Italian rider Sergio Meris finished as the top performer for Unibet Rose Rockets at this year's Milan-San Remo, crossing the line in 50th place. While the team successfully brought all seven of their riders to the finish line on the Via Roma, they missed out on the early breakaway and played a quiet...

UPDATED March 20, 2026 BY Guest Author IN Tour d'Afrique no comments Suspended In Time: A Ferry Ride On Lake KaribaMasoud Riyazati is the Content Creator on the 2026 Tour dAfrique Cycling Expedition.For days, the road has dictated everything: when to wake, when to eat, when to push forward. The rhythm becomes so familiar that you stop questioning it. But every journey, no matter how relentless, contains moments where it pauses, not as a break, but as a shift.Today, the road dissolved into water.For twenty-four hours we drift between two shores, between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Suspended between two countries, we are removed from the logic of the road. The bicycles, those faithful instruments of movement, lie somewhere below the deck, suddenly irrelevant.And for the first time in days, no one measures anything.Not time.Not distance.Not effort.As a Content Creator, moments like this create a strange question for me: what exactly should I write? Should I describe the journey from my own point of view, or simply observe what others feel and record their stories? Sometimes I think too much about it. But perhaps writing, like cycling, works best when you stop forcing direction and simply follow what is already there.So instead of searching for a story, I look around.Its an old ferry called Sea Lion. The captain looks like someone taken straight out of an old film, steady in a way that suggests long years at sea. The kind of face you trust, even without knowing why.There are two decks. The lower deck is larger, with tables and chairs, though not quite enough for everyone. Some riders have placed mattresses and pillows on the floor, turning the space into something softer, more intimate. It feels less like transport and more like a temporary home.The upper deck is smaller, quieter, closer to the control room. Fewer people gather there. Less conversation, more distance. Even here, without words, you begin to notice how personalities arrange themselves in space.On the main floor, there is a room with a small kitchen, chairs, and free coffee and tea. Some prefer to stay there. Others remain outside, carried by the wind.I sit on the lower deck.Allen is in front of me, reading his e-book with a gentle smile. Every now and then he nods slightly, as if agreeing with the page. Maybe its something profound. Maybe something simple. Or maybe he is just content.Next to him, Alex is curled up on a mattress, deeply asleep. Beside him, Lea is also asleep in his chair. I think Ive seen Lea sleeping more often than riding. The first time we met, he told me with confidence, Im the funniest person in this group. At the time, I wasnt sure. But now I believe him.A little further away, Danny and Nicky lean against the railing, speaking quietly while watching the water pass.Most people are reading. After long days on the bike, it has become a shared ritual. But today it feels different. There is no fatigue behind it. No urgency. Just stillness.Megan sits nearby with her eyes closed, listening to music. It looks less like listening and more like resting inside herself.I look outward.On my right lies Zambia. On my left, Zimbabwe. The skies above them are not the same. Zambia is covered in grey clouds. Zimbabwe is open and bright, with distant mountains. We remain on the sunny side, on Lake Kariba, the largest artificial lake in the world.Clyde sits in the wind, eyes closed, face lifted slightly toward the sun. There is something about his expression, a quiet kind of joy that does not ask for anything more.Anna, the youngest in the group, sits across the deck, drawing portraits as she often does. I dont know who she is drawing, but I know she is paying attention in a way most of us forget to.Earlier today, before this quiet settled in, I asked some riders a question: What moment from this journey will stay with you?No one could answer immediately. Its never one moment. But after some thought, they tried.For Adam, it is the children by the roadside. A group runs toward you, laughing, shouting, asking questions. But there is always one child, slightly apart, shy, watching quietly. When he notices that one and waves directly, something changes. The shy face opens. A small hand lifts. A smile appears. For Adam, that is enough.Ian spoke about humility. A local cyclist appears beside you, a rusty bike, flip-flops, no visible effort. They ride with you, then pass you, even on the climb. Before disappearing, they look back and smile. That moment stays with him.For Eric, it is a realization that happiness might not require as much as we think, and that what we chase at home may not be necessary at all.Quintin remembers a night at Lomagundi campsite. Hippos were moving in the darkness, close enough to hear, close enough to feel. Later that night, Richard sent a photo to our group chat: a massive hippo standing just meters from a tent. It was Quintins tent. For him, being inside that tent, listening to that sound, is something he wont forget.Later, I spoke with Clyde. Tomorrow will be his last riding day, and he will leave us, so I spent more time talking with him.He told me about a day riding toward Mbeya. Heavy rain was falling, the kind that turns everything into mist and mud. On the climb, he felt exhausted and needed a break. He saw a small shelter where locals had gathered, with a fire barbecuing corn. He stopped and joined them. They welcomed him and offered warmth and corn.When the rain slowed down, he continued. Hours later, he arrived at camp, soaked and exhausted. It was a rest day, so he wanted a room instead of staying in a tent, but he found out that there were no rooms available. He began looking elsewhere.Then, without him knowing, Brittany heard about a room becoming available. She asked the reception to keep the room for Clyde and told him to take it.He told me this quietly. At one point, his voice softened. His eyes filled slightly.For him, that is the meaning of this journey.Not the distance.Not the mountains.Not even the wildlife.But the small, unspoken gestures between people who were strangers not long ago.Listening to him, something became clear to me.Yes, we are riding across a continent. But that is only the visible part. Beneath it, something else moves, a search for connection, for meaning, for moments that remind us of what we are capable of.Oh, the ferry horn sounds. Soon we will stop for a swim break.For now, we remain here, suspended in this brief pause where nothing is required of us.On the Tour dAfrique, we call this a social day.But it feels like something more.A moment where the journey stops moving, so that something else can begin.RELATEDTOURTour d'Afrique The trans-African crossing from Cairo to Cape Town has long been one of the worlds epic journeys and an iconic goal for global adventurers. Over... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "Suspended In Time: A Ferry Ride On Lake Kariba" Cancel reply

UPDATED March 16, 2026 BY Olha Kurochkina IN Company 1 comment You Spoke. We Listened. Heres What 653 Riders Told Us.Each year, we ask our community to tell us what were doing well, where we can improve, and where you want to ride next. This year, 379 newsletter subscribers and 274 past participants took the time to share their thoughts. Thats hundreds of voices impacting the future of TDA Global Cycling.First Thank you! We read every comment and were also randomly drawing the name of one lucky respondent who will receive a US$250 gift card to their local bike shop as a small thank you for being part of the conversation.Now, heres what we learned.Who You AreOur community remains wonderfully consistent. More than 80% of both newsletter subscribers and past riders are 56+. Around two-thirds are based in North America, with a growing European contingent as well.What Your Ideal Tour Looks LikeWhile our epic multi-month camping expeditions continue to attract many riders, the surveys revealed a common preference for a slightly different style of tour as well.Across both surveys, a very clear picture emerged.The dominant preference:46 weeksModerate difficulty (challenging but not brutal)80100 km per dayA mix of camping and hotelsMostly paved roads, with some gravelScenic routes with real cultural depthOf course, this doesnt capture everyones preferences many riders are looking for hotel only based tours, while others are happiest on long distance expedition routes.Still, it was interesting to note how often this type of balanced tour appeared in responses.Where You Want To GoYuanyang Rice Terraces on The Road To Shangri-LaAfrica remains the most aspirational region, followed closely by South America, the Silk Route, Japan, and parts of Mediterranean Europe.What stood out most was that destinations themselves remain the biggest driver of interest. Riders consistently told us that the specific countries and landscapes on a route matter more than almost anything else.As one rider put it: Location, location, location.Whats Holding People BackTDA staff preparing a delicious lunch on the Viva Italia TourFor newsletter subscribers who havent yet joined us, the biggest barriers are clear:CostTimeTravel logistics, including flying with a bikeConcerns about fitness or keeping upWorries about illness or unexpected challenges during a long tripFor past participants, cost appears less dominant, but scheduling, logistics, and life timing still play a role in deciding whether to join another tour.These are all things well continue working to address through clearer information, preparation resources, and open conversations with riders. A recent blog post has already started exploring some of these topics in more detail.Loyalty & MomentumTDA alumni on the Island Hopping Japan TourThe Participant Survey rated TDA very highly again this year and alumni had many positive things to say about their experiences. Nearly 40% of past riders said they are planning another group cycling tour within the next 12 months, which is encouraging to see.Among newsletter subscribers:56% say they plan to ride with TDA in the future35% are undecidedOnly 3% say no (which is half less than last year)To those undecided amongst you, we will continue to try and provide information to address some of the things holding you back.What You Want to Read And What You Want to SeeMt Kilimanjaro on the Tour dAfriqueOne thing is very clear: you want to feel what the ride is like.In the newsletter, rider stories remain the most popular content. Nearly a third of respondents told us that personal accounts from the road are their favourites the real experiences, the long days, the unexpected moments, and the quiet pride at the finish.Tour information and itineraries follow closely behind. You want clarity about where the tours go and what the experience actually looks like.Visual content photos and short videos also ranks high, reinforcing something we already know: its much easier to imagine yourself somewhere when you can see it.When we asked what youd like to see more of, many of you asked for more preparation guidance training advice, packing tips, gear recommendations, and a clearer sense of what a typical day on tour really feels like. That suggests many readers arent just dreaming about these trips youre seriously considering them and trying to understand what it would take to join.On social media, the message was even simpler: show us the ride.More real footage, daily updates, more terrain, more camps. Less polish, more struggle and challenge. You want to see what its really like out there not just the highlights. And honestly, we love that. Because thats where the real story is anyway.About 30% of our newsletter community follows us on social platforms. Among past riders, that number jumps to nearly two-thirds. Facebook remains the strongest platform with participants, while Instagram continues to grow. YouTube trails behind but still has a loyal audience.Just as interesting: many of you openly said youre simply not into social media at all. Thats completely fine. We know some of you prefer a long read over a scroll, and were not here to drag anyone into algorithms. But if you ever do feel like seeing more from the road the daily ride clips, the camps, the behind-the-scenes moments you know exactly where to find us.What Happens NextAt the finish line. 2025 North American EpicNow we sit with it.We read it all again: praise, tough feedback, thoughtful suggestions, one-line jokes and the long, heartfelt paragraphs. Henry will ask a few questions he always does. The kind that start with But what does this really mean? And then well talk, and well make a plan. Not just to adjust a tour here or tweak a newsletter there, but to keep inspiring you. Because this feeling goes both ways. You inspire us to be better, to think bigger, to create smarter routes, to refine the details, and sometimes, yes, to be a little crazier in what we attempt next. At the end of the day, this is what TDA has always been about: human connection, shared effort, shared stories, and shared roads. And what we have with all of you we value that immensely.Thank you for riding with us. In every way that you do.Related Posts: 1 Comment for "You Spoke. We Listened. Heres What 653 Riders Told Us." Great presentation of the feedback interesting and reassuring.Reply Leave a Comment for "You Spoke. We Listened. Heres What 653 Riders Told Us." Cancel reply

UPDATED March 12, 2026 BY Olha Kurochkina IN Plum Ride no comments Gdask A Cycling Capital In The Heart Of PolandWhen I first heard that Michael was working on designing the Plum Ride Cycling Tour, I literally screamed with joy. Yes actual squealing. If you know me, even a little, you probably know that I have a special affinity for Poland. The fact that the sections of the tour are named Slivovitz, Plinka, and Rakia already makes me smile but thats a story for another time.What truly made me happy, though, was learning that the tour will start in Gdask. Ive been there once before. I remember taking a cozy train from Warsaw just three hours and suddenly you arrive somewhere completely different. The air smells of the sea, the light feels softer, and before you know it, youre standing on the shores of the Baltic. Its one of those places that instantly feels both grand and welcoming at the same time. But did you know that Gdask is actually part of something bigger?The TricityGdask belongs to what locals call the Tricity a unique urban area made up of Gdask, Gdynia, and Sopot. Though each city has its own personality and history, together they form one continuous coastal region along the Baltic Sea. Gdask is the oldest and most historically rich of the three, with centuries of maritime trade and cultural influence. Gdynia is the youngest a modern port city that rose rapidly in the 20th century when Poland needed a new gateway to the sea.And Sopot, nestled between them, became the regions beloved seaside resort, famous for its beaches, elegant villas, and lively summer atmosphere. Today the three cities are seamlessly connected by trains, bike paths, and coastal promenades. You can move between them effortlessly which makes exploring the area by bicycle truly delightful. And if youre arriving for a cycling tour well, youre already doing it right.Gdask: History On The Baltic CoastGdask is one of those cities where history is everywhere you look. For centuries it was one of the most important trading ports on the Baltic Sea and a powerful member of the Hanseatic League, the medieval network of merchant cities that connected northern Europe. Walking through the historic centre today, you can still feel that maritime legacy. Tall merchant houses line the streets in a colourful parade of architecture, church towers rise above the skyline, and along the Motawa River stands the famous medieval crane that once loaded cargo from ships arriving from across Europe. Gdask is also a city that played a pivotal role in modern history. In the 1980s, the Solidarity movement began here at the Gdask Shipyard a workers movement that would eventually help bring about the fall of communist rule across Eastern Europe.A Cycling Capital Of PolandFor cyclists, Gdask has another pleasant surprise: its one of the most bike-friendly cities in Poland. Poland in general is wonderfully welcoming to cyclists, with well-maintained bike lanes, thoughtful infrastructure and scenic routes that connect cities, parks, and coastlines. Gdask is a perfect example of this culture. Exploring the city by bike feels natural, and honestly the best way to do so. You can ride along the Motawa River, glide through green parks, and reach the Baltic shoreline within minutes. The bike paths are smooth, safe, and often incredibly scenic. If youre arriving a day or two before the Plum Ride begins and I highly recommend that you do it will give you time to explore. Gdask is the kind of city where wandering around is half the joy, but here are a few places worth putting on your list:Long Market The heart of the historic centre and one of the most beautiful streets in Poland. Colourful merchants houses, the iconic Neptune Fountain and the elegant Artus Court make this area feel like a postcard.St. Marys Basilica One of the largest brick churches in the world. If youre up for a little climb, the tower offers incredible views over the citys rooftops and the Baltic beyond.urawThe Gdask Crane (uraw) A medieval port crane that once loaded cargo from trading ships. Its one of the most recognizable symbols of the city and a reminder of Gdasks maritime past.European Solidarity Centre A modern museum dedicated to the Solidarity movement that began here in the 1980s and helped change the political landscape of Eastern Europe. Even if youre not a big museum person, the story is powerful and the architecture is striking.The Motawa River Walk A perfect place for an evening stroll. Restaurants, cafs, and old harbor buildings line the waterfront, and the atmosphere becomes especially magical at sunset.A Small Detour To TakeNow heres my personal confession: if I join this tour and I really hope I will I plan to arrive a little early. Why? Because I want to ride my bike to Sopot. Sopot sits just between Gdask and Gdynia, and although the Plum Ride doesnt pass through it, it absolutely deserves your attention. I once spent three or four days there and remember thinking that I should have stayed longer.Sopots story is quite different from Gdasks. In the 19th century, when seaside resorts became fashionable across Europe, Sopot blossomed into a spa town where visitors came for fresh sea air, mineral waters, and relaxation by the sea. Elegant villas were built among pine forests, promenades filled with summer visitors, and the town slowly grew into Polands most beloved coastal getaway.SopotThe symbol of the city is its famous wooden pier, stretching far into the Baltic Sea one of the longest wooden piers in Europe. Standing there, looking out over the water, its easy to understand why generations of travellers have fallen in love with this place. Even though the Baltic Sea isnt known for tropical temperatures (not my favourite sea at all), in late August its usually warm enough to enjoy the beach and the atmosphere is simply wonderful.But for cyclists, the real highlight is the coastal bike path that runs between Gdask and Sopot. I rode it once and still remember how beautiful it felt. Start in central Gdask and follow the bike paths north toward the coast. Soon youll join the coastal cycling route that runs through parks and along sandy beaches. The ride is smooth and scenic, with long stretches where you can see the Baltic Sea just beyond the dunes. After about an hour of easy riding, youll arrive in Sopot.Park your bike and walk along the famous Sopot Pier, grab a coffee on the promenade, or simply sit by the beach and watch the waves roll in. When youre ready, ride back the same way sunset along the coast is often spectacular. Its the perfect warm-up ride before the real adventure begins.See You At The Start Line?The Plum Ride will run for the first time in 2027 and it promises to be a journey through incredible landscapes, cultures, stories (and my favourite spirits, of course). But if you ask me, the adventure begins even before the first official pedal stroke. It begins in Gdask a city where cycling feels natural, and where every journey seems to start with a little bit of magic in the air. And if you happen to see someone riding toward Sopot a day or two before the tour begins well, theres a good chance it might be me.RELATEDTOURPlum Ride Plum brandy has a long and illustrious history in Central and Eastern Europe, beginning as far back as the 14th century. Distilled from local plums... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "Gdask A Cycling Capital In The Heart Of Poland" Cancel reply

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