CUSTOM CYCLING TOURS: FRANCE, SPAIN, ANDORRA, ITALY...

Yumi

Yumi was born and raised in Japan and discovered early a love of life of style and speed. For over 10 years she competed in endless track and field events earning plenty of medals and standing on more podiums than she can count.

A major of linguistics with Spanish specialty, and a license in Japanese literature, she left Japan to continue her studies in Mexico, before embarking on her own Central and South American adventure.

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For four years, Yumi found herself teaching Japanese literature to Guatemala’s social elite, and not only teaching – with her love of logistics and finely-tuned organizational skills, she coordinated a Spanish language school for foreign students; arranging everything from finances to culturally immersive tours with indigenous communities.

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After traveling extensively through the high and lowlands of Latin-America, she met Jean-Philippe and together they moved to the green pastures of pretty Vermont and the needle-sharp city of Seattle. Together, they founded and managed the Native Planet Outdoor Road Cycling Club. During this time, Yumi was also lending her honed level of expertise as manager and logistics director for a variety of Cyclosportive and GrandFondo cycling events across the state of Washington. With hundreds of cyclists under her care, Yumi synchronized the volunteers, food, and services to ensure a safe, comfortable, pleasant and seamless journey for all.

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An experienced road cyclist, Yumi discovered her love of seeking out the toughest mountain cycling climbs especially after moving to the Pyrenees and Alpine playgrounds with Jean-Philippe. She participates regularly, preferring those heart thundering races that invite riders to tackle multiple consecutive mountain climbs with challenging elevation. She was the first woman on the finish line at the mythic race of Luchon-Bayonne (320 km / 6000m). Yumi also made history as the first Japanese citizen to ever finish the world’s toughest one-day cyclosportive of the Tour du Mont-Blanc (330 km / 8200m) where she came forth in her category. She participates in other Ultra mountain Grandfondos every year and is always placed top of her category.

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Able to tackle an entire mountain climb without ever sitting on the saddle, her style makes climbing look deceptively easy as witnessed here on her winter climb of the legendary Tour de France mountain finish of Hautacam.

When not in the saddle, Yumi is still tackling mountains on two feet – whether by running or trekking at home or in the wild heights of the Nepal and India’s Himalayas. She is also a keen XC skate skier.

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In 2007 Yumi finished her studies in Oriental medicine. She is also a Japanese licensed massage therapist with a specialty in Meridian line acupressure. Yumi has always had a great passion for cooking, and by combining her oriental medicine with her passion for cycling and athletic experience, she is now learning about athlete's nutrition.

Her natural affinity for the lilt of languages; Yumi is native in Japanese but can also speak fluent French, English, and Spanish. Her passion also lies in the soaring regions of the Alps and the Pyrenees, where epic exploration both on foot and two wheels has gifted her intimate knowledge of every mountain turn.

Yumi’s quest for perfection, her life-long experience in logistics planning, her love of travel, and her pure passion for cycling makes her a trailblazer in our team, ensuring all our guests are gifted only the best, most dedicated and intimate service when planning their sublime cycling tours.

Connect today for a taste of Yumi’s perfect planning and arrange your seamless adventure cycling across Europe’s best biking destinations.

Ready for a truly native experience exploring the mountains, backroads, and bicycle adventures that make Europe such a world-famous cycling destination?

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