You Always Remember Your First!

Nick Coe is the Content Creator on the 2025 Road of Empires Cycling Adventure.

At TDA Global Cycling, the slogan ‘Expect the unexpected’ is more than just a catchphrase – it’s a mindset…and the Road of Empires is no exception. This group is testing the waters on this brand new tour through Andalusia, Algeria, Tunisia and Sicily. True to form, the thrill of the unknown is why everyone is here. There’s a certain beauty in embracing the uncertainty and for many of the riders, it’s not about knowing what’s around the corner or having all the details neatly mapped out.

As one rider, Neil, put it, “It’s an adventure for sure. They told us to be patient, just wait, and see where it takes us. It’s a first time for you and for us, so we are all on the same boat – literally.” One of the first challenges of the trip was the ferry crossing the Mediterranean from Spain to Algeria. As always, there were some delays, and the group found themselves with a few hours to kill. Rather than letting the delay become frustrating, they embraced it. The riders grabbed snacks, chatted, and made the best of the situation, adding yet another story to this new adventure.

Algeria was a complete unknown for the entire group, and that’s exactly what made it so thrilling. Without preconceptions, the group could only rely on their own curiosity and willingness to embrace the unfamiliar. “The sense of adventure is sort of lost now, since everything is posted online with social media and expedition tours. You can see everything via street view on Google Maps,” said staff member Paula, “However, we gained that sense again on this tour. Algeria has little tourism and knowledge of what to expect. We have nothing to base it off of.”

As if the journey wasn’t already full of surprises, the group was met with something none of them expected upon entering Algeria – an official police escort. What started out as uncertainty quickly turned into a beautiful display of hospitality. “We quickly found out it was not to fear anything, but rather the police and government just wanted us to have a great experience in their country, and they wanted to help dictate that,” said Rider Barb. The police, far from being an obstacle, were there to ensure the cyclists had the best possible experience.

As we cycled through Algeria, the group was reminded of the novelty of this route. We do not know what to expect with the next city, the next turn, the road conditions, traffic congestion, or what’s over the mountains we see in the distance – since we are the ones making note of it!

The true magic of being part of a TDA ‘first’ is knowing that you are not only part of a new tour, but that you are also experiencing something completely unique that no one else has done before. Being the first TDA tour to cycle from Spain through Algeria and Tunisia means we are probably the first group in general to do this. “It’s the first time we’re doing this, so we’re learning as we go,” said Andreas, our Tour Leader. “You have to be prepared to be delayed, prepared for the unknown, but that’s what makes it exciting.” As Barb, one of the riders, put it, “I did this trip because it’s new. It’s not camping, and with Algeria being a new country for TDA, you know you’ll be staying in places like, like the apartments last night. Nice places that are unique. Nice hotels are lovely, but you can be anywhere. It’s the character and charm with these new, unique places, and you’re not sure what each place is going to be.”

As with any large tour, there are always a few hiccups along the way. Accommodation challenges arose when hotels weren’t completely prepared for the large number of cyclists but rather than letting these setbacks become roadblocks, the TDA team worked quickly to adapt, reshuffling the itinerary and finding new places to stay. There were days when this meant longer cycling stages. For example, a change in accommodations led to a long 150 km day, followed by a much shorter 40km day. For the riders, however, these changes weren’t a burden—they were just another part of the adventure. This particular change resulted in ride along a beautiful section of the Algerian coastline, described by one rider, Lars, as “Hawaii meets Sicily.”

Being on a TDA first means that the riders aren’t just participants in a tour, they are part of making it better. Everyone’s voices are heard about the route planning, best coffee stops and sightseeing options. All would highly recommend going on a TDA first tour if you’re looking for a unique adventure. Fortunately, there are a bunch of new TDA adventures coming up: The Tea Route (Kochi – Colombo), The Road to Valhalla (Helsinki – Trondheim), Island Hopping Japan (Osaka – Okinawa) & The Olive Route (Athens – Lisbon). Will one of these be your first, one to always remember!?

RELATED
TOUR

Road of Empires

Pedal through history on the Road of Empires Cycling Adventure. Spin through Spain, Algeria, Tunisia & Sicily and learn about the Moors, Romans...