Girona Insider: Insights from the Cycling Community

Insights from Inside Girona

Ever wanted to know more about the cycling community here in Girona? We’ve launched a new series on Instagram live where we talk to members of Girona’s cycling community. We chat to pro-cyclists, cafe & restaurant owners, hotel & apartment owners & anyone who’s anyone connected to cycling! The goal is to stay connected, to share stories & gain insights into life in Girona. We’ll get insider tips on where to visit, where to ride & where to stay & we’ll share the highlights of each chat right here!

Marco Hemskerk, Bravissimo

Girona Insider Live, Friday 1st May, 18:00 CET

Marco is an amateur cyclist from Holland who now runs the best guest apartments in Girona, Bravissimo! Bravissimo have been providing temporary homes for Girona’s heath professionals fighting Covid-19 & in the normal world offer beautiful, cyclist-friendly apartments for visitors.

Follow Bravissimo: @bravissimo_girona

Find out more: bravissimo-girona.com

Michelle Wilson & Mike Duff, Owner-Operators of La Bruguera

Girona Insider Live, Thursday 30th April, 18:00 CET

La Bruguera is a unique eco estate located close to the village of Púbol, for retreats, holidays and events. Fully-modernised from 2015 – 2019, it was built between 1978 and 1981, for Catalan landscape painter Francesc d’Assís Casademont “Le Vieux”, a friend and contemporary of Salvador Dalí’s. Michelle & Mike are an awesome couple who own & run this incredible estate. Mike is an expert in urban sustainability & Michelle’s professional interests are in the use of evidence-based therapies for achieving mental health and wellness, and the use of the arts as a change agent.

Follow La Bruguera: @labrugueradepubol

Find out more: labrugueradepubol.com

Laura Siddall, Pro Triathlete

Girona Insider Live, Wednesday 29th April, 18:00 CET

“Don’t die wondering”. This is Laura’s motto & inspiration. Laura is a mechanical engineer turned amateur triathlete, turned pro. Laura has an insane palmares – she is the four time amateur World Champion, the fifth fastest British woman of all time over the iron distance & a four time Ironman Champion, which includes winning Ironman Australia for three consecutive years. She’s also the ETU European Long Distance Champion. Laura is from the UK but travels all over the globe chasing summer between the Southern Hemisphere in Christchurch, New Zealand, and Girona, Spain in the Northern Hemisphere…wherever the racing and training leads.

Follow Laura: @lmsid 

Find out more: laurasiddall.com

James Whelan, Pro Cyclist for Education First

Girona Insider Live, Monday 27th April, 18:00 CET

Jimmy Whelan is a runner turned pro-cyclist from Australia. He’s one of the stars of the recent Digital Swiss tour & a promising classics rider who loves the Ardennes. During his swift rise through the ranks of the Australian under-23 cycling programme, Jimmy raced in Belgium and won the U23 Tour of Flanders in 2018 – after just 18 months of being a bike rider & his first race in Europe.

Follow Jimmy: @jimmywhelan.jpg

Joey Rosskopf, Pro Cyclist for CCC

Girona Insider Live, Sunday 26th April, 18:00 CET

Joey is a pro-rider from Georgia USA who, like many others, has chosen to make Girona his home. Joey worked his way up through the ranks of cycling via the Hincapie Development Team to join World Tour team BMC in 2015. Joey now rides for Team CCC. Joey is the 2 x champion of the USA ITT & has ridden 5 Grand Tours. Joey lives in Girona with his partner Georgia, who teaches at a local school.

Follow Joey: @joeyrosskoph

Robert Bellsolà, President of the Antiga Casa Bellsolà Girona Cycling Team, Screenwriter & All-Round Legend

Girona Insider Live, Wednesday 22nd April, 18:00 CET

Robert Bellsolà is a colourful Girona character who founded Girona’s first Junior mens cycling team in 2018. He owns a chain of bakeries which supply the people of Girona with delicious baked goods. He is also a screenwriter & video maker – tune in for entertaining chats & insights into the world of Bellsolà!

Follow Robert: @antigacasabellsola_gironateam

Check out the Anitga Casa Bellsolà Girona Cycling Team: www.antigacasabellsola.com/en/acbteam/ 

And check out the Antiga Casa Bellsolà Bakeries: www.antigacasabellsola.com

Cheynna & Rory Sutherland, Cyclists & Owners of Federal Café Girona

Girona Insider Live, Monday 20th April, 18:00 CET

Cheynna was born and raised in Southern California. She has been a cyclist since 1988 and is a former state and national champion. She continues to compete in gran fondos and ultra marathon events. Cheynna holds a Master’s degree from the University of Colorado and spent many years introducing children to cycling and healthy living through various community projects in Boulder, Colorado. Now living in Girona, she has developed community- based businesses in health and lifestyle sector, while keeping up with their two children.

Born in Canberra, Australia, Rory has been a professional cyclist since 2002. He has raced for the top teams in the world, represented his country at the World Championships and is widely regarded as being one of the best domestiques in the European peloton. Off the bike, Rory has dedicated his time and efforts to various community projects and charities over the years to encourage healthy living through sport. Alongside Cheynna, Rory owns the Federal Café Girona.

Follow Cheynna & Rory: @cheynnasutherland, @rorysutherland82 & @thefederalcafegirona on instagram

Check out Federal Café Girona: Visit www.federalcafe.es/girona/

Jetse Bol, Pro-Cyclist for Burgos BH

Girona Insider Live, Sunday 19th April, 18:00 CET

Jetse started his life as an athlete as a speed skater before switching to cycling. He’s from Holland & lives with his (Mexican ex-pro cyclist) wife Nancy & their little boy Mikel. Jetse won the combativity award in Stage 18 of the 2018 Vuelta and came 2nd on Stage 5 of the 2019 Vuelta (sacrificing 1st place for his team mates polka dot jersey). Jetse is a much-loved rider in the peleton & enjoys popularity in Mexico, Holland & in his Catalan home!

First ride after lockdown: Sant Hilari Sacalm & the Montseny area – into the mountains!

Jetse recommends: Coffee in town after a ride & chilling on his balcony with views of the mountains!

Follow Jetse: @jetsebol on instagram

Toms Skujins, Pro-Cyclist for Trek Segafredo

Girona Insider Live, Friday 17th April, 18:00 CET

Toms is a pro-cyclist from Lativa & one of the most approachable professionals in the peloton. He was the first ever Latvian to wear a jersey at a Grand Tour, and that jersey was the polka dot jersey at the 2018 Tour de France. He’s an awesome racer to watch and has worked his way up the ranks, starting with the Hincapie Development Team in America, before being picked up by World Tour team Cannondale Pro Cycling. Toms now rides for Trek Segafredo & can be counted on to make a race explode & commit to audacious breakaways! The Tour of California is one of Toms’ favourite races & has played host to the biggest wins of Toms’ career, as well as his biggest crash.

First ride after lockdown: Rupit. The long way.

Toms recommends: Espresso Mafia for coffee, the bakery on Plaça de Vi for lunch & yoghurt at the place just before the climb to Montjuic!

Follow Toms: @tomashuuns on instagram & check out his website for more fun www.tomsskujins.com

Jessica Allen, Pro Cyclist for Mitchelton Scott

Girona Insider Live, Wednesday 15th April, 18:00

Jessica Allen is a pro cyclist from Perth, Australia. She dominated the Australian road race scene as a Junior and became the Junior World Time Trial champion in 2011. In 2013 she signed her first pro contract & joined Mitchelton Scott in 2016 and is undoubtedly one of the teams strongest & most loyal domestiques, helping her team leaders to multiple major victories. After storming to victory in the Australian Criterium Champs in 2017, Jess moved to Girona in October 2018.

First ride after lockdown: The coast – from Tossa de Mar to the cake shop in Platja d’Aro! Or go super-long & ride to Cadaques.

Jess recommends: La Taverna for tea, Blend for a delicious blue drink & Federal for a Green Kale Salad

Follow Jess: @jessallen1993 on instagram

Andreu Garriga, Lawyer to the Cycling Community

Girona Insider Live, Tuesday 14th April, 18:00

Andreu is the go-to lawyer for anyone setting up life here in Girona. He arranges residency & visas, he provides advice on taxation, on buying & selling property, on starting new businesses, on wills & inheritance & also represents cycling teams. Andreu is the guy you go to see to get important stuff done and has been a huge part of the Eat Sleep Cycle journey – thank you Andreu!

First ride after lockdown: To the coast on an e-bike!

Andreu recommends: Bistrot for a relaxed meal in a beautiful setting – you can get a 2 course meal for €15 at lunchtimes!

Find out more about Andreu’s services: Visit www.advgarriga.com

Join the Conversation

We’d love to here your questions for our guests & suggestions for who we should chat to. Make sure you’re following @eat_sleep_cycle on instagram to tune in & follow our stories to be the first to hear about our next guests.

P.S. Enjoyed this blog? Why not sign up to receive notifications every time we post and get regular updates on our latest tours!