Our Team

Founder

Keith Tuffley

A sustainable future for our world is exciting, fascinating, fun, full of opportunities, and achievable. Cycling can play a big role in creating this bright future. It's energy efficient, it gets you close to nature, it creates friendships, it clears your mind. This is why I created Grand Tours Project: I want our guests to live meaningful experiences on the road while having the best holiday of their lives. Cycling is not just a sport: it’s a lifestyle and a philosophy.

Chief Executive Officer

Uri Martins

When I was 10 years old, I won my first bike in a design contest. I totally fell in love with cycling and followed the "cycling dream" until I became a professional. It has been the greatest adventure of my life and the way to know the world. I have spent 16 years as a competitive cyclist, the last 6 years as a professional in the Amore e Vita professional cycling team. I was 2 times Mexican National Champion and competed in 3 UCI Road World Championships. I love sharing the passion for cycling, the unique atmosphere, and the excitement of this amazing sport. I believe in cycling as a means to make this planet a better world, have a positive impact on society and play an important role in the environment. Cycling for me is the best way to know your self, grow, experience, discover, share, travel and enjoy life.

Creative Content Associate

Yvette Yeates

My first bike as a tiny 5-year-old was a big single speed with back pedal brakes. No training wheels, just a 'huge' hill, my Dad, me and the bike! By the end of the afternoon, I was wobbling around the paddock. Fast forward and you can find me at Clarence Street Cyclery in Sydney, selling helmets and cycle kits and where I met this crazy guy who had just completed an endurance race across New Zealand - Keith Tuffley. Now we live in Switzerland with 4 teenagers. When I am not kid chauffeuring or being GTP support, I am organising family summer adventures on bikes around Europe.

Digital Marketing Specialist

Elnura Akperova

Hi, I’m Elia. While I’m new to cycling, my passion lies in travel, marketing, and creating meaningful experiences. At GTP, I focus on sharing the stories and adventures behind our tours, helping travelers connect with new destinations and create lasting memories. When I’m not crafting unforgettable journeys, you’ll find me exploring my city on two wheels and finding inspiration in everyday adventures.

Tour & Logistics Manager

Jack Butler

I have always loved travelling and try to spend most of my time exploring new places and meeting new people. I am passionate about sustainable energy and strive to reduce my environmental impact as much as possible. I realised that I didn't want to fly because I didn't want to be responsible for too many air miles for my hobby. As such in 2018 I cycled from France to China on a self-designed and built 100% Solar power-assisted e-bike. I have been on many long cycle tours since then across many countries. Hoping to cycling in Kazakhstan again as soon as possible as the next cycle trip! And this summer, I'm looking forward to joining the Grand Tours Project team and helping guests achieve their goals!

Bike Guide & Technical Support

Fay Hondeman

I live in the Netherlands studying engineering at university in a beautiful old city Delf. I am. Being Dutch,I have been riding a bike since I could walk. When I was 10 years old, I got my first road race bike. The next day, my dad took me for a 70 km ride and although exhausted I was very proud at the finish line. Besides riding in our "flat" country (below sea level), I first rode in the mountains when I was 14 years old during the Maratona dles Dolomites. Now I love riding in the mountains. In 2019, I joined Grand Tour Projects for the first time, helping the GTP quests during their rides in and around the Alta Badia area. So I am excited to be a part of the GTP team again and looking forward to start a new adventure this summer together with you!

Bike Guide & Trip designer

Michiel Van Ooteghem

10 years ago, my father invited me on a cycling trip to the French Pyrenees. I accepted and – after only 3 practice rides in my home country, Belgium – immediately fell in love with cycling in the mountains. 4 years ago I decided to move to Switzerland to start a new job as a Physiotherapist. I rode there by bike and those days on the road were some of the best of my life. 2 years ago I put my work as a physio on hold to pursue my greatest passion and put all my energy into being the best cycling guide I can be. Another passion of mine, photography, will surely come in handy in those amazing places we’ll visit together. To be your guide during these wonderful cycling adventures is truly a dream come true. Looking forward to sharing the road with you!

Bike Guide

Balt Gini

Born and raised in Switzerland, I have always been passionate about adventure, outdoors and photography, with a strong attraction to the mountain terrain. Naturally, I started practicing road and trail running, cycling and ski touring daily, depending on my desires and the season. In recent years, I took part in many races, ranging from various distances and formats in running, to ultra cycling competitions, and renowned ski mountaineering races in the Alps. What I love most about cycling is the excitement of discovering new sceneries, roads and regions, and taking friends along. After graduating from EHL Hospitality Business School, it became clear to me that my dream career involves showing people the beauty of Switzerland. I am truly honored to guide for Grand Tours Project and look forward to helping you reach your goal during our next cycling adventure together.

GTP Bike coach, Bio mechanic & Bike guide

Marco Benfatto

Marco started cycling at the age of 10 and participated in his first cycling road and indoor professional tournaments in 2013. Overall, Marco has achieved around 200 victories in various categories. Marco continues to grow personally by studying F.C.I. professional cycling and becoming 2020 a coach for young riders; obtained the Certificate of “biomechanics applied to cycling” with Bikeitalia in 2019 in Milan; and will soon graduate in “Science of motor and sports activities” following a 3-year curriculum. Currently, Marco is working in the fitness industry as an athletic trainer and biomechanical for cyclists. Enjoying a healthy lifestyle always. His motto is “sport is a long journey to self-discovery”. In 2022 Marco joined the GTP Team and is already a fun and friendly team player.

Middle East Representative

Ebrahim Abdulla

I started my cycling journey in 2012 in a small shop trying to find a bike that fits my needs, and I opened my eyes finding my self between road bikes and mountain bikes. Triathlon was my choice as I participated in several triathlons and had 6 Iron Man medals, yet my heart belongs being a cyclist. Riding a bike is like flying from a place to another, like exploring the hidden parts of the world. It’s a challenge between you and yourself to see whether you can reach the real finish line or not and if you can put the last missing piece of the picture. It’s very easy to let the air run into your hair and skin, it’s very easy to compete and experience the challenge, which makes it easy to live your life. I am 35 years old, but I am never too old for cycling.

Chief Mechanic

Vaughan Caseley

As a teenager I started cycling on the BMX track, later progressing into the then new sport of mountain biking. Work and career intervened until my mid 20's when my doctor advised me to lose weight and I rediscovered my passion for cycling. Fast forward 25 years having pedalled on thousands of kilometres of trails and roads, coached skills to all levels of cyclists, managed the Australian Mountain Bike Marathon team and scaled numerous mountain passes I find himself living in the wonderful Swiss Alps. I now spend my days guiding, coaching, repairing bikes and sharing my passion for cycling over a coffee or 3!

Bike Guide

Leon Derwael

Hi, I'm Leon. I've always been close to cycling, from discovering the racing track in my junior years to working as a bike messenger during my studies. My passion for bikepacking began with a journey on the Camino de Compostela with my father in 2014, which inspired me to organize cycling tours with my family and friends. Growing up in a Belgian and Italian household in Switzerland, cycling is deeply woven into my culture. For me, it's about the experiences: discovering local dishes on a coffee ride, taking in the culture you're traveling through on your saddle, and exploring new regions. I couldn't choose just one travel destination because every trip is unique in its efforts, landscapes, culture, people, and weather. These combined elements create memories and stories that keep me excited for my next bike tour. I believe every trip is better when shared because this passion for cycling resonates in all of us.

Bike Guide & Trip Leader

Elena Valentini

From fast ice skates to the bike, I was only 8 years old, but this is how my adventure started. I was born in Bolzano and from there I began my journey - 7 years in pro road cycling in major teams like Top Girls Fassa Bortolo and Alè Cipollini. When 12 years old, I discovered cyclocross, achieving the most beautiful sporting results of my career: 3 Italian champion titles, a fourth place at the European Under 23 championships, 3 times winner of the Giro d'Italia in cyclo-cross and wearing the blue jersey at the world championships, world cups and Europeans. I graduated in sports science, sports massage therapist. For me, cycling is emotion, freedom and there is nothing more beautiful than seeing the world around us with our own eyes and passing on our emotions to our travel mates.

Bike Guide & Road Support

Loic Chopard

I grew up playing competitive ice hockey in Switzerland and only discovered the pure bliss of cycling in my early 20s. I’ve been in love with cycling ever since. Be it road cycling, mountain biking, track, gravel, bikepacking - being on a bike simply turns me into a happy kid! My second biggest passion besides cycling is traveling and meeting people, and is there any better way of seeing the world, getting to know cultures and meeting people than on a bike? I believe not. When I’m not riding, you’ll find me cross-country skiing or having coffee while planning my next cycling adventure. I can’t wait to go with you to places where we can feel all the legacy of cycling history and share my passion with you.

Bike Guide

Luca Donella

Hi! My name is Luca, I’m Italian and the passion for cycling has haunted me since I was a child! Now I’m a coach of youth categories because I think that the passion for sport must be passed on to the younger ones if we want to cultivate better riders in the future. This way, we ensure that the spirit of cycling continues to thrive and grow.

Bike Guide & Trip Designer

Luka Furjan

Born in Ptuj in Slovenia, Luka studied Sinology at the University of Ljubljana. At that point his hobbies of his included running, rock climbing and travelling. It was only in 2013 while studying Chinese in Taiwan that he discovered his passion for cycling. This is also the time he started working as a cycling tour guide. Seemingly endless climbs in Taiwan filled him with lust on tackling the European peaks as well. He has since worked with Chinese language one way or the other in various parts of the world while trying to keep fit and expanding his cycling heatmap on as many of the sealed and unsealed roads as possible.

Bike Guide & Trip Leader

Andreas Pescoll

Andreas has always had a deep passion for the mountains. Born in 1987, he learned this from his father at an early age; as a child he started hiking during summer and skiing in winter. This led to several years skiing competitively. The following year he began to learn to paraglide, but this was quickly trumped by bicycling – his real passion. It all began with a road bike. Amazed by the beautiful scenery of the Dolomites, he began riding. In 2010 he qualified as a bike guide, and started work at a cycling company in Alta Badia. In Andreas’ free time, he trains for various amateur cycling races and of course for the legendary “Maratona dles Dolomites” where he consistently places well. Andreas currently lives in La Villa in Alta Badia. He is a native Ladino, and speaks Ladin, German, Italian, and English.

Bike Guide

Kerry Hellmuth

Kerry started guiding mountain tours because she lived for a number of years in Bormio, a town nestled in the shadow of the epic Stelvio and Gavia passes. A former professional cyclist who still loves climbing big mountains, Kerry is just as happy to ride at the tail-end of our group enjoying Italy’s most famous passes at a more leisurely pace. Married to an Italian, Kerry now lives in Trento where she teaches at a high school, studies toward a PhD, raises her two sons Gino and Giorgio, and savours la dolce vita with a steady diet of local wine, cheese, and of course, gelato. You can often find her out on two wheels enjoying her local territory--the Dolomite mountains, so unique, dramatic, and astoundingly beautiful that they have been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Bike Guide & Trip Leader

Peter Murdoch

Cycling... what a passion it has become. What started off as a exploration into triathlon to lose weight, ended up being a discovery of a deep passion. I have always enjoyed the freedom of riding a bike and exploring, but it came to me in my early twenties, the desire to ride a road bike and go and appreciate our surroundings whilst undergoing challenges. I currently reside in Le Châble just below Verbier in the Swiss Alps with my wife and our dog. I came here to follow another passion of skiing, and in the winter I am a full time ski instructor as well as coaching new and current instructors. When I'm not teaching in the winter, I head out into the mountains ski touring with my dog. Outside of cycling or skiing, you'll find me in the kitchen experimenting with cooking or baking".

Bike Guide & Purposeful Tours Specialist

Jacqui Coward

My passion for cycling started in the late 90’s as a teenager, growing up in the Canadian Rockies. In my early 20’s I mountain biked across the Alps in a week and it changed me forever, introducing me to endurance cycling. I have since traveled around the world with my bikes and I find nothing more joyful than exploring a new culture by bike. With experience in outdoor education and a background in organisational leadership, I find great value in using outdoor sport as a means to deepen the awareness of an individual or a connection of a group. I currently live in Vevey, Switzerland, where I enjoy bike racing and the endless network of road cycling routes in high mountain passes from my doorstep.

Bike Guide & Technical Support

Sam Berry

Sam has been riding bikes his whole life and has raced all around Australia and New Zealand on both the road and the track. When Sam is not riding on or off the road he is often somewhere in the mountains. Sam is from Perth, Australia but has lived in France for the past 6 years. The summer of 2022 has been Sam's first season working with GTP. Sam also works as an Outdoor Educator in Switzerland. This summer Sam spent 2 months facilitating summer camps for students in Costa Rica.

Bike Guide & Pro Masseur

Josep Miralles

Since I was 12 years old, from Mallorca throughout Spain and Europe, cycling has been my way of travelling and enjoying every corner and every moment, as a cyclist, professional cyclist and now as a cycle support guide. Between 2015 & 2017, I raced professionally and after retirement from racing, I continued to follow cycling, supporting many teams as a professional masseur, mainly for the pro-Movistar team. The bicycle has been present always as a way of life.

Bike Guide & Technical Support

Nicola Dal Santo

Hi! I'm Nicola. I live in Italy specifically in Verona, the City of Love. My life as a cyclist was born many years ago when I was a kid, I started with cycling competitions at the age of 8, and I continued up to 27 years of age, the last 4 years as a professional cyclist. I thank my sport because I had the opportunity to discover the world, other countries, other people and to have many friends! My hobbies are walking in nature, in the mountains or at the lake, it doesn't matter; I like to travel alone or with my family; I like to cook; I often invite friends to my house for a BBQ in the garden or for pasta or rice (my specialty).

Bike Guide & Technical Support

Christian Paul

Born in 1967 in Germany. Started cycling as all boys; riding to school and to the pool. Moved to Switzerland at age of 19, when I started to discover mountain biking. Exploring more and more terrain. Entering mountain bike racing at age of 24 and still racing marathons such as Grand Raid Verbier – Grimentz. Then I discovered road biking. I love long-distance rides and Grand Fondos, such as the Fausto Coppi in Cuneo, Mallorca 312, Tour de Mont Blanc, Tour des Stations in Valais or just for fun riding long days and endless alpine passes. The best experience though was 2019 Eroica. Can’t wait to go back there, meet more crazy cyclists and nibbling some tasty Chianti. I am a Swiss cycling guide, and it will be my pleasure to share my passion for biking in the beautiful Swiss Alps!

Bike Guide

Marcos Lembo

Having tried every sport in the world, from climbing to diving to parachuting to surfing and some other “ing”; when I had 17 years old, going downhill in a road bike at too many kilometers to count, after an endless climb, I stumble (not literally) at my favorite sport. It, and its variations, had it all: suffering, rejoicing, history, adrenaline, and some more suffering. Years after, and still trying some new sports from time to time, cycling is present in my daily life as much as breathing (again: not literally). And through it, I found friends, cultures, jobs and travelled the world (yes, literally). Some people have abs at their core, I beg to differ: I have cycling at my core, and like any proper cyclists, no abs to be seen.

Road Assistance & Technical Support

Joel Cuenya

I grew up in Bariloche, I lived in different neighbourhoods, I grew up with snow, winter, mountains, lakes, that is one of the reasons why I am now living in Switzerland, something very similar to my beloved Bariloche, a place in Europe similar with beautiful mountains. My father is a bicycle lover since I was little and I saw him a lot on the bicycle during the summer seasons. I am passionate about supporting our guests to achieve their goals, be it on street tours like Grand Tours Project or where you explore on vacation. I think that cycling allows you to better appreciate and observe the landscapes and everything around you making new friends.

Bike Guide

Marcello Usala

Born in Sardinia, Marcello is a Mediterranean man through-and-through, and proud father of Emma and Tommaso. His other passions apart from cycling are cooking and music. He has designed itineraries and guided cycling tours throughout Italy for the last 15 years and he wishes to keep doing it for the next 50!

Bike Guide & Trip designer

Tomasz Ferenc

Cycling has been part of my life since I can remember, but growing up in flat Warsaw, Poland’s capital, it was only in my twenties when I first discovered conquering mountains on my bike. I immediately fell in love and dreamt of living among the Alps. I moved to Switzerland as soon as I got the chance, and now I ride up some of the world’s most beautiful mountain passes almost every day. I enjoy racing, long days in the saddle, multi-day excursions, gravel adventures, and even commuting makes me smile. But what I love most about cycling is exploring new places from a unique perspective. So far, I’ve cycled across three continents and seen countless amazing roads. I’ll be happy to share them with you on our next adventure!

Bike Guide

Vincent Gueissaz

I discovered cycling with my family on trips around Europe and Switzerland. For me, cycling is an immense source of freedom and a wonderful way of getting around and enjoying life. I've taken part in a number of road bike trips over the last few years, driven by a love of the thrill of speed, shared suffering, conviviality and good meals that make up a week's cycling. One challenge hides another, and I try to take part in Grand Fondo races on a regular basis, both out of a love of pushing myself and to enjoy training sessions with friends.

Bike Guide

Heather Rankin

Twenty years ago I moved to Cambridge, UK, and bought the cheapest bike I could find for commuting to work. Within weeks I was in love with cycling and upgrading to a proper road bike. Later I moved to London, joined a cycling club and started racing in local criterium and track leagues – where I made some lifelong friends. I’m also a sustainability consultant, so love meeting other people who have ditched their car to see the world by bike. In 2018 I swapped the velodrome in London for the stunning mountain, valleys and vineyards of Switzerland, and now spend my free time exploring on two wheels or on touring skis, depending on the season.

Keith Tuffley

Uri Martins

Yvette Yeates

Elnura Akperova

Jack Butler

Fay Hondeman

Michiel Van Ooteghem

Balt Gini

Marco Benfatto

Ebrahim Abdulla

Vaughan Caseley

Leon Derwael

Elena Valentini

Loic Chopard

Luca Donella

Luka Furjan

Andreas Pescoll

Kerry Hellmuth

Peter Murdoch

Jacqui Coward

Sam Berry

Josep Miralles

Nicola Dal Santo

Christian Paul

Marcos Lembo

Joel Cuenya

Marcello Usala

Tomasz Ferenc

Vincent Gueissaz

Heather Rankin

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