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WEST AFRICA EN VÉLO 2018

West Africa en Vélo 2018

West Africa en Vélo 2018

A grand adventure from the Atlas Mountains to the Atlantic Coast of Africa

RIDERS AND STAFF

Maxime Dionne

Tour Leader

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Maxime Dionne

Tour Leader
Casablanca to Cape Coast

Canada

"Travelling, moving, waking up every day in a new place means I have a thousand memories of different homes all around the world."

I used to work in an office developing softwares in Quebec City and one day I decided to quit that lifestyle. Being able to take only a trip or two per year wasn’t enough anymore—I needed to travel full time. In 2013, I bought a bicycle (that's right, I only had one from Canadian Tire at the time, but I quickly concluded a Surly LHT would better fit my needs) and went on my first bike tour, solo, starting from home and riding through Canada, the US, and Haiti. A year later, I was in Vancouver looking for a job and someone told me about TDA and their recruitment ad for Australia. I applied, bought an airline ticket to meet TDA in Adelaide, and the following month I was enjoying my new outdoor office from the saddle of my bike!

An incredible country I've cycled through is Haiti. The scenery is stunning and every 100 kilometres is an adventure, but best of all is the local folklore. I have many stories about this mysterious country and one of my favourites is about the werewolf living on the island. The Haitian werewolf is a shape-shifter able to impersonate any animal. It transforms at night—any night, even if there's no moon—and is always looking to feast on human flesh. The only way to avoid an assured death at this creature’s hands is to sleep in a house with a roof. I like to bush camp while cycling and Haiti was no different. I would sleep out in my sleeping bag in the mountains or on the beach, sometimes in my tent, sometimes under the stars. Every night the locals would warn me about the werewolf, genuinely worried I’d be eaten as I slept. Some invited me into their homes, and once a group of five friends volunteer to check on me every hour of the night. People were surprised every morning I woke up alive and some started to believe the werewolf didn't have an appetite for strangers.

There are a few reasons I like to travel so much: for one thing, I always want to have new adventures and face new challenges. And I love discovering new things—food, stories, places, people, cultures … you name it! With TDA, any and everything can happen—we’re constantly exploring the globe and we introduce fresh tours every year. As you can imagine, scouting and leading tours fulfill my desire for the new to perfection.

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Dehon Ninon Cedric Ainarime

Tour Leader Trainee

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Dehon Ninon Cedric Ainarime

Tour Leader Trainee
Casablanca to Cape Coast

Madagascar

From a very remote village in Madagascar, live in Madagascar. Got lucky to be part of TDA family, I would never thought that one day i would be able to visit foreign countries "en vélo". Looking forward to meeting you all and having a great time.

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Douglas Percival

Bike Mechanic

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Douglas Percival

Bike Mechanic
Casablanca to Cape Coast

South Africa

There is a great sense of satisfaction seeing a Rider finishing their day with a smile on their face, and that Day by Day, we have Taken someone safely to a place on this planet that Most People will never see, and all whilst by Bicycle.

I am a South African that has lived a life of itchy travel feet, and found myself Living in Sweden. Being a passionate cyclist in my teenage years, my Bike Mechanic Brother, taught me to fix my own bicycles, a vital bit of knowledge not only for a teenager trying to save money on bike repairs, but how it would shape my working career.

I've worked in all corners of the Bike industry,... shops, import and distribution, race teams, and even now for the Swedish Cycling Federation, as well as personal Guiding for a huge mix of private clients. They have all added up into helping me grow my knowledge of a bicycle, and how I can make one operate even in the worst environments with rider abuse,....which then played into the hand of being a confident TDA mechanic.

Guiding and Leading Tours came organically through my knowledge of Traveling, mixed with my knowledge of fixing bikes, thrown into the pot of being a passionate cyclist, and large desire of being on the Move.... Quite a mix.

TDA tours have the ability to provide one with a gift. It is a gift that keeps on giving...and that is: just when you think you have seen it all, there is always something else to surprise you with! From sleeping inside the Great Wall of China, to swatting flies off your sandwich in 49celcius Australian outback, or watching stars in the Sudanese Sahara, to Sipping Expresso's in an Italian cafe. From the Orderly bike lanes of Denmark to the chaos of Freetown, Sierra Leone.... There is so much that happens daily!

For any future rider that is wondering how to make their experience better. Set your expectations reasonably, ask questions, And come prepared... and Know your equipment!

Know how your bike feels, make sure it has arrived on tour Fully serviced. Know how to put up your tent if you're not confident with it.

And Figure out your bag packing! I have watched too many people lose an hour of their precious day (and some everyday for 4 months).. because they don't have their equipment organized.

Cheers..and happy riding!

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Sharita van der Merwe

Tour Leader

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Sharita van der Merwe

Tour Leader
Casablanca to Cape Coast

South Africa

“The thing I love most about my job is watching the social dynamics unfold.”

For as long as I can remember I’ve been stripping, fixing, and riding bicycles. As well, I knew from a young age I wanted to explore, travel, and see the world—my dream at one time was to fly airplanes. However, it wasn’t long before I realized that flying in a straight line from point A to point B wasn’t for me!

When I left school I had no direction, no idea of where I wanted to be or what I wanted to do, once my dream of flying died. In 2003, I saw a magazine ad of a bunch of cyclists lined up in front of the Giza pyramids and I became hooked on the idea of doing that but I had to choose between taking a four-month cycling trip across Africa or going to Warriors Boot Camp to get educated. I chose Warriors and the programme equipped me for life by giving me a solid foundation. There, I was free to discover and explore who I was and to test physical and mental endurance. Having my attitude and my comfort zone constantly pushed readied me for all sorts of real-world challenges. I stayed at Warriors for three years, then cycled solo across Africa when I was 22 years old. In 2009, I landed the job as TDA’s assistant tour director on the Cairo to Cape Town trip—and the rest is history.

Ever since, Africa has been my baby and my favourite. I’ve worked on other tours—the Silk Route, the Bamboo Road, Ruta Maya, Magical Madagascar—but Africa is my full-time project and has lately included TDA’s complex tour of West Africa.

I’m based in beautiful Cape Town; when I’m not here, I’m scouting, exploring, problem-solving somewhere in the world and revelling in the adventure of being alive.

TDA has taken me to 80 countries and my most incredible off-the-beaten-track expedition was the West Africa scout in 2017, especially Guinea—I’d never been to a place so remote, rough or wild. I fell in love with Africa all over again on that trip. The stories are epic and endless!

There’s never a dull moment with TDA, because you absolutely never know what’s going to happen next.

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Colleen Gordon

Chef

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Colleen Gordon

Chef
Casablanca to Cape Coast

South Africa

I just love Africa. I love introducing Africa to people that have never been here or have never done anything like this. You can just see their eyes open, and all of their prejudices drop as they ride through it. The bike is just such an amazing way to do it, I’ve done tours in the past where the passengers are in the vehicle with me, and it’s just not the same. [On a TDA tour] you stop at coke stops all the time, and are constantly interacting with your environment. You often rely on locals for something like water, that interaction is absolutely essential to the tours. In the end, it’s one giant road trip with people that become your family. I love camping. You get addicted to the camping lifestyle, to see the sunrise and sunset everyday. You’re in the mix, you’re hearing the hyena’s and the owls. The amount of times I’ve had elephants come through our campsites in Africa, it’s magic.

I have been leading tours in Africa for over a decade, but I started at TDA as a chef. I love shopping at local markets in Africa, the interactions with the mama’s, and just buying everything they’re selling in bulk.

I love the behind the scenes moments. Everything it takes to keep the show on the road. Trucks getting stuck, and us having to try and pull vehicles out with help from the locals and their tractors. I remember another time on the North American epic, on the Arctic section, we had such a hard time trying to source water, that we sent up the drone to find the local water tank in a little First Nations village. It’s stuff like that that I love, the behind-the-scenes challenges. I like the spontaneity, the natural chaos of Africa.

[As a tip for future participants of our expedition tours], get comfortable with all your camping gear. Set up your tent first, maybe even sleep in it for a night or two in your apartment. Test your mattress, take it up and down a couple of times, because you’ll be doing that a lot. People don’t always realise this. You’ll be coming into camp after a long ride, and having to set your tent up and then tearing it down again in the middle of the night, just day after day after day, it’s relentless. So packing well and being comfortable with your set-up is absolutely essential in my opinion.

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Lezinda Rossouw

Driver

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Lezinda Rossouw

Driver
Casablanca to Cape Coast

South Africa

Namibian born who grew up on a farm. This will be my 3rd trip with TDA. Looking forward to seeing something new everyone day and meeting new people.

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Errol Venter

Chef

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Errol Venter

Chef
Casablanca to Cape Coast

South Africa

Hi im Errol. Some of you will know me from TDA,ill be joining as cook on this tour ,hope there wont be too many challenges but that would be unlike a TDA tour.

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Tom Searle

Medic

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Tom Searle

Medic
Casablanca to Cape Coast

United Kingdom

Hi I'm Tom and I'll be one of the medics in the crew helping to make the tour as safe and fun as possible. I am an Emergency Doctor working in Brighton, UK. I've lived and trained in the UK my whole life, slipping away to various corners of the globe when possible to indulge my passions of cycling, climbing, hiking and remote area medicine. I'm extremely excited to be joining the team for this unique tour and looking forward to meeting the group. Remember your malaria prophylaxis!

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Sophie DeGroot

Communications

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Sophie DeGroot

Communications
Casablanca to Cape Coast

United States

When I’m not leading day cycling tours in Alaska, I seem to find myself out and about with TDA. This will be my third trip - after having crewed both East & West Africa in 2018. As your ATD I look forward to getting to know you all while we ride (and eat!) our way through SE Asia.

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Annegrete Warrer

Rider

Casablanca to Dakar

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Annegrete Warrer

Rider
Casablanca to Dakar

Denmark

Starting doing my first TDA trip back in 2011 and doing quite some more along the years I am so happy to be back there after a far too long Corona pause. First time cycling with you in Europe is exciting - a bit more comfortable than my third world camping expeditions.. Fits me really well! And about time to learn the more charming stretches of Germany after pendling between Austria (where I live) and Denmark (where I come from) for over 40 years. This will be wonderfull: to meet you all and doing a full supported tour again!

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Per Sörner

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Per Sörner

Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

Sweden

Freelance engineer, musician and reality hacker from the Swedish west coast. Currently on an indefinite sabbatical to explore life more fully. I find expedition cycling a good way to practice living in the present, enjoy the "simple" downsized life, see the world, fill up with new impressions and stretch the edge of my comfort zone. Previous TdA experience: Hong Kong to Bangkok (Bamboo Road premiere 2013), Bali to Alice Springs (Trans-Oceania premiere 2014), Quito to Cusco (SAE 2015), Ulan Bator to Gorno-Altaysk (Silk Route 2016), Freetown to Cape Coast (West Africa en Vélo premiere 2018) and Kashmir to Kathmandu (Trans Himalaya premiere 2019). Now preparing for Journey to the East (2024).

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michael howard

Rider

Dakhla to Freetown

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michael howard

Rider
Dakhla to Freetown

United Kingdom

I have been cycling on and off since I joined a North London UK cycling club when I was 15. Since then I have 2 children one of whom convinced me to try Tour De Afrique. Due to business reasons I could only cycle from Khartoum to Addis Ababa. I was hooked, tow years later and here we are again. I am training whenever I can. Since my first TDA adventure the bug bit me. Cycled Tanzania to Namimbia and Kygrstand to Turkmanistan. I train on tollers in the garage due to work commitments. I am looking forward to Magical Mdagascar.

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Mike Carter

Rider

Dakar to Cape Coast

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Mike Carter

Rider
Dakar to Cape Coast

Canada

Currently living in Victoria, BC, Earth. This is my Fourth trip with TDA and my second time cycling in Africa. I'm looking forward to meeting you all on the trip! Cheers, Mike

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Joseph Lee

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Joseph Lee

Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

Canada

I love to travel, and bicycle touring is my preferred way to see the world. This will be my first tour since Covid cancelled many plans. I’ve enjoyed 4 full TDA tours: Indian Adventure, Ruta Maya, Pub Ride, West Africa en Vélo. I’m excited to see Korea and more of Japan than Tokyo. I have travelled lots, but my list of places to visit never gets any shorter. I became a teacher, mainly because of the holidays, and I am now semi-retired, doing occasional teaching in between travels. Looking forward to renewing old friendships and making new ones. Now I need to get cycling again!

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Dean Murray

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Dean Murray

Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

United States

Retired from engineering in 2015 and have been doing cycling and hiking trips since, including Newfoundland, Ruta Maya, Australia, Pub Ride, West Africa and Great Divide. Cycling trips with camping are my favorite times.

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Huberte Lanteigne

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Huberte Lanteigne

Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

Canada

TdA 2006

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Marie-Josée Vasseur

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Marie-Josée Vasseur

Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

Canada

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Caroline Derouet

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Caroline Derouet

Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

Canada

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Eleanor Patterson

Rider

Freetown to Cape Coast

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Eleanor Patterson

Rider
Freetown to Cape Coast

Australia

Rode the Ruta Maya tour in 2015 and loved it. Was planning on doing the first Magical Madagascar Tour in 2019 but ended up doing the last 2 sections of West Africa en Velo in 2019 which was fantastic and allowed me and my partner to catch up with a number of Ruta Maya riders who had signed up for the tour, and to meet new friends. Covid along with a change in jobs put the brakes on riding the 2021 Magical Madagascar Tour, so we are very much looking forward to finally getting to Madagascar in 2023. In the meantime we are riding Darwin to Broome.

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David Dennis

Rider

Freetown to Cape Coast

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David Dennis

Rider
Freetown to Cape Coast

Australia

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Stephen Warren

Rider

Casablanca to Dakhla

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Stephen Warren

Rider
Casablanca to Dakhla

United States

I am a professor of Earth Science (atmospheric physics and glaciology) in Seattle, now partly retired. I rode three weeks of the TdA Silk Route in 2016, from Siberia through Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan; I was usually the slowest rider. I crossed the Sahara in 1977 rather quickly by truck with a trans-Africa camping-safari. Now I'm looking for a more leisurely crossing.

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Michel Savoie

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Michel Savoie

Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

Canada

This will be my eighth trip with TDA. I like to travel on a bike with other cyclists like me.

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ray harder

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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ray harder

Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

United States

i am a 73 year old male from missouri, usa. i have ridden on bike tours across the us, and this will be my fourth out of country. i am glad that we are going north to south as it seems downhill to me... i am looking forward to this trip... email me -- harderr@umsystem.edu if you want to talk... ray

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Erwin Attenberger

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Erwin Attenberger

Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

Germany

Hi, I´m Erwin, already 69, retired. My first long tour was TDA 2014, where I went from Khartoum to Nairobi and on my own through Uganda, back to Kenia and from there down to Southafrica, Lesotho, Swaziland and Mozambique. Meantime I´ve been on several TDA-Tours including South America, Silk Route and Trans-Himalaya. Looking forward to meet you on the next tour with TDA.

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Kim Payne

Rider

Freetown to Cape Coast

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Kim Payne

Rider
Freetown to Cape Coast

New Zealand

Self Employed Travel Agent which makes things slightly easier by being able to have a mobile office. Can we ensure the WIFI is great on this leg please? I've managed to do sections of Ruta Maya 15, TDA 17, and now this. I have also signed up for West Africa. Ticking sections off slowly Now to get a new bike. I'm sick of the mountain bike! Cyclo cross is where it's at.

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Trixie Wagner

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Trixie Wagner

Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

Germany

I am a German citizen but live and work in Switzerland. After having survived Ruta Maya, parts of the Tour d'Afrique and West Africa, I am looking forward to the next cycling challenge!

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Kevin Hall

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Kevin Hall

Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

Australia

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Steve Winter

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Steve Winter

Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

New Zealand

Originally from New Zealand I spent ten years living in the UK before moving to Latvia where I'm currently living. Always up for a challenge or adventure riding through West Africa seems like it should be for me...!

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Rod Pennington

Rider

Casablanca to Dakar

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Rod Pennington

Rider
Casablanca to Dakar

Canada

Hi there fellow adventure travellers....let's go!

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Rider

Casablanca to Dakar

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Rider
Casablanca to Dakar

Canada

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Eriberto Roana

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Eriberto Roana

Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

Italy

Questo è il mio secondo TDA, nel 2010 ho fatto il Coast to Coast Los Angeles-New York, nel 2015 SudAmerican Epic, nel 2017 Il Great Divide, adesso andiamo ad affrontare questa nuova avventura e felice di incontrare alcuni ciclisti del SAE 2015.

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Erin Miller

Rider

Freetown to Cape Coast

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Erin Miller

Rider
Freetown to Cape Coast

Canada

I am a physiotherapist living in Toronto. I did multiple sections of the Tour D'Afrique in 2017 (from Nairobi to Windhoek) and the final section of West Africa 2018 from Freetown to Cape Coast. I have also done some solo touring in Canada. Looking forward to this next adventure!

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Thomas Eldner

Rider

Freetown to Cape Coast

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Thomas Eldner

Rider
Freetown to Cape Coast

Switzerland

german/swiss Citizen Living in Lucerne

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Rider

Casablanca to Freetown

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Rider
Casablanca to Freetown

Australia

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Jess Moyer

Rider

Dakar to Cape Coast

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Jess Moyer

Rider
Dakar to Cape Coast

Canada

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Kevin McAleer

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Kevin McAleer

Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

Canada

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andré marcoux

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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andré marcoux

Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

Canada

back on the road again, after africa,china italy,new zealand, west africa is the next one . see you in casablanca ,without the tandem this time !!

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Daniel Johnson

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Daniel Johnson

Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

United States

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italo mazza

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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italo mazza

Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

Italy

Hi everybody!! My name is Italo Mazza. I was born in Italy 69 years ago, I’m married and I have one son (31). I worked for an international company and we had ( with my family) the opportunity to live in different countries ( Argentina, Australia, Germany and Hungary); now it is ten years I’m retired. My passion is alpinism and I made several interesting climbs: Cho Oyo in Tibet (8.200mt), Muztagh Ata in China (7.550mt), Satopanth in India ( 7.100mt), Spantik Peak in Pakistan ( 7.050mt), Aconcagua in Argentina ( 6.960mt) etc. and several long treks. In 2011 I started to bike and I have been to Patagonia (Argentina and Chile) from Bariloche to Ushuaia, in Mongolia, 2012 in Australia from Darwin to Adelaide, 2013 in Africa from Cairo to Cape Town, 2014 in Asia from Shanghai to Istanbul, 2015 in Europe from Capo Passero ( south tip of Italy) to North Cape alone, in 2016 South America from Quito to Bariloche; 2018 from Morocco to Ghana.

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Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

Canada

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Marco Panebianco

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

 

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

Switzerland

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Patrick Scott

Rider

Dakhla to Dakar

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Patrick Scott

Rider
Dakhla to Dakar

United States

I'm a travel writer and former New York Times business editor who left the U.S. five years ago, and my wife and I are still exploring the fascinating world. We lived in London and Cairo each for two years and now we're loosely based in Southeast Asia. I've done a couple of Ironman races but don't cycle regularly these days, since I don't have a bike. I'll be securing one from my cycling pals in Cairo. I mostly swim, open water when I can, and I recently took up freediving. I worked for 20 years at The Charlotte Observer and grew up in Scranton, Pa. We have two daughters, who live in Denver and New York.

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Hanne Renland

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Hanne Renland

Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

Norway

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David Jones

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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David Jones

Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

Canada

My wife and I are so excited to experience Japan with the TDA Team.

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Mimi Viviers

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Mimi Viviers

Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

South Africa

I'm an avid mountain biker & love being outdoors appreciating nature. I have done many multi-stage races in SA, Namibia & Kenya & joined the 2016 Td'A team for the last leg from Windhoek to Cape Town (my home town). On this trip I met my partner Dave and we are keen to do the full West Africa tour together.

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Clive Rogers

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Clive Rogers

Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

United Kingdom

To celebrate my 50th year in 2008 I participated in the Tour D’Afrique. This was my first tour with TDA and the friends I made while crossing the Continent along with the experiences both good and bad, have been with me every day since. At the end of the Tour, like many others I found it hard to adjust back to “normal” life, so within a short time I headed of to America for my first solo tour from New York to Los Angeles, which was about as different an experience from the African tour as you can get. Since then over the years I have criss crossed Europe several times including a ride from North Cape to Warsaw, John O’groats to Lands End twice, E2E New Zealand and in 2017 completed my second crossing of USA via the Southern Tier. This year as part of my 60th celebrations, I’m setting out on 18th June to cross Canada, followed by 3 week tour of Ireland before joining the West Africa en Velo. Im looking forward to this Pioneering adventure, making new friends and hopefully seeing some old ones.

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Henny Thoolen

Rider

Dakar to Freetown

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Henny Thoolen

Rider
Dakar to Freetown

Netherlands

Hi, I am Henny from Holland. Used to riding bikes. Normally against the wind in the morning and against the wind - again - in the evening. Holland's highest mountain is 600 meter and I am living about 6 meters under see level. Looking forward to bike in Madagaskar. I have participated in the section Dakar to Freetown in 2018 and should do Joborg2C in 2021, MTB in Laos and in 2022 from Beijing to Ulan Batur. Unfortunately COVID-19 did have a head start. Hope Madagaskar will start!

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Joost Kramer

Rider

Dakar to Freetown

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Joost Kramer

Rider
Dakar to Freetown

Netherlands

Hi, I am about to embark on my fifth TDA (sectional) tour and as excited to do so as was the first time. Being Dutch I was raised using a bicycle to get to places, and I still do. What always will be a challenge is the uphill parts as those we lack here in The Netherlands.

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Rider

Freetown to Cape Coast

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Rider
Freetown to Cape Coast

Canada

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Bob Whitehead

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Bob Whitehead

Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

United Kingdom

Bob Whitehead Age: 75 Profession: Retired Chartered Civil Engineer Resident in Hong Kong: 31 years I was attracted to join my first bike tour in 2012 with TDA Global by the prospect of long distance adventure cycling in intriguing and sometimes remote and hostile environments. This was TDA's Silk Road tour. Some time later, when I saw their South American bike tour advertised, I was immediately attracted back to do my second long distance tour. I have now fitted bike touring into my already full & active lifestyle! So where have I come from? I’m a retired civil engineer and have lived in rural Hong Kong on and off for much of the last 40 years. There is a great range of outdoor activities on the doorstep, in particular excellent trail running and sailing. It’s also a good hub from which to take off to countries in the region and indulge in skiing, trekking and even simply just travelling! When one is still fit, why would you want to leave Hong Kong, even after 31 years? Well, I have at last now moved back to UK. As for what else got me into cycling……..Well, I’ve been a trail runner for most of my time in HK and reached the top level in my age category in cross-country, long distance trail running and mountain marathons at the ripe old age of 55. Then, after a few years, I decided to take after the great ultra-marathon runner, Marshall Ulrich, and diversify. This, as a way to keep motivated. It started with adventure racing and along with a team mate, we travelled around SE Asia competing at the top level for a number of years. Mountain biking was an important discipline and to help with my bike fitness, I brought my trusty 30-year old Carlton Gyro road bike over from the UK as my training steed. This had to go back recently to be sandblasted and painted after suffering from the ravages of Hong Kong's humidity for 10-years. Then in 2010, we competed in the Scottish Coast to Coast adventure race, for which I purchased a 16-speed cyclo-cross bike. I decided to "tour" back along the route over 5-days. This started me thinking about doing a "proper" bike tour and since I possessed a book about the Silk Road, such a bike tour loomed high on the agenda. I had also picked up a couple of books in a second hand bookshop back home in England. They were travel books on Morocco and Yunnan province in China. Glancing through those I rediscovered trekking, something I had experienced years before in Nepal in the early ‘80s. So long distance bike touring and high altitude trekking have been the focus more recently. In 2012, it was the Silk Road for 10-weeks for which I set up my mountain bike with road transmission components. In May 2013, I completed two solo treks in Morocco each based on the two highest peaks of Toubkal and Mgoun, both a little over 4000 metres. And from May 2014, China was the focus. It started with the Big Kora, a Pilgrims' circumnavigation of three 6000-metre peaks in western China involving seven mountain passes of up to 4700m. Since then, Habba Snow mountain has been the focus, with several trips (there being no maps available) culminating in a successful trip to the summit at 5,396m in 2019. Late in 2014, I completed a 5-day tour in Devon, UK on my cyclo-cross bike. This with a view to tackling LEJOG, a bike challenge of 970 miles taking in the UK from bottom to top (SW to NE). I needed to test out my gearing for the many hills on LEJOG. The idea was to take in LEJOG as a warm up for the SA Epic. The part of the LEJOG in Devon has the toughest hills on the whole LEJOG route, so this was an ideal testing ground for my equipment and gearing. And the result? I straight-away ordered a new MTB cassette and new rear changer for the bike! As for LEJOG, well I completed this in 12-days after Easter 2015 …….. and still had to walk up a number of the hills! For the South American Epic, starting in July 2015, I decided to take my mountain bike, which had proved very successful and trouble free on the Silk Road. I felt it more suitable and comfortable for the longer distances and longer climbs. And it featured yet again in the TDA West Africa tour in 2018. Meanwhile I'm still enjoying trail running and find it compliments biking very nicely. I also more recently introduced road biking to my activities and found a superb circuit in South Devon which takes me about 23kms there and back along superb coastal scenery.

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Paul ten Brummelhuis

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Paul ten Brummelhuis

Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

Netherlands

As former participant in the Tourdafrique ( in sections) and the Silkroute (2016) and the first section to Calgary together with my daughter Lieke, and Westafrica en Velo 2018, I will do now the last two sections again .

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Philippa Jeacocke

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Philippa Jeacocke

Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

United Kingdom

Hi everyone. My name is Philippa and I will be the team medic along with Tom. I'm a GP trainee back home in the UK and have worked abroad in a variety of settings. I love exploring the world from the seat of a bicycle! I have done a few cycle touring trips before, both solo and with friends, although this will be my first cycle trip outside of Europe which I am very excited about! Just to second Tom's advice: ***don't forget the all important malaria prophylaxis!***

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Rob Kerr

Rider

Dakar to Cape Coast

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Rob Kerr

Rider
Dakar to Cape Coast

Canada

I am a Canadian male, living in Oakville ON. I do a lot of cycling, play hockey 3 times a week and keep fit in the gym and doing yoga. I was born some time ago but I feel young. My bike trips include the Great Divide, Underground Railroad, big parts of the US east and west coasts, most of the Swiss passes and a trip through China. My only organized tours were in China and the first leg of the Great Divide. I have also done a lot of long-distance sailing and canoeing. I love exploring and the unpredictability that it entails. West Africa looks like a good fit.

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Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

United States

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Pieter van Rooyen

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Pieter van Rooyen

Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

United States

TDA 2006

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Robert Gex

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Robert Gex

Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

Ireland

I have always loved to travel by bicycle, traveled around the world by bike for 2.5 years in my 20's... Now I take a solo trip every year for about one month. .

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Esen Küçüktütüncü

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Esen Küçüktütüncü

Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

Turkey

Hey everyone, I'm Esen from Istanbul. I'm a documentary filmmaker who loves traveling and cycling, so TDA is a dream come true. So far I've done Trans Europa 2018 (Barcelona-Lisbon) and West Africa 2018. They both were unique experiences, having the chance to see places not only by main roads and attractions but through pathways across villages is I think the sole way to catch those unique moments. Being able to remember the old lady sitting in a panadería, carefully reading her newspaper as I stopped to grab some snacks in Tarragona (Spain) is a delight, as well as the little Senegalese children asking me if I wanted to join their game. There are many moments that we wish to remember, of course in tours like this there are tons. I hope the videos we make will help you remember them even after the tour ends. I'll you see you Asia!

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Peye Vlot

Rider

Dakar to Freetown

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Peye Vlot

Rider
Dakar to Freetown

Netherlands

Since 1990 living and working ( dental surgeon ) in Muscat ( Sultanate of Oman ).

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Rider

Dakar to Cape Coast

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Rider
Dakar to Cape Coast

Australia

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Rider

Dakar to Cape Coast

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Rider
Dakar to Cape Coast

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Kees Vlot

Rider

Dakar to Freetown

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Kees Vlot

Rider
Dakar to Freetown

Netherlands

36 years old, Born and raised in the Netherlands. Cycling has always been a greate love of mine, even have spend a few years doing competition racing. I think my love for traveling `of the beaten track` and my cycling pasion would make a greate match in this tour. Can`t wait!

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Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Hanns Fellenz

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Hanns Fellenz

Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

Canada

Married 42 years, 4 children, 3 grandchildren. Retired CIO World traveler; 2 circumnavigations by air and train on 5 continents. TDA Epics x 4 (so far)

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Henry Gold

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Henry Gold

Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

Canada

Founder, TDA Global Cycling

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Rider

Freetown to Cape Coast

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Rider
Freetown to Cape Coast

Australia

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Natalie Jacobson

Rider

Freetown to Cape Coast

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Natalie Jacobson

Rider
Freetown to Cape Coast

Australia

What can I say, I just like to ride. I've done a couple of tours in Aus and NZ, but this will undoubtedly be the most challenging physical and mental thing I have ever done. I've always wanted to go to Africa and I can't think of a better way to experience the continent than on bike. I can't wait!!!!!!

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Brian Fullerton

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Brian Fullerton

Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

Canada

Have done several tda trips (mostly sections) and am excited about Helena to Moab. Even more excited about having a shiny new bike. The photo was taken during the West African trip not long before I fell in the ocean and ruined my phone, my gps, my pride and of course my bike.

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Jacqueline Nel

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Jacqueline Nel

Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

South Africa

"It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle." Ernest Hemingway

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Svend Paulsen

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

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Svend Paulsen

Rider
Casablanca to Cape Coast

Canada

Hi Since I retired from Teaching 11 years ago I have had the opportunity to travel with TDA . This will be my 9th trip. I enjoy meeting new travelers as well as reuniting with old friends . Together we see and experience the incredible wonders of the world first hand and up close . I look forward to seeing all of you on the trans oceania

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Maxime Dionne

Tour Leader

Casablanca to Cape Coast

Annegrete Warrer

Rider

Casablanca to Dakar

Per Sörner

Rider

Casablanca to Cape Coast

michael howard

Rider

Dakhla to Freetown

Mike Carter

Rider

Dakar to Cape Coast

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“Experiencing the countryside and culture of West Africa was everything I’d hoped it would be, and the tour gave us the freedom to do so in our own way, while providing excellent support and logistics.”

“An incredible experience that I am still trying to describe. I look at the photos and I am in awe of what we have experienced.”

“In the fast-growing category of adventure cycling vacations, it’s safe to say that this one...was on the extreme end...The region has been more associated with civil war, disease and extremists than bucket-list challenges. But as political and economic stability has increased in recent years, so has the number of foreign tourists.”

OVERVIEW WEST AFRICA EN VéLO 2018


  • FULL TOUR
  • SECTION 1
  • SECTION 2
  • SECTION 3
  • SECTION 4
  • WEST AFRICA EN VéLO
  • ATLAS MOUNTAINS
  • DESERT COAST
  • FOUTA DJALON
  • COCONUT COAST
  • CASABLANCA TO CAPE COAST
  • CASABLANCA TO DAKHLA
  • DAKHLA TO DAKAR
  • DAKAR TO FREETOWN
  • FREETOWN TO CAPE COAST
  • OCT 12 TO DEC 22
  • OCT 12 TO OCT 28
  • OCT 30 TO NOV 11
  • NOV 15 TO NOV 27
  • NOV 30 TO DEC 22
  • USD 12900
  • USD 3800
  • USD 2900
  • USD 2900
  • USD 4900
  • LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE
  • LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE
  • LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE
  • LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE
  • LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE
  • FULL TOUR
    • WEST AFRICA EN VéLO
    • CASABLANCA TO CAPE COAST
    • OCT 12 TO DEC 22
    • 12900 USD
    • LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE
  • SECTION 1
    • ATLAS MOUNTAINS
    • CASABLANCA TO DAKHLA
    • Oct 12 - Oct 28
    • 3800 USD
    • LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE
  • SECTION 2
    • DESERT COAST
    • DAKHLA TO DAKAR
    • Oct 30 - Nov 11
    • 2900 USD
    • LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE
  • SECTION 3
    • FOUTA DJALON
    • DAKAR TO FREETOWN
    • Nov 15 - Nov 27
    • 2900 USD
    • LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE
  • SECTION 4
    • COCONUT COAST
    • FREETOWN TO CAPE COAST
    • Nov 30 - Dec 22
    • 4900 USD
    • LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE

Prices based on double occupancy at hotels. Solo riders will be paired with another rider of the same gender at no additional charge. A registration fee of US$150 must first be paid to hold your place on the tour. This fee is in addition to the entry fee listed above and is non-refundable and non-transferable. Full tour entry fees will receive an early payment discount of US$400 if full payment is received 6 months before the start of the tour. Those coming for multiple sections get 10% off for 2 or more sections on the same tour (multiple section discount does not apply to full tour price). TDA alumni get special alumni discounts. Please contact our office for further details. Full tour and section dates listed are for first and last day of cycling. Accommodation the night before first cycling day and the night of last cycling day are included in entry fee. We advise booking at least 1 additional night at tour accommodation before the tour, to be able to attend rider briefing and have assistance from tour bike mechanic in setting up your bike.

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