Aussie expat & frequent Skedaddler Karen Beltrame enjoyed a week or riding in Tuscany with Saxo Bank IT Factory Directeur Sportif Lars Michaelsen and former Italian National Champion Andrea Tafi.
Saddle Skedaddle and Lars have created a superb holiday. The thing that made it truly special was having our very own pro-cyclist who never tired of the million silly questions we asked from from sunrise to sunset every day. It was a real thrill to hear inside stories from the big tours and races and also hearing personal stories about other professional cyclists.
She survived to tell the tale, and here, with a selection of great photos, is what she had to say:
I’ve just returned from an amazing week of road cycling in Tuscany with Saddle Skedaddle.
The Tour Leader on the Giro della Toscana was none other than Lars Michaelsen, former rider with Team CSC and currently Sports Director with Saxo Bank IT Factory. Lars turned out to be much more than a guide; he played the role of very attentive host throughout the entire week. As the perfect host, Lars had carefully hand-picked every part of our tour from the cycling routes, the restaurants, the meals and wine at each restaurant, and the accomodation.
Saddle Skedaddle and Lars have created a superb holiday. The thing that made it truly special was having our very own pro-cyclist who never tired of the million silly questions we asked from from sunrise to sunset every day. It was a real thrill to hear inside stories from the big tours and races and also hearing personal stories about other professional cyclists.
I arrived feeling a little apprehensive and wondered how I would manage in the presence of a cycling legend. What would it be like riding for a week with a pro? My fears and apprehensions were completely unfounded and I soon realised that Lars was very down to earth, humble, and not in the slightest bit intimidating. He loved sharing his stories, answering our questions and riding with us to guide us through each day. I’m very happy to have experienced the Giro della Toscana.
Karen B. - Australia
“…a great cycling holiday that we would certainly like to do again.”
Linda & Andrew R. - South Africa
This superb desert biking adventure focuses on the deep south of Morocco, a land of big skies and stark mountain ranges where mud-brick kasbahs appear to rise up out of the desert, sitting in tranquil palm oases and framed by dramatic backdrops of snowcapped mountains. We ride along Morocco’s dirt roads, taking us from Marrakech to the Tichka Pass, the highest in the High Atlas, and then southward, descending along the Draa Valley to the fringes of the Sahara Desert.
