nature lover and thrive on sharing most things energetic & life outdoors.

I am excited to be part of the Marmot Tours team in 2024 and can’t wait to meet you!

Lead Guide

Born and raised in Santander, Cantabria, surrounded by mountains and sea (my beloved Picos de Europa and the Atlantic Ocean), I have loved mountains for as long as I can remember (my first climb was actually in my mum’s belly). I have been hiking since I was 3 years old when my parents used to take me to the mountains (although that was more piggybacking than hiking for me, haha). As a kid, however, I mostly played football like all the other kids my age. I had an introduction to MTB when I was 12 but did not really take it up until 2010, my legs tired from 30 years of football but in shape from winter hiking and snowboarding on my white mountains.

I studied Business and Management and worked in a Consultancy Office for 10 years, until I had enough (just 20 vacation days plus weekends for travelling and the outdoors—no way!) I quit my old life and started a new one, beginning with the trip of a lifetime: India, Nepal, New Zealand and Australia. The main part consisted of biking NZ from the North of North Island to the South of the South one, camping freely or sleeping in random strangers’ houses. That was life-changing!!!

I had trained and competed in some long MTB races before this trip, but they never took me anywhere—after 13 hours of pushing my bike I always ended up in the same place. Touring on my bike showed me another way of travelling and experiencing places and local people. I also found, on another biking trip through the Alps, from Milan to Prague, heading to Germany for a wedding (not mine!!!), that I enjoyed joining and encouraging other bikers that I met along the way. So, here I am to support all you achieving your happiness.

What our cyclists say about David…

David was incredible. Considering this is his first year with Marmot, he showed initiative at every stage. Highly supportive, very positive, exceptionally helpful and always there when needed. He is hardworking and a great team-mate to Christel. Whatever it is that Marmot does to select, develop and keep guides motivated – please keep doing that. David was highly positive about the entire Marmot team and clearly loves what he is doing with Marmot – he is DELIGHTED to be on the team. J Ruszka Classic Cols of the Dolomites 2018

Both guides did an excellent job dealing in a caring way with a number of problems that could not have been foreseen. Their use of the support vehicles was thoughtful and most helpful. R Chandler Classic Cols of the Picos 2018

David was super friendly, full of enthusiasm and very helpful. He was happy to hang back and support me to do the bonus climb of Tre Cime di Lavaredo on day 1. Conversations over dinner were always entertaining! C Bloomer Dolomites Minibreak 2018

David’s passion for the area was great and really came out in his descriptions of places, foods, etc. He gave us a few tips on extra places to visit slightly off the route, which was great. He was super-dedicated, including on top of the Angliru in the rain, when his spirited cheering helped us get to the top, and then he managed to get all the bikes into/onto the van, with frozen hands, and get us all down safely. It was evident how much he cared about ensuring we all had the best possible week. M Phipps-Taylor Classic Cols of the Picos 2018

David was brilliant. He gave us tremendous encouragement, help and support throughout the ride. Great fun too. J Fryza. Dolomites Minibreak 2019

David was absolutely superb – he went above and beyond in delivering first class support, guidance and encouragement throughout the whole journey – First Class. I Nichol. Bormio Minibreak 2019

David has all the qualities I want in a guide. Knowledgable, helpful, enthusiastic and hard working. He even went out of his way to take a rider to the hospital even when he was not in our group. N Crowther. Classic Cols of the Dolomites & Stelvio 2019

David went out of his way to ensure that I felt well supported during the holiday. Lots of encouragement at every stop. He even drove down one of the climbs to find me slowly climbing up, to take an order for a (late) lunch at a mountain top cafe before they shut – truly above and beyond the call of duty! Thank you, David, for everything! O Negyal. Classic Cols of the Dolomites & Stelvio 2019

Outstanding! So friendly and accommodating, nothing was too much bother. Very knowledgeable and approachable. A fabulous guide. A Stafford. Dolomites Classics & Stelvio 2019

David’s ability to maintain his enthusiasm level at 101% for the whole week was impressive! He was there with the van when you needed him, full of good humour and always willing to share his knowledge of the area. On the toughest section of the Angliru, he was there for me, glorious in his Viking hat and cowbells, yelling at me that I could do it when I was having very severe doubts… I did make it, though I only claim some of the credit for myself; the rest belongs to David. J Burke. Classic Cols of the Picos 2019

Lead Guide

Born in Scotland and spending holidays being made to walk up many a Scottish mountain developed my love and passion for the great outdoors, even if I might not have appreciated it at the time!

Coupled with a desire to travel and live abroad I chose my degree on the basis that I could live and study in Italy for 4 years. This merely cultivated my passion to travel and whilst cycling around Cuba I discovered that travelling by bike was the best way to see a country. After a couple of years living and working in London, my travel itch got the better of me and I found myself in the jungles of Belize with a youth development charity. I had taken my bike so I could explore the country and decided to cycle across the border and ended up cycling across Guatemala and into Mexico.

My love for travel had been ignited. I went to Ecuador to learn Spanish and from there to Chile where I spent a year living in Patagonia and working in the Torres del Paine National Park.

Returning to the UK I knew I wanted to work in travel so spent a year running gastronomic walking tours in Tuscany before joining an adventure travel company for whom I have led biking and hiking trips all around the world for the past 20 years.

I look forward to sharing my passion with like-minded people and exploring new places.

What our road cyclists say about Fiona…

Fiona is a top guide. Her extensive experience in the adventure tourism industry shows and along with Gav made a first-rate team. Also a great sense of humour etc. B Thatcher, Classic Cols of Corsica

Great support throughout the days riding. Always there with words of encouragement and a smile on those hard rides. A top guide. S Woods, Classic Cols of Corsica

Super enthusiastic and helpful. Provided all of the necessary information to help us plan for each day. Managed to work well with all members of the team. Went out of her way to make life easy for us all and a true ambassador for Marmot. C Scott, Raid Pyrenean

Fiona was a real star, very supportive of the group and worked well with David. Nothing was too much trouble for Fiona, she supported the group and was always in the locations she stated she would be in which is a welcome sight when struggling up the climbs. Attentive to the groups needs and personally assisted me when I was struggling at the start of the week due to the heat. D Humphreys, Picos & Angliru 2022

Friendly supportive motivational experienced – fantastic guide. H Thomas, Picos & Angliru 2022

Great energy, very insightful, very helpful, really made the trip for us. J Leavesley, Picos & Angliru 2022

Fiona was lovely and calm and always ready to help and encourage. Nothing was too much trouble and she always had a smile on her face. Both the guides worked really hard and went above and beyond what I would have expected. Really made our holiday the fantastic experience that it was. C Rank, Picos & Angliru 2022

Fiona is amazing – again, another really generous and enthusiastic guide – I really enjoyed her company and all her help and support last week, especially on the ride when I was literally in the bin and spent most of the day in the van with her. She is also to be cherished. S Rodger, Picos & Angliru 2022

Fiona and Tim were both absolutely brilliant. Literally 10/10. Service level though the roof, always anticipating needs, and worked brilliantly together. P Flynn, Raid Alpine (Nice – Geneva) 2022

So caring, professional, approachable and a wonderful, fun person. Could not have asked for more from the Raid support crew. J Croft, Raid Alpine (Nice – Geneva) 2022

I cannot praise Fiona and Tim enough for their constant attention and guidance throughout our tour. They went above and beyond and were always in the right place offering support and succour with good humour at all times. The whole Marmot experience was superb and your attention to detail exemplary. S Bland, Raid Alpine (Geneva – Nice) 2022

Fiona was excellent, professional & personable and always on hand for friendly help and advice. Provided a great balance of ensuring health & safety and practical stuff taken care of and given us the freedom to ride to our ability and pace. J Pix, Catalonia & Girona 2022

Our tour guides Fiona and Christel were exceptional. They worked tirelessly to ensure our holiday experience was perfect in a professional, caring and fun way. Keep up the fantastic tours Marmot! D Cowan, Catalonia & Girona 2022

Fiona was brilliant and she was also knowledgable about the route, very calm and great company. Again, a real asset for Marmot. R Wood, Catalonia & Girona 2022

Brilliant. Very clear leadership, organization and knowledge with a fun/light touch. Appreciated being treated like an adult. Set the tone for the week. A Cribb, Catalonia & Girona 2022

Lead Guide

Whichever way my life has twisted or turned there has always been a thread that ran through, and that was bikes. Some of my earliest childhood memories are of bike rides with my late father, and that feeling of adventure and freedom has never left me. Nowadays I’m lucky enough to be able to turn that passion into a job and I’m thankful for that.

Most of my riding nowadays is done on a cx bike. I used to race a bit and did alright uphill, but I’m a bit more leisurely now. I don’t train anymore per se, but I do watch my numbers, steadily decreasing.

Before joining Marmot I was a road cycling guide on Corsica, and the rest we’ll talk about over dinner on one of our trips!

Gav ✌️

What our cyclists say about Gav…

Gav – he was absolutely brilliant. What a great guy who clearly loves & excels at his job. His guidance & leadership of the group had such a positive impact. S Boote, Road cycling holiday on the island of Corsica

Brilliant in every way. Technically outstanding (how did he strip down and fix that bottom bracket so quickly and effectively?). I can do a job like that but not at the speed and efficiency Gavin displayed. Also a very decent, professional and caring person. Raid Corsica

Only halfway through the Raid Corsica, our 4th with you guys. You have always been exceptional but Gavin has raised the bar. His Garmin routes are amazing. Never known anything like it. He has also taught me so much about configuring the device. Similarly taught me how to adjust hydraulic disk brakes after they have been in the hands of the airline. Add to that his photography skills & tireless efforts to accommodate my dietary requests. I could go on but he is a level above even Marmot usual standards. A Brown, Raid Corsica road cycling challenge

Great enthusiasm and energy, wonderful positive attitude. T Sutherland, Classic Cols of Corsica

Gavin is a real asset to the company, He may be young but he knows loads and is very tuned in to what we cyclists want. N Cavill, Classic cycling climbs of Corsica

Super-friendly, extremely hard-working and very knowledgeable about all aspects of the Raid. Always managed to be ready and waiting with the van at just the right moment and synced perfectly with the other van – really good teamwork. Did a great job of maintaining my hire bike too. B Cameron Raid Alpine

Gav’s a superstar! Enthusiastic, very willing to help, very involved in everything going on, full of encouragement, and the best support any rider could ever hope for! He never tires and I would go to war with him, any day!! (I have been to war and I don’t often say that about somebody!) J Parkin Raid Dolomites road cycling challenge

Gav – excellent, great mechanic, great company and unfailingly supportive even though my fitness was so far below the rest of the group. I would not have achieved what I did (climbing Mont Ventoux) without his encouragement. J Stanton Ventoux and Verdon Gorge road cycling holiday

Really can’t praise Gav enough, he was a great support throughout and got me through a couple of very difficult days on the bike. A lovely attitude and always helpful. M Whatley Raid Massif Central road cycling challenge

Absolutely fantastic! They are what make Marmot stand out as a company. They understood the nature of the challenge and provided excellent advice. J Wright Ventoux Cingles Challenge

Very knowledgeable, friendly, always available and helpful regardless of how daft the request. Just a great guide. S Woods. Road cycling holiday in Corsica

Very helpful, always “on hand”, on-road support was always close by and comforting, luggage arrived at the hotel in advance of our arrival… M Pearcy. Raid Alpine (Road cycling challenge in the French Alps)

Super friendly and helpful also excellent with mechanical issues. He always had the van in the right place at the right time! F Chen. Raid Alpine 6day road cycling challenge

If you cut Gavin in half you would see Marmot through him. Nothing was ever too much, he was cheerful throughout, supportive when I had heat stroke and just a pleasure to spend time with and speak to. An absolute brilliant ambassador for Marmot Tours. N Gillespie. Raid Alpine cycling challenge from Geneva to Nice

Gavin was simply the best. Clearly an enthusiastic and experienced cyclist himself, he was always there (somehow!) when you needed him, with a word of support, or some much-needed food or water, or even the right tool for the job! Thank you Gavin. J Gardiner. Raid Alpine road cycling holiday

Lead Guide

I grew up in Cheshire and was lucky enough to travel with my parents from an early age to far flung places, that most of my friends had never heard of. I went to university in North Wales to study music, but after four weeks (and much socialising), realised that if I changed to a joint degree in French and Russian, I could spend at least a year studying somewhere exciting overseas and hopefully then use languages to work abroad. So, I did exactly that!

This is where my love of the mountains and outdoors began, probably spending more time up in Snowdonia or in the sea attempting to learn to windsurf (never mastered that one), than I did in lectures. In my year out, I lived and worked in France and Russia and on finishing my degree, headed off to Japan to teach English for a few years. I eventually moved back to North Wales to set up my own event management business, whilst bringing up my family.

A few sensible jobs later, the need to travel again returned and I began to work for an outdoor adventure company, leading treks and bike rides all around the world. This led to me training as a mountain leader, kicked off my new-found interest in road cycling and also to start learning Italian at night school. In between trips, I work as a leader at a children’s outdoor residential centre in North Wales, running activities for 7–11 year-olds.

If I ever have any spare time, you can find me in my veg garden, dancing or doing yoga (not in the veg garden), or volunteering for a local cycling charity – tinkering with bikes and helping people with different abilities and health conditions to be able to exercise.

I really look forward to meeting you all and to some new adventures with Marmot Tours!

What our cyclists say about Heidi…

Great fun, very approachable and helpful K Stannard, Alpine Classic Cols 2022

Always on hand to provide the support and nutrition required throughout the day. P Coleman, Alpine Classic Cols 2022

Heidi was always there with a smile and encouragement when things got tough. Very knowledgeable and her language skills came in handy when needed. Heidi and Gav worked really well as a team, providing the backup that we needed throughout the week. M Tiffany, Alpine Classic Cols 2022

Unfailingly cheerful and helpful. I Martin, Raid Dolomites 2022

So caring and attentive. No task was too difficult. Friendly, cheery and helpful face. Even got laundry dried! A Coia, Raid Dolomites 2022

A very warm, patient, encouraging and capable soul, Heidi brightened up my every day. E Bull, Raid Dolomites 2022

Heidi was wonderful, ever smiling, super supportive with great sense of humour. B Oxley-Brown, Raid Dolomites 2022

Heidi provided excellent support – always cheery and able to encourage/reassure both individuals and the group as a whole. S Watt, Raid Dolomites 2022

Absolutely lovely and it’s clear her priority is to make sure we have a good trip. Heidi is a great addition to the Marmot family. K Anderson, Ventoux & the Verdon Gorge 2022

Heidi is a superstar, we were really impressed. She is a great addition to the guides you have. I’d rate her as one of the best we’ve come across in 5 trips now. A Bromfield, Ventoux & the Verdon Gorge 2022

Special thanks and praise also for our two guides, Heidi & Tim, who were outstanding. Nothing was too much trouble for them, their support was exceptional, their attention to detail and the needs of all the cyclists was absolutely first class. They were friendly, helpful and totally professional throughout. It made for a very memorable trip. J Clapp, Andalusia 2023

Lead Guide and Operations Manager

I’ve been working as a Marmot Tours Guide for over a decade and also full-time as Operations Manager since 2018. It is such a privilege to be part of the incredible team at Marmot Tours and to have the pleasure of supporting our cyclists in their mountain adventures.

My career history is strongly entwined with both physical work and the outdoor life, and it includes scientific fieldwork and project management in Alpine and UK mountain ecosystems, sales & customer service in the Pyrenean snow sports industry, and also site management, stone conservation and rope access work in the historic building conservation trade.

I am also a scientist with a solid training in skills such as critical thinking, communication, and data collection & analysis. I hold a 1^st class bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology from the University of Liverpool, an MSc in Aquatic Biology (Distinction; University of London), and a PhD in Biogeochemistry (University of Aberdeen); I have worked as a post-doc research scientist studying climate change effects on Austrian Alpine ecosystems (University of Manchester).

Despite being born in Somerset, flat places make me feel a bit unsettled and I am happiest when out in the mountains! Whenever I am not busy working on the logistics and health & safety of your next holiday, or refining every single detail of the Marmot product to improve the customer experience, I am usually out in the hills either mountain biking, road cycling, rock climbing, hiking or telemark-skiing.

What our clients say about Helen…

Helen, what a woman, what a personality, always calm and considerate. The group is her main objective, going from safety, van organization during the day, supporting Sam, organizing the hotels, the departure, the arrival, the lunch, making sure everyone made it, making sure no one forgot to eat and drink or forgot to put warm clothing on the descents … Her nature makes her doing this all not using an impersonal manager style but in warm friendly humane style. P Verhoeven Raid Pyrenean

I felt Helen offered brilliant support in a professional, friendly, thoughtful manner. Could not have asked for more than Helen gave. Raid Pyrenean

Helen was really encouraging on the last day when we ascended the west side of Mortorolo, and so glad we did! Also she was there every few km up the Stelvio with the camera recording it all! Also came and rescued us on a navigation error on day 2. Clearly works really hard and nothing is too much trouble. Annette, Classic Cols of the Dolomites

Happy, friendly, approachable, supportive, organised and other great adjectives. A Stephens, Classic Cols of Corsica

Helen kept everyone well informed and moving along with minimum fuss and great humour. She is clearly a very experienced guide. Even better, she cured my knee pain with some well applied sports tape. Is there nothin’ that she cannae do? C Bloomer, Dolomites Minibreak

Fantastic attitude, great knowledge and incredibly supportive. Made the trip an absolute pleasure. I would not have got over the Tourmalet without Helen. D Crawford, Raid Pyrenean

I already miss Helen. Helen was smart and funny and had a great capacity to enjoy the clients. I expect I am one of the harder to manage, but Helen has a remarkable way of “reading” the situation. If you want to “give it” on a ride, Helen understood and supported that. Helen provided cycling and emotional guidance in a wonderfully deft and professional manner. She is a wonderful ambassador for Marmot.

E Boomer, Alpine Classic Cols

Lead Guide

From my first year of life I have had an itinerant existence. Throughout my childhood my family moved location every two or three years, then, after graduating from university, I chose to explore the world my own way: studying, volunteering and working in various countries around the globe. A small sample of my portfolio of unusual experiences includes: collecting ovine faecal samples for nematode infection analysis in Australia, hosting Scottish country dancing evenings for students in Mexico, learning tae-kwon-do in South Korea, walking the Camino de Santiago across northern Spain and nursing baby zebras at a wildlife rehabilitation centre in South Africa.

In 2015 I moved from Catalonia to the south of France for a six-month sabbatical. I have been here ever since, unashamedly seduced by the mountains, an abundance of space and a tantalising sense of freedom. When I’m not renovating houses or bamboozling students of all ages with the complexity of the English language, I cycle, hike, snow-shoe, climb big rocks and breathe deeply of the heavenly air here.

New to the team in 2021, I’m delighted to be part of the Marmot Tours family. I enjoy working with passionate people – both colleagues and clients – who appreciate the great outdoors and find the fun in life. I look forward to supporting you and applauding all your achievements on our fantastic European tours.

What our cyclists say about Jacci…

Jacci took great care of us, kept everything running super smoothly, accommodated special requests with grace and no fuss, and was always a welcome sight! Emily H, Andalusia – The Sunshine Tour

Jackie was great at anticipating needs and providing support and assistance. Peter H Andalusia – The Sunshine Tour

Very supportive, friendly, energetic, knowledgable, generous, thoughtful, organized. Jennifer H Andalusia – The Sunshine Tour

Absolute legend, looked out for us every day and kept us all in line even with a stinker of a cold! Nick R Andalusia – The Sunshine Tour

Great encouragement given when out on climbs and passing in van en-route. Very well organised in tracking and accompanying cyclists , especially on optional climbs. Great company at evening meals. Always helpful, jolly and friendly Clear communications given. Very well organised with food offerings at van meeting points. Geoff S Alpine Classic Cols

She was always there when you needed her and a great ambassador for Marmot. Andrew V Raid Massif Central

She went above and beyond, coordinated a lot of competing priorities at different times. She was pleasant and professional and a delight to be around. Is a natural. Kat H Raid Pyrenean

Jacci was fantastic. She was always cheerful, welcoming and supportive. She and Scot always managed to be in the places needed for support to make the trip work … Jacci went above and beyond to make you feel she was supporting you at every pedal stroke. I came to appreciate over the trip how hard both guides worked and the long, long days they put in; it was not an easy thing for them to achieve and I was hugely grateful to them both. Kenneth G Raid Pyrenean

In the grand tradition of Marmot guides Jacci was excellent. Her organisation and attention to detail meant everything ticked like clockwork – although behind the scenes I’m guessing she was working at 100 miles per hour. She really did make it a wonderful trip and I can’t thank her enough!. Tracey B Pyrenean Classic Cols

Founder & Director

I have had many an adventure on a bike, both road bikes and mountain bikes. I can’t remember not having bikes in my life as they offered me independence when I was younger – a free way to travel around the countryside. Cycling from Nottingham, where I was studying Environmental Engineering, home to my parents’ place in Cornwall, never seemed like a mad idea at the time. My greatest cycling adventure was a 4000 miles tandem tour from the UK to Jordan.

So you could say that I am passionate about cycling. But this pales in comparison to my passion for providing the best possible cycling holidays for Marmot clients. I love cycling up a col, but I love seeing a client arrive at the top of a col with a huge grin on their face even more. To share in their achievements and to take pride in providing our clients with a constantly evolving and improving the product is my goal.

I love maps and exploring as well as carefully crafting routes that showcase an area. I am a perfectionist and take pleasure in the detail. I still don’t know if I am cut out for a desk job, but I do have a head for logistics; getting your support vans, hire bikes and guides to the right place at the right time is like a giant and satisfying game of chess.

I created Marmot Tours back in 2001 as a multi-activity holiday company based in the Pyrenees. I never expected Marmot to grow into what it has become, but I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved and will continue to evolve the company to be the best it can be.

What our cyclists say about James…

Outstanding, as you would expect! Classic Cols of Corsica

Great sense of humour and wonderful organisational skills. C Gillham, Classic Cols of Corsica

Worked hard. Always seemed to be there when needed. Informal yet treated you like a customer, wanting to ensure we all enjoyed our experience. Sorted out a mechanical issue I had, and quickly got me back on the bike. He really loves what he does and that helps to give a positive and friendly environment. I McKenzie. Raid du Massif Central

Fun, knowledgeable, and just so damn competent. Great bike and tech know-how. No minor detail was ignored or forgotten in delivering an amazing trip. G Fleming Tour de France

Top guy, can see he really enjoys running a tour and loves his cycling. N Gain. Classic Cols of the Picos

Also went above and beyond- great sense of humour, bought extra snacks that were vegetarian, made sure I was eating enough, encouraged me up Angliru, overall really positive person, took great photos and really well organized. K Hall. Classic Cols of the Picos

Well, what can I say, faultless? It’s clear James still has a huge passion for cycling and his business. As a business owner myself, it was great to see James take a back seat and let Alan and David get on with it, proper leadership. It’s good to see that growth in the business has not diluted the core spirit of a tour with Marmot. M Gorshkov. Classic Cols of Catalonia

His passion for cycling and Marmot and its guests is clear to see. Simply, just a real pleasure to have had the boss lead us around, always supportive, always willing to go one step further to make the trip memorable. A Roberts. Classic Cols of the Picos

A fantastic person and guide. Always very supportive and encouraging. An excellent organiser – everything worked according to the plan. D Eilat. Classic Cols of the Southern Alps

Knowledgeable, professional and adaptable. Nothing was too much trouble for James who maintained his calm and friendly attitude throughout the week, regardless of anything that was thrown at him. M Molloy Raid Pyrenean

James made sure that everyone felt included, and was very careful with everyone’s allergies and meal preferences – that was very much appreciated! James also has a great sense of humour, is very organized, and is approachable. I feel we were very lucky to have James on our Raid Pyrenean. M Barnet. Raid Pyrenean 100 hr cycling challenge

Lead Guide

I was lucky enough to call the French Alps home for 18 years playing on two planks in the winter and two wheels in the summer. Brought up to never say no to an adventure, I believe that no adventure is too small or too big. Whether you’re taking on your first alpine col or attempting one of the raids I’ll be there to support you along the way. The pandemic led me into an adventure of a more cerebral kind and I’m studying for a Masters in psychotherapy so if the gummy bears don’t work, maybe a therapy session at the back of the van will! I’ve recently returned to my roots in Sussex and have been exploring the South Downs on my gravel bike. It brings a smile to my face every time, but I have yet to find any actual gravel in the southeast!

What our cyclists say about Mary…

Mary was fantastic. The care she has for the well-being of the cyclists just radiates from her. She was obviously very tuned in to the various states of mind of our group as each rider reached the col passes, which was great to see and much appreciated. Mary was unfailingly helpful, cheerful, supportive and effective. The way Mary ran the trip was perfect. I couldn’t have wished for a better tour guide. She and Pedro complemented each other very well and worked brilliantly as a team. Thanks a lot, Mary! E Huguet Classic Cols of the Dolomites 2018

Great attitude, very supportive and encouraging! A Lem and J Sinnott. Classic Cols of the Dolomites 2018

Great energy, added a real sense of fun to the week. P Gough. Alpine Classic road cycling holiday 2018

Always had a smile and had a knack of being there on the road exactly when we needed her. Excellent local knowledge. C Barker. Alpine Classic Cols 2018

Friendly; enthusiastic; very helpful and pleasant; brilliant management with meals and accommodation. B Peacock. Alpine Classic Cols 2018

Professional & friendly. always keen to help – very knowledgeable. Lovely person. P Margetts. Raid Pyrenean 100hr road cycling challenge 2019

Fantastic support. Very hard working, always available to answer endless questions and always smiling and positive to get you through the tough times and the spots of bad weather. An excellent guide! S Tobin. Raid Pyrenean cycling holiday 2019

Mary was exceptional her desire to make sure everyone was safe and had a great time was second to none, also she was very approachable. S Parfitt. Ventoux and the Verdon Gorge 2019

Loved how Mary was upbeat and had a great attitude. Appreciated her interactions with hotel/restaurant staff during dinners to ensure everyone was happy with food and beverages. J Anglim. Pyrenean Classic Cols 2019

Thank heavens for Mary! Constant positive and supportive presence. FABULOUS GUIDE. K Bird. Alpine Classic Cols 2019

Mary was really enthusiastic and upbeat all the time. The van support was excellent throughout and whenever you were feeling like you needed some water etc the van just seemed to appear as though they could read your mind! I left my water bottle in the van at one stop and, as I don’t like to stop on an ascent Mary even handed me my bottle as I passed the refreshment stop … over and above the job spec 😉 R. Bligh-Smith Road cycling in the Alps 2019

Guide

Cycling has been a passion for me since I was given my first racing bike for my 13th birthday. With it I was able to leave the confines of home with purpose, to explore my local area and beyond for the first time – something of a risk for children of today’s parents perhaps! I rode competitively for my local club in South Croydon for a few years in my later teens, but took my love of cycling further afield soon enough, solo bike touring in central Africa, South America, China, Tibet and Nepal, as well as countries closer to home in Europe with friends – yep, I know what climbing those Alpine cols takes, I promise!

In between, I muscled my way into the dark underbelly of mountain biking, unavoidable with the North Downs on my doorstep and the South Downs just down the road. My love of the dirt exploded during my stint teaching at a school in Northern Scotland, where I took myself away to the numerous trail centres and into the wilderness whenever the opportunity arose – frequently! During this time I also had the privilege of introducing some of the kids to the basic skills of mountain biking too, making use of my trail cycle and mountain bike leader training.

Moving back down South 5 years ago meant a natural return to the road bike and I get out on the tarmac as much as I can, although I like to think I have my feet in both disciplines still. I have also returned to undertaking some serious bike touring too – more recently I solo toured the Karakoram Highway and other silk routes through Pakistan, China and Kyrgyzstan, and a circumnavigation and crossing of Iceland – both trips on my trusty custom-built Roberts ‘Rough Stuff’ tourer.

Basically, I adore cycling…it’s in my blood! I am excited and feel privileged to be guiding for Marmot this summer. I am looking forward to meeting and working with and for each and every one of my clients this summer – and it’s surely about time I pass on my experience and passion for the bike!

What our clients say about Matt…

Matt is a real personality and makes a huge effort to include all. An ideal guide. G Sanford. Classic Cols of the Picos 2019

Very helpful and encouraging helped sort out a couple of things with my bike very competently. M Craig. Classic Cols of the Picos 2019

A professional, enthusiastic, eager-to-please, ever-helpful, hard-working, always willing, top-quality addition to the Marmot guide team. Hang onto him! J Hutchings. Classic Cols of the Picos 2019

What a great guy, always positive, always supportive, showed empathy for my injury and encouraged me on, the answer was always “Yes, how can I help”, customer service at its best. A Roberts. Classic Cols of the Picos 2019

Lead Guide

I was born in the city of Bath in 1977 and grew up in the small town of Nailsworth, where one of my childhood friends introduced me to road cycling. I had previously been a keen BMX’er but soon saw the error of my ways. At the age of 9, using money saved from a paper round starting at 5am, with a heavy bag and involving a 3 mile hill of severe gradient (on said BMX!), even before the first drop, I saved up and bought myself my first racer, as we called them, a Raleigh Winner. Steel framed and heavy, my trusty steed not only made the paper round easier but also took me all over the Cotswolds and, predictably, I started following the Tour de France.

My family later moved to Stroud, a town a few miles away and when I was 18 I decided to go to college and study outdoor pursuits. This led me to the great outdoors, in turn to rock climbing and mountain sports. Cycling took a back seat until 2011 when I began leading groups overseas on trekking and biking tours and I rediscovered my love of cycling.

I worked my first season with Marmot in 2014, interspersed with rope access work, leading groups overseas and working as a safety consultant in northern Iraq. This consultancy work continued full time for most of 2015 and in September that year I left Sheffield, where I had been living for 15 years, and moved to Chatel, where I spent the winter season snow boarding and skiing and generally enjoying living in the mountains. I currently live near Courchevel in the Savoie region of the French Alps, working as an electrician, guiding for Marmot during the summer and leading the occasional overseas trip or nipping back to the UK for a bit of rope access work or to visit the family.

I still rock climb regularly, as it was my main sport for 20 or so years but living so close to so many great climbs (and descents!) gives me a unique opportunity to enjoy some of the best bits of road France has to offer and believe me, I am!

Hope to see you on the road!

What our cyclists say about Neil…

Very well organised, clear and concise. Good sense of humour and a credit to Marmot. E Graham Raid Dolomites 2017

Excellent in so many ways and a great sense of humour, clear instructions re routes and tricky descents. S Germon Raid Dolomites 2017

Neil was great. Calm, just managed everything effortlessly which is the true hallmark of someone who is very good at what they do. I blew myself up on the first day on the first climb (brake caliper rubbing and I didn’t know it) It was a big day and I suffered for the rest of it coming in last and not being able to make it down for dinner. Neil came up to my room to check on me and organised a meal in the room which allowed me to recover and then complete the Raid. Great guy and I needed the help. J Carpenter Raid Alpine 2018

Excellent knowledge of the area and routes, very accommodating to all requests and helped make it a wonderful and enjoyable trip. L Robinson Classic Cols of Corsica 2018

Approachable and friendly, and with excellent knowledge of the route which came across along the route and during our evening briefings. Brilliant support, was always where he said he would be on the road. Tremendous workload, seems like a guide’s working day is 7am – 10pm. T Dooley Raid Alpine 2018

Neil came across as being very knowledgeable about the itinerary and was able to quickly gauge the strengths of the individuals in the group. He was always helpful, always smiling despite some very difficult circumstances. He was able to offer alternative suggestions if I wasn’t feeling up to some of the hills and suggested great pick up/drop off points. All in all a very supportive guide. His daily briefings were always great! H Wright Classic Cols of Corsica 2018

Neil always always calm and ready to help. Like Graham nothing seemed to phase him and another great asset to Marmot. Z Elliott Raid Corsica 2018

Lead Guide

I’m from the West Midlands, UK.

I’m all for exploring and excitement.

From an early age, I’ve always loved the mountains and the great outdoors and fortunately my two hobbies fit into that description. Skiing is my oldest hobby; I learnt to ski in French Alps as a toddler… fast forward two decades and I’m now a BASI instructor working in Zermatt for the winters.

Cycling is a more recent interest: a few years ago I was introduced to the sport and purchased my first road bike. Since then, I have enjoyed riding several sportives, building a bike and watching the Tour.

Now I have the opportunity to share my passion with you… see you on a tour soon!

What our cyclists say about Sam…

Sam provided really great support to Christel and was a welcome face at the top of many a climb C Golby, Classic Cols of the Picos 2016

Sam is great. Friendly and good fun, very enthusiastic. Although newer to Marmot he has all his ski teaching experience so well skilled at group management and support to individuals. D Junghans Raid Pyrenean 2016

Sam was also great with suggestions and reminders and even knocked on our door once when the alarm failed. I think he hauled a ton of luggage, as did Helen. Sam had the van there at all kinds of spots for water and food and clothing. Classic Cols of the Pyrenees 2016

Support was excellent, willing, biddable. His ability to play guitar and sing is an extraordinary talent – should be encouraged to do more, earlier on the trip! J Matthews, Raid Alpine 2016

Again very good, enthusiastic and encouraging, knew exactly what he was doing. Very aware of the difficulties posed by the weather conditions and made sure we were looked after as soon we arrived in the freezing cold at the top of the cols. K Gunning. Raid Pyrenean 2017

Fantastic support and good humour throughout. Very flexible and good problem solving when presented with unexpected road closures due to car rally. Worked extremely well with partner guide. Could not have asked for more. T Waller. Raid Alpine 2018

Sam was great. Kind, considerate, always willing to help, nothing too much trouble, anticipated what we needed and made sure it was there. Sam helped me out on the road. He pulled over on a long climb as I couldn’t shift the front chainring. He put the bike into the holder, several minutes later had the issue sorted and I was good to go. I was out on my own with no-one around so it was a little unnerving and a relief to see him hove into view and able to help me. Great guy. J Carpenter Raid Alpine 2018

Outstanding. Nothing too much trouble. Always available and enthusiastic. Must be hard at the end of a long season. S Muller. Cycling holiday in Sardinia 2018

They did a fantastic job in a very difficult week due to the weather. N Brazier. Raid Sardinia 2018

Super enthusiastic and helpful. Provided all of the necessary information to help us plan for each day. Managed to work well with all members of the team. Went out of his way to make life easy for us all and a true ambassador for Marmot. C Scott. Raid Pyrenean 100hr cycling challenge 2019

Positive, friendly and encouraging. Helpful. Good knowledge about the routes. K Sercombe. Dolomites & Stelvio cycling holiday 2019

Lead Guide

My dad put me on a bike without stabilisers (there were no balance bikes in the 70s) when I was two years old. I immediately fell off. Undeterred however I got back on and as I grew up bicycles were always part of my life.

I cycled to school, I cycled on my newspaper delivery round and I cycled everywhere in between: bikes were my ticket to adventure and exploration. As kids, my friends and I organised mini-races, built jumps and rode down (on a Raleigh racer) the steep slopes of our local, disused quarry. I joined my first cycling club when I was 14 and did my first race (a 25-mile time-trial) the following Sunday; I came last but loved it all.

Since then I have raced time-trials and road-races, hill climbs and stage races, velodrome and grass-track, XC and Enduro. Over the years I have had so much enjoyment, met so many people and learnt so much from riding bikes that I decided I wanted to give something back. Moving to Highland Perthshire I joined a new cycling club and started organising road races for them. One thing led to another and before I knew it I was organising all sorts of races including multi-stage MTB Enduros.

I am now a British Cycling qualified road and time-trial, track and mountain-bike coach and since 2009 have coached countless young people and adults. I am the head coach at my local youth cycling club and it is fantastic to see so many children getting on bikes and having as much fun as I did at that age. My favourite aspect of coaching is going into schools and running sessions with pupils who haven’t had the same opportunities to get out and ride and see how they engage with the activities. At one school the teacher warned about one pupil who could be very disruptive. During the session, he had a big smile on his face and at the end was one of a few pupils who came to thank me and tell me “I didn’t know that riding a bike could be so much fun”.

And for me, that is why I cycle.

It is great fun and I love coaching, guiding and supporting others to get as much fun out of cycling as I do. See you out on two wheels very soon!

What our road cycling clients say about Scot…

One day when it was raining heavily Scot, having already passed us in the van, turned around and dropped back down so that we were able to get our wet weather gear out of the van. This and other similar touches just reinforced the level of support provided on this trip: really first class. G Borton, Raid Corsica road cycling holiday 2016

Scott waiting for me on Madeleine on the last day (as the other riders had long gone as I had fitted in an extra climb), was so kind and appreciated. His “it is important to have someone waiting for you to see you finish your last climb” was very touching and not something I will forget. N Mullet Raid Dolomites road cycling challenge 2016

A real gem that everyone really liked. Energetic and enthusiastic and extremely personable. Always ready and prepared – nothing is too much trouble. We would all like him and Merv when we do the Raid Sardinia next May, please. R Parsons, Raid Corsica road cycling challenge 2016

Very positive at every hour of the long rides. Dealt with some minor problems ( slow puncture, squeaky transmission) with my hire bike. Scott was very helpful by providing first aid kit when I fell off on some gravel early in the week. A Staniforth, Raid du Massif Central 2016

Knowledgeable & v supportive. Good at mixing with guests and helping with any mechanical issues. H Gibbs, Raid Dolomites road cycling challenge 2016

As ever Scot provided great support and good humour, thanks. R Hart, Cycling holiday in Gran Canaria (Canaries, Spain) 2017

Scot was brilliant, very experienced and friendly and super helpful. The perfect guide really. I Threadgold Raid Pyrenean 2018

Great, he was very knowledgeable on the route and responsive to any questions. Super friendly guy, just what you want in a tour guide. Always in the right spot when needed without having to ask. B Murray Cycling holiday in the Northern Alps 2018

Scot and Katia were helpful, supportive, encouraging, practical etc. etc.etc. In other words, they were excellent. I often thought that they went above and beyond what I would have expected. Without a doubt, their efforts and commitment were a significant help to all the riders in the group. A Taylor. Raid Alpine (Geneva – Nice) road cycling challenge 2019

Very passionate guy, honest and very forthcoming with himself as a person, we got to know him well and were the better for it. He knows the climbs and has excellent recall of fun facts and things to look out for both for pleasure and interest but also for safety. He helped us immensely getting set up in the mornings and keeping things working from a tech perspective which is very important when you don’t know where you are going. M Rogers. Alpine Classic Cols road cycling holiday 2019

Knowledgeable about the area and always did his best to make the rides interesting and well serviced. Good company in the evening. Nothing seemed too much trouble. R Hall. Road cycling tour in the French Alps 2019

So much knowledge, encouraging, great natured advice when suggesting someone should not do something… salty tomatoes were a godsend! I’ve never experienced someone so accommodating and whilst I know it’s his job, he genuinely exudes real passion to enable people to achieve their goals in a really enjoyable manner. Amazing fella. J White. Mont Ventoux 3 times in a day ‘Club des Cinglés’ Challenge.

Lead Guide

New to the Marmot team for 2021, I have, for many years, worked for the renowned Cirque du Soleil before swapping the view from my desk for a much larger office: the great outdoors! During the last eight years, the guiding work took me to various parts of North America where I’ve guided kayak whale watching tours in the majestic St-Lawrence estuary, hiking tours in the Rockies and in the Western USA national parks, as well as cycling tours in various parts of Canada and Europe. In the winters, I worked at a remote mountain lodge accessible only by snowcat where I led ski touring groups. I am now married to Northern Irish girl with whom I live in London (when I’m there!).

When not touring the mountains of Europe, or navigating my way through my native Quebec in the winter, you’ll likely find me eating large amounts of food (by far one of the greatest advantages of working outdoors!). I believe my energy to be contagious and hope to help make your trip into an unforgettable adventure.

What our cyclists say about Simon…

Many congratulations to Simon on what I believe was only his second outing on this itinerary. He did an excellent job and was also a constant source of optimism and upbeat outlook! His experience as a guide in other disciplines really came through – and his Spanish was pretty useful too at mealtimes!! A great addition to the Marmot team! A Kohn, Picos & Angliru 2021

Such a kind, caring guide who went out of his way to make sure the needs of each client were catered for. Simon had a perfect knack of popping up exactly where you really needed him – on one climb in particular, where I was only expecting to see him at the top, he totally and utterly saved my ride for the day by unexpectedly being 5km before the summit with freshly chopped mango. He just knew what you needed without you needing to say. There when you needed him, and there when you didn’t, but always unobtrusive, smiling, helpful, encouraging and quietly attentive: all of the ingredients for the perfect guide. E Jack, Picos & Angliru 2021

Couldn’t have been more helpful, for example he helped me troubleshoot and then he fixed my front derailleur a couple of times in the evening when it was seizing up, went above and beyond. Super nice guy, can’t say enough good things really! S Waters, Classic Cols of the Southern Alps 2022

As I said in my speech, the guides are the air in our tubes, the sealant in our tubeless tyres, the fluid in our hydraulic brakes, the chamois cream in our shorts and the cleats which hold our feet to the pedals and keep us going. J Hutchings, Classic Cols of the Southern Alps 2022

Simon was very kind and helpful throughout the week. He made sure to look after everyone both out on the roads and back at the hotels. C Fitzpatrick, Classic Cols of the Southern Alps 2022

Absolutely brilliant nothing was too much trouble. I Stewart, Classic Cols of the Southern Alps 2022

Both guides came across as knowledgeable, hardworking, genuine people. They would refill the van water containers before breakfast, support everyone all day, take our suitcase to the hotel room (bliss), make sure we had enough to eat and drink at dinner. Nothing seemed too much trouble, they remained calm and good humoured at all times, to me they displayed a genuine desire to make sure everyone had a safe and enjoyable trip, they achieved this with empathy and by enabling and facilitating each individual. P Marr, Classic Cols of the Southern Alps 2022

Neil and Simon were both brilliant; they held together a really mixed group of super quick riders and those like me that were exceptionally slow! They were encouraging, supportive and attentive and really kind! looking back, without them both I think I would have given up, but their kind words of encouragement and always being around for drinks/food made the trip although v v hard worth it and so glad I finally made it to the end. S Sankey, Raid Alpine (Geneva – Nice) 2022

Simon always there, always good support and knowledgeable about the route and the challenge to come. A friendly welcome at every stop. M Hagger, Raid Alpine (Geneva – Nice) 2022

Simon was a great help on the route with van support and predicted the groups needs very well. He’s a great tour guide! N Treston, Raid Alpine (Geneva – Nice) 2022

A real STAR ⭐️ without him it would have been a very different, and less good, experience S Howes, Raid Alpine (Geneva – Nice) 2022

Simon was helpful, funny and easy to approach at all times during the trip. He was always smiling and encouraging. He worked very well with Helen and I could tell they were working hard behind the scenes to make the days run smoothly. L Bish, Raid Alpine (Geneva – Nice) 2022

Simon made us feel very at ease with everything, always so helpful, answering our constant questions and providing support when presented with bike issues. Really made a difference on route with the support stops, amazing timing just when you were running low on water or needed support, always a smiling face when the climbs were tough! JA Shedden, Dolomites & Stelvio 2022

Lead Guide

I was young when I realised I enjoyed helping people & encouraging them to achieve. It started because my mum was a social worker and she organised days out for kids with disabilities. I enjoyed the shared experiences and learned the benefits of active time outdoors. It made me happy and them too. It was the start of something, although back then I wasn’t sure what.

This early discovery was hindered by a strong urge to be nomadic, see the world a bit and meet the people. I didn’t realise how incompatible this can be with modern life that demands careers, pension schemes and stability. A circuitous route involving lots of study and a wide range of jobs, some mundane, others outlandish brought me into the sphere of outdoor leadership & facilitation.

Until this point, I’d enjoyed all manner of wild places, trekking, climbing, cycling & camping. The usual mix of adventure, campfires and personal growth, with a sprinkling of mishaps along the way. Nobody ever told me there were actual career paths to be had in this realm. So I added the qualifications to the kit bag and indulged my passion for personal development, the great outdoors and working with people. Since then I have had the pleasure to work with diverse groups of people – young, old and in between, in some of the most mind-blowing locations on earth, helping them to achieve & vice versa… a true win, win situation.

Happily settled in France, working for myself & other tour companies, I look forward to meeting you this summer. Although it will be yourselves doing the pedalling, I will be oiling the wheels of your cycle tour and sharing in your achievements.

What our cycling clients say about Tim…

Fantastic cool, calm, competent, cheerful, charismatic. Couldn’t be better. A lovely guy. R Hirst, Raid du Massif Central 2016

Tim was brilliant, nothing was ever a problem for him and to meet him halfway up a Col with the back of the van open with all sorts of goodies ready to get you up the second half will live in the memory. P Devine, Raid Pyrenean 2016

Professional, encouraging, aware, able, thoughtful…….a whole lot of good things to say. I simply would not have completed the ride without Tim and Graham. Very impressive logistics to seemingly always be around for James & I in our own two-person peloton far behind the other riders and yet also be available for the front peloton. M Yeates. Raid Pyrenean 2016

Not only very supportive but had a lot of local knowledge as well. J Wilson. Raid Massif Central 2017

Absolutely brilliant! So relaxed, friendly, thoughtful, motivational and fun. I’d love to know his secret for keeping everyone’s spirits up when it starts to rain. Also an inspiring and interesting life story. Thank you so much. M Guy Raid Pyrenean 2017

Very knowledgeable of the island, it’s background, culture and language. In addition, Tim was an excellent bike and van mechanic. S Stodart. Raid Corsica 2017

Spot on, attentive and proactive but at the same time relaxed and fun. R Sharam. Classic Cols of the Dolomites 2018

Tim is an excellent guide and a wonderful ambassador for Marmot. He anticipates every need, almost before we need it. He kept the whole show rolling beautifully with support available at all of the key points that made the rides spectacular. He managed organization and expectations extremely well. On top of that, he is a fabulous guy who led the show but seamlessly also became “one of the guys”. E Boomer. Raid Dolomites 2018

Fantastic support. Very hard working, went above and beyond to ensure our holiday and ride went seamlessly (including a trip to a local; bike shop to fix my bike!). Brilliant guide! S Tobin. Raid Pyrenean 2019

Tim was superb throughout the trip from first thing in the morning right through to the end of the day. He was a constant source of encouragement and was calm and cheerful throughout. Nothing was too much trouble for him. G Borton. Raid Massif Central 2019

Tim is simply a lovely man. Very helpful with great communication. Patient, knowledgeable and with a great sense of humour. P Clark. Raid Massif Central 2019

Passionate and enthusiastic. Nothing too much trouble. Worked like a demon and always in good humour! The patience of a saint! S Charles. Classic Cols of the Dolomites & Stelvio 2019

Special thanks and praise also for our two guides, Heidi & Tim, who were outstanding. Nothing was too much trouble for them, their support was exceptional, their attention to detail and the needs of all the cyclists was absolutely first class. They were friendly, helpful and totally professional throughout. It made for a very memorable trip. J Clapp, Andalusia 2023

Guide

Cycling has always represented freedom to me. Taught to ride a bike by my Grandfather when I was young, that pivotal moment had long since faded to a distant memory until by chance and many years later, I was lucky enough to re-live it through the silent eye of a rediscovered home movie. From the replay of that first day, I saw myself let go and set forth to fly, and have never looked back. Cycling has remained a large part of my life ever since; as a sport, a means of transport, a source of travel and adventure, and a way to make a living.

I can still remember my impulsive spirit as a young man, dissatisfied and restless after returning from travels in Asia and heading out from work on my lunch break to buy ‘that’ bike in the window with all the cash that I had. A week later, I was strapping on a bag and radio and flash-dashing fixed wheeled through the city streets as a bike messenger with that same boyish grin on my face. After a few hugely enjoyable years I moved on to work as a mechanic in various shops before heading to work at a store in Switzerland, which is where I discovered my love for the mountains, and the perverse pleasure that riding and suffering amongst them brings!

The last few years have seen me working for various cycle tour companies in a host of spectacular settings, from the bucket list locations of the Alps, Pyrenees and Dolomites, to the more adventurous Atlas mountains of Morocco and along the lesser known roads of Croatia, Bosnia Herzegovina and Montenegro, to name a few.

At Marmot there is another busy calendar for the season ahead and I look forward to meeting a great number of you, and doing all I can to ensure that you have a fantastic experience!

What our cyclists say about Tom…

Tom was brilliant – calm, knowledgeable, super helpful even with my own bike and always there when required. Richard B, Pyrenean Classic Cols 2023

Very attentive to riders’ needs, always available for assistance and had the ‘knack’ of personalising his support to each rider’s needs. Aaron C, Pyrenean Classic Cols 2023

Great guy and nothing was too much trouble. Was always there when one needed him and also helped with some mechanical issues. Alex Y, Classic Cols of the Southern Alps 2023

Excellent support and good company. Ben D, Classic Cols of the Southern Alps 2023

Tom was excellent – the best of the three holidays I have done. Always happy, smiling and nothing was too much trouble. I really appreciated bags/cases taken to the rooms each night. Good bike knowledge. Allan T, Classic Cols of the Southern Alps 2023

What a super nice guy and great addition to your team! Very helpful and so pleasant and friendly throughout the tour. Geoff S, Classic Cols of the Southern Alps 2023

Nothing was too much trouble for Tom, he knows bikes in and out and he was a very friendly and amenable fella with a great sense of humour. He and his co-guide worked well together throughout each day and had really strong complementary skills and attributes which meant the group always felt well cared for and attended to. Nick F, Classic Cols of the Southern Alps 2023

Lead Guide

I just bloody love bikes – I always have and I always will. Everything about them and everything they bring!

I have worked in the cycle industry for all of my career, from the education sector, working with Sustrans, the national sustainable transport charity, through managing a UK wide cycling brand as a National Cycling Manager in the Leisure industry to working as a Partnerships Manager for the National Governing Body for the sport, British Cycling.

As an experienced club rider and traveller, I am equally happy on a road or MTB and have guided tours all over the UK, France, Belgium, Holland, Spain, Italy, Sardinia, Mallorca and more.

I am also a tutor and assessor for British Cycling, delivering their L1 & L2 Ride Leadership Awards and their Bikeability National Standards qualifications. I hold a 1st Class Hons degree in Sport & Exercise Science (BASES Cert) and am a qualified Personal Trainer & Coach in Running & Fitness and am the Trainer for GoodGym in Sheffield, a charity that combines getting fit with doing good in your local community!

One of my favourite things about the guiding work I do is the people I meet, helping them along the way and sharing my love of the bike with them.

Qualifications:
British Cycling L2 Ride Leader
British Cycling MTB Leader L2
British Cycling L2 Coach (QCF)
British Cycling L2 MTB Coach (QCF)
Cycling UK Club Ride Leader
Cycling UK Ride Manager
Bikeability – National Standards Instructor Trainer (NSIT)
Cytech L1
ITC Outdoor 1st Aid (SQF L5)
British Red Cross – 1st Aid for Leading Rides

What our cycling clients say about Tom…

Tom was excellent and really encouraging. As I struggled to the top of Hautacam in the most dreadful of conditions and after coming off Tourmalet – he practically carried out a full service on my bike – tightened the brakes, cleaned the wheel rims etc. Really above and beyond also! Tom R, Pyrenean Classic Cols

Tom was an absolute star, very supportive, calm and helpful. Paul D, Raid Corsica

The crew worked tirelessly throughout and given how long some riders took, they deserve a medal themselves. They are the reason folks book with Marmot and do your company proud. Gary W, Raid Corsica

Tom was cheerful and helpful at all times. He was always available when needed and nothing was too much trouble. Karen R, Classic Cols of Corsica

Tom was a fabulous guide. Friendly, helpful, excellent in bike maintenance and making sure we had everything we needed for the days ride. I highly recommend him. Julia M, Classic Cols of Corsica

Just – thank you! Always in total control of everything in a completely friendly way. Many thanks for the mech tweaks, bike prep and bag coordination! Ian S, Classic Cols of Corsica

I really appreciated Tom’s calm, fuss-free, ego-free manner and found him totally approachable, charming, kind, polite and professional. His qualifications and experience speak for themselves – he’s a great asset to your team. Emma J, Classic Cols of Corsica

Tom can never do enough for you. His support on a red route was exceptional. Couldn’t have done it without him. Top man! G Treacy, Dolomites & Stelvio 2022

I arrived with my mech hanging off, Tom took the time to examine fix it. Always there with good humour and a few supportive words of encouragement. Top man!! C Kingsley, Dolomites & Stelvio 2022

Really knowledgeable and friendly and always having a laugh to brighten our day. If all your guides are like these two, then I can’t wait to go on another trip. J Beale, Dolomites & Stelvio 2022

Outstanding technical expert. Willingly helped with any problem. N Downing, Slovenia & Monte Zoncolan 2022

Tom was a star. Very organised and reliable and a real help with technical support. K Woolley, Slovenia & Monte Zoncolan 2022

They’re when you needed them, very efficient, and didn’t flap when the road was closed. Always approachable and helpful. Think they’re the best guides we’ve ever had on a group holiday. E L, Alpine Classic Cols 2022

Tom’s very calming and reassuring delivery of encouragement was very welcomed at van stops. Always on hand with help and advice with any mechanical issues, all full of praise for his brilliance in getting them through the week. Everyone also appreciated Tom’s one liners and magnificent beard. M Howard, Alpine Classic Cols 2022

Fantastic leader, brilliant mechanic. Tom was completely on it each day and adapted to circumstances. Very personable and supportive. I Nelson, Alpine Classic Cols 2022

I was impressed by his efficiency in dealing with situations and his quiet confidence and ability to articulate clearly with the group. A great ambassador for the Marmot brand. P Balding, Andalusia 2022

Extremely knowledgeable, very friendly and kept encouraging. Constantly trying to make the trip go smoothly for us all with his hard work ethic. A great, great guide. D Holt, Andalusia 2022

This cycling holiday is your goal, your dream. It’s your mountain to climb. We’re here to make it real, make it fun, and to make it the best holiday it can be – we love the preparation, so you can love the ride.

You lead, we follow.

Your feedback helps us get better…

Marmot Tours Leaders and Office Staff on the Summit of Ventoux during our 2018 team training.

We support your ride with two of our fully customised vehicles.

For your convenience, we have a fleet of 32 titanium framed road bikes for hire.

And just some of the feedback we’ve had…

Our Team

Partners & Friends