Corbin Strong finally broke through to take victory at the 2026 Circuit Franco Belge, delivering a long-awaited win after previous podium finishes in 2023 and 2025. The New Zealander timed his effort perfectly in a reduced uphill sprint, holding off Anders Foldager and race favourite Paul Magnier to...

UPDATED June 10, 2026 BY Guest Author IN The Odyssey no comments What I Wish I Knew Before My First TDA TourSara Frenning, Content Creator on the 2026 Odyssey, reflects on her first TDA tour. From lessons in time management and content creation to unexpected discoveries about the countries, riders, and staff she met along the way, she shares what she wishes she had known before joining the adventure.When I first got assigned the role of content creator on the Odyssey, my overwhelming feeling was excitement. Little thought was given to the potential hardships or difficulties. In my mind, I was going to get paid to ride a bike and take photos what was there not to be excited about?And luckily, my excited mind was right. It has been a dream job in many ways, and I have probably had even more fun than I anticipated. Without sounding too much like a hype machine, my first TDA tour has been amazing so far.With that said, running a TDA tour is not for the faint-hearted. The staff works hard, often around the clock, to make the tour the well-oiled machine that it is.One of the best surprises of a TDA tour is the community you become part ofBut these are both things I expected. I expected to work hard, and I expected to have a lot of fun. Which makes What did I wish I knew before my first tour? a difficult question to answer.When it comes to the content creator role in particular, there were certainly things I wish I had known and done before the tour. I wish I had built a music library with songs that fit each country, so I wouldnt have to spend hours sifting through endless music lists on Motion Array and Instagram during the trip. I wish I had prepared a shot list and planned my reels in more detail.Behind every great tour is an incredible teamIn general, time management is incredibly important. Instead of scrambling to put a post together at the end of the day, opting out of some of the days fun to get editing done often pays off in the long run. But when it comes down to it, spontaneity and the ability to create in the moment are equally important on a TDA tour and perhaps part of the charm of this type of job.When it comes to the tour in general, I felt prepared, but I guess I wish I had known that Greece could be so cold (bring that puffy jacket), that Albania would be so beautiful (plan to ride as much as possible), that Montenegro would have such kind people (plan to stop often and talk to them), that Bosnias history was so rich yet harrowing, that Italy could get so much rain (rain pants are definitely needed), that Austria would have such amazing bike paths, and that Germany would actually have really good food (sorry, Germany).I also didnt expect to learn world-class lessons in logistics and organization from Katie, our tour assistant; lessons in leadership and how to be an absolute boss lady from Carolina, our tour leader; the value of a positive attitude and how to laugh until my belly hurt from Doug, our bike mechanic; or how to stay calm in the middle of a TDA storm from Micah, our other tour assistant.I also didnt expect to be so inspired by the riders. Most of them are in their 70s, yet they remain incredibly strong, resilient, and healthy.In short, I wish I had known that I would not only get to do a really fun job, but also do it alongside world-class people whom I feel lucky to have met. In any job, its a gift when you genuinely enjoy spending time with your coworkers, and on this tour, I was truly fortunate in that regard. But in the end, the best preparation for a TDA tour is an open mind and a sense of excitement. That will take you very far.Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "What I Wish I Knew Before My First TDA Tour" Cancel reply

Alex Baudin retained the overall lead at the Tour Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes after safely navigating a fast and demanding fourth stage, where the breakaway narrowly held off the peloton and Lidl-Treks Quinn Simmons sprinted to victory. The French rider, who claimed the yellow jersey after his solo win on...