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 Pierrick Absolonne, Quebec born and bred, is a former world-class oarsman, who won the speed orders for the Canadian National Rowing Team. “Abso” has worked as a mountain guide in British Columbia and run a kayak school in Lachine, Quebec. Considered by those who know him to be physically the strongest person in the world, he proves that it takes a tough man to make a delicate crepe. Pierrick now lives in the United States and is bilingual; French is his langue maternelle. People come to VLS for the cycling, but they come back because of Abso.
| "Your ace is Abso. He simply knows how to deal with people, his soothing, “I can fix it,” multi-tasking attitude is just what this trip needed….It’s not what you do, but how you do it, and Abso was The Man. He made the trip for most of us."
~ Guest 2004
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 Jean-Marc DuFraisse A professional, full-time chef from Paris, Jean-Marc (known only as Chef) spends part of his vacation each year putting it on the table for VLS. An avid mountain biker, Chef prepares hearty, nutritional meals for serious cyclists, but adds a twist of elegance and a certain French “je ne sais quoi.” Although he cannot understand why American’s don’t like snails, Chef loves cooking for the international crowd at VLS and practicing his English with guests who want to practice their French.
| "Chef Jean-Marc was superb"
~ Guest 2004
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 Will Gonzalez Once upon a time, Gonzo was a top amateur bike racer on both the road and track in California, and later on the Harvard Cycling Team while attending Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Today, Will is a high-powered political consultant in Sacramento who takes some time out each year to work as a bike leader for VLS.
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 Paul Montague Originally from England, Monty has lived for 16 years in the alpine town of le Bourg d’Oisans. Completely bilingual in French and English, Paul works winters at the ski resort of les Deux Alpes as a “pisteur-secouriste,” or ski patroller. In the off-season, Paul is a professional sport and adventure tour guide working throughout Europe, most recently at the Olympic Games in Athens. For VLS, Paul is our year-round man on the spot who makes sure all arrangements are in place for our guests. He also drives one of our sag wagons and acts as our walking encyclopedia of information about the Oisans region. |
 Simon Pickard Originally from England, Simon graduated from the University of Oxford and spent five years in New York working for Oxbridge Academics, an international educational company that runs summer schools in England and France. Completely bilingual in French and English, Simon is now attending business school in Paris and spending his summers driving sag for Velo la Source; Simon knows the roads and routes through the mountains of the Alps.
| "Simon, you do great sag!"
~ Guest 2004
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 Jimmy Riccitello is among the most successful multisport athletes in history. Self-coached for over 20 years, Jimmy has also been coaching other athletes, from age-groupers to pros, for ten years. As a coach for Multisports.com, the premiere on-line coaching site in multisport, Jimmy developed their XTERRA training program, based on the regimen that made him XTERRA World Champion.
One of the most powerful cyclists in the multisport world, Jimmy used his cycling prowess to power to over 50 professional victories, including prestigious wins in the St. Croix International Triathlon, the ITU World Cup, and the Vuelta de Bisbee cycling stage race. Jimmy also won numerous stages in the France Iron Tour, including the stage up Alpe d'Huez; he also took the best cyclist trophy. At Velo la Source, Jimmy leads our daily rides and works with guests at all levels of ability to improve their cycling. And, not least of all, Jimmy's irreverent wit and infectious passion for the bike are constant reminders that Velo la Source loves cycling. As much as you do. If you wish to get in shape before your Velo la Source holiday, let us know and we'll have Jimmy get in touch with you about designing a cycling training program just for you.
| "Jimmy was an excellent guide and a fun person to be around; a superb athlete that took the time with everyone to make them feel like they were truly important. You hit the jackpot having him for these trips."
~ Guest 2004
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 Rebecca Taylor is a gourmet cook, triathlete, and competitive cyclist. Her professional work is as Vice President of Development for Petfinder.com, the world's largest searchable database of homeless pets, which has been named a Forbes Magazine "Best of the Web" site. Rebecca fell in love with cycling in her summer hometown of Wilson, Wyoming, where she bought a bike simply for the joy and challenge of competing in the Teton Pass Hill Climb. She finished third and hasn't stopped racing-or winning-since. Rebecca was a member of the U.S. Long Distance Triathlon Team that competed at the World Championships in Ibiza, Spain in May 2003. As a cyclist representing Harvard University, Rebecca won the Eastern Collegiate Cycling Championships in 1996. She has completed Ironman triathlons in the U.S., Canada, and Spain and won triathlons in Arizona, Massachusetts, Wyoming, and Idaho. |
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 Adam Weisman is a lawyer in Tucson and a competitive triathlete and cyclist known more for his enthusiasm and love of the sport than for his palmares. Weisman fell in love with cycling during the long solo bike tours of Europe he took when he was in college and graduate school, often following the routes of the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia. Adam, who is bilingual in English and French, has lived in Europe and attended schools in both France and England. Please don't ask him about Gianni Bugno unless you have a lot of free time. |
 Isabelle Weisman was born just in time for Lance's sixth victory. |
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Thank you to all 2005 guests who made our trips a smashing success this year!
questions? contact us! |
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