Bingen Fernandez - Co-owner & Guide

Bingen is co-owner and president of Gruppetto Tours. Bingen has been a professional cyclist since 1996. Bingen guides and helps coordinate every trip ensuring that each guest has the pro-like experience. He will be riding his 12th season for the French team Cofidis.

Bingen speaks Spanish, English, French & Basque

Nikane Xuen Mallea - Co-owner, Coordinator & Guide

Nikane is co-owner of Gruppetto Tours and oversees every tour and training camp to ensure that every detail upholds the mission of Gruppetto Tours, to offer its clients the same service and amenities as a professional cyclist. Nikane is an American who has been living, training and competing in the Basque Country of Spain since 1999. Nikane began cycling road competitively in 2000, competed in duathlons in 2006, and now races for Mercy Cycling Team in the USA. Nikane is Gruppetto Tours’ North American representative as well as a coordinator and guide on Gruppetto Tours’ trips and training camps. Nikane specializes in custom camp and corporate event planning.

Nikane speaks English, Spanish, Italian & Basque.

Jo Planckaert - Guide

The Planckaerts are a cycling dynasty in Belgium. Jo followed in the footsteps of his father Willy and two uncles, Eddy and Walter and turned pro at the age of 20. Jo Planckaert raced professionally 13 years with over 20 professional victories and many top 10 placings including 2nd in Paris-Roubaix and 4th Milan-San Remo. Jo is a guide for Gruppetto Tours.

Jo speaks Flemish, French, English & Italian.

Igor Flores - Guide

Gruppetto Tours is pleased to have the seasoned rider Igor Flores serving as one of it’s guides. Riding in everything from the World Cup classics to the Vuelta a España to the Tour de France, he has spent more than 12 years competing at the professional level; six of those years were with the team Euskaltel Euskadi where he was teammate to Beloki, Mayo, Zubeldia and Laiseka, among others. Flores turned pro in 1996 and had three victories during his career.
Igor resides in Altsasu, in the Basque Country of Spain. In his future are plans to become a cycling team director.

Igor speaks Spanish, English & Basque.

Josué Aran - Soigneur

Josué raced at the amateur level between 1990 and 2006. He raced at the amateur level for Spanish teams Cropusa and Baque where he had 3 victories and was 5th in 2006 Spanish Championships. Josué has been a licensed massage therapist since 2003 with a professional cyclist clientele including Angel Vicioso of Astana, Alberto Contador of Discovery Channel, and Christian Moreni and Bingen Fernandez of Cofidis. He also works on contract for Team Euskaltel, and Viña Magna Cropusa. Josué has worked with Gruppetto Tours on many trips.

Josué speaks Spanish & English.

Rubén Hidalgo - Soigneur

Rubén has been athletic since he was very young. Track and field, swimming, mountaineering…but nothing with as much vigor as cycling. He raced road up until the amateur level before beginning his studies in sport physiotherapy. He is currently finishing postgraduate work in osteopathy and medicine and works with athletes of all disciplines: karate, mountaineering, ballet, basketball, cycling, and soccer to name a few.

Rubén speaks English, Spanish & Basque.

Iñaki Goiburu Martinez - Mechanic

Iñaki raced from the age of 14 to 21 for Spanish teams Kaiku, Ulma-Cegasa and Baque. He is a skilled mechanic having worked for the teams Bidelan, Caja Rural, Alfus, Lizarte and Orbea as well as for the Basque Cycling Federation.

Pedro Bilbao Larraur - Soigneur & Mechanic

Pedro, nicknamed “Pedri”, is a professional mechanic for the Spanish team Orbea-Olarra-Consultec for which he has worked for the last three years. Pedri is also a licensed sport massage therapist.

Pedri competed seven years as a cyclist before joining Orbea as a mechanic--racing three years for Banaka-Procolor at the amateur level. During the winter he continues to compete in ciclocross races. Pedri lives in the Basque Country of Spain and is one of Gruppetto Tours' skilled mechanics.

Leen Ghyselen - Soigneur

This Belgian physiotherapist is a part of our team of massage therapists. Leen Ghyselen lives in a beautiful region of Belgium, famous for the Tour of Flanders. In 1997 she graduated as a physiotherapist at the Katholic University Leuven (Belgium). In 2000 she got her masters degree of manual therapy at the Free University Brussels, after which she taught manual therapy part-time for two years. She worked as physiotherapist for several years in private practices and in the University Hospital in Leuven. Her interest is in locomotor rehabilitation, with emphasis on muscles and joints. Leen is a valuable staff member during our Tour de France and Paris-Roubaix tours.

Leen speaks Flemish, French & English.

Ander Elortegi Leniz - Guide & Coordinator

Ander's experience as a tourist guide and cyclist make him an indispensable guide for Gruppetto Tours. After six years competing at the amateur level, Ander left competition despite his favourable chances of passing into the professional ranks. Ander works for Gruppetto Tours as both a coordinator and guide.

Ander speaks Spanish, English, French & Basque.

Amy Bennett - Soigneur

Amy is a graduate from East-West College of the Healing Arts in Portland, Oregon and specializes in Deep Tissue Massage. Amy is an avid bicycle commuter and will be tailoring her massage practice to cyclists. Amy is a massage therapist for BCE's Tour de France and Vuelta a España trips.

Photos by: TDWsport.com