SportActive Cycling
SportActive Cycling
SportActive Cycling is a Mallorca based road cycling holiday company. It is the only company to feature cycling legend Sean Kelly, who rides with SportActive in April and October. The company operates Mallorca cycling holidays for all levels of cyclist and leisure holiday riders. As well as riding in Mallorca, Spain, the company operates French cycling holidays predominantly in the summer months.
SportActive Cycling Early Years
SportActive Cycling was founded by Martin Birney, a former professional cyclist now a cycling coach. Currently, the company is owned and operated by Martin Birney and Flora Mittermair.
The company grew from Martin Birney’s experience of training on the Spanish Balearic island of Mallorca. After qualifying as a cycling coach and seeing that there was a demand from cyclists of all levels to improve their skills and explore Mallorca, he started SportActive Cycling.
Quickly, other coaches and guides were brought in, and the company expanded. This includes current co-owner Flora Mittermair and former world cycling champion Sean Kelly[1].
Mallorca Cycling Holidays
Currently, SportActive Cycling operates four Mallorca cycling holidays. They are:
- Early Season Training Camp – Aimed at more advanced cyclists, this camp operates between February and March and is designed to improve strength and power.
- Mallorca Cycling Training Camps – Operating from March to May and September to October, this holiday is designed to improve road cycling ability and fitness. Sean Kelly rides in this cycling holiday in April and October.
- Mallorca Leisure Cycling – As well as training camps, SportActive Cycling operates guided holiday rides on the island. This is suitable for all levels, and Sean Kelly rides with this group.
- Mallorca Cycling for Beginners – This group is dedicated to cyclists who want to get more from the sport and are either just beginning or relatively new to cycling. Sean Kelly rides with this group.
- Mallorca 312 Sportive – SportActive arranges registration, strategy meetings, and logistical support for Europe’s longest amateur sportive.
French Cycling Holidays
Currently, SportActive operates two cycling holidays in France:
- Geneva to Nice. Here cyclists ride from Geneva to Nice in France following the classic ‘La Route des Grandes Alpes’. This is a seven day holiday riding across the French Alps.
- Marmotte Granfondo Alpes – Arguably Europe’s toughest sportive, SportActive provides full logistical and in-ride support on the day.
Key People
Martin Birney – Cycling Coach Martin has ridden at professional level competing in Europe and Australia. He achieved fourth place in the World Master’s Championship.
Flora Mittermair – Director and Cycling Guide Flora came to road cycling via mountain biking and skiing. Her natural athleticism made shifting to road cycling easy, and she has ridden some of the toughest amateur sportives in the world.
Sean Kelly – Cycling Guide Sean Kelly was the best cyclist in the world for five consecutive years and earned the title, ‘The King of the Classics’ due to the number of classic races he won.
Derek Patterson – Cycling and Triathlon Coach A former European Masters Bronze Medallist now cycling coach. Derek has twenty years’ experience riding and training on Mallorca’s roads.
Thierry Bry – Cycling Guide Thierry Bry is an accomplished cycling guide and is a triathlon instructor.
Stephen Burns – Cycling Mechanic Stephen Burns maintains and repairs company and client bikes at SportActive Cycling.
William Perello – Cycling Guide Native to Mallorca and a qualified cycling guide, William competes at the local level and speaks three languages.
In the Press
SportActive has been written about by specialist magazines and broadsheet newspapers, often in connection with Sean Kelly. This includes:
- 10 Best Fitness Holidays[2] – published by the Daily Telegraph in 2011
- To Hell and Back: My Tour de France[3] – published by the Irish Independent in 2015
- Cap de Formentor: Mallorca’s Finest Road[4] – published by Cyclist Magazine in 2016
- Majorca: Spinning in the Sunshine[5] – published by the Irish Independent in 2016
- Ride on with Sean Kelly[6] – published by ABC Mallorca in 2020
- Chasing Perfection: Sa Calobra Big Ride[7] published by Cyclist Magazine in 2019
Covid-19 Impact
Covid-19 and related lockdowns saw most of the 2020 cycling season cancelled. Currently, in 2021, SportActive will offer a reduced Mallorca cycling season.
References
- ↑ Legends, Cycling (2018). "Cycling Legends: Sean 'King' Kelly". Cycling Legends. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ↑ Telegraph, Daily (2011). "10 Best Fitness Holidays". Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Publishing Group. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ↑ Independent, Irish (2015). "To Hell and Back: My Tour de France". Mediahuis. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ↑ Magazine, Cyclist (2019). "Cap de Formentor: Mallorca's finest road". Cyclist Magazine. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ↑ Independent, Irish. "Majorca:Spinning in the Sunshine". Mediahuis. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ↑ Mallorca, ABC (2020). "Ride on with Sean Kelly". ABC Mallorca. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ↑ Magazine, Cyclist (2019). "Chasing perfection: Sa Calobra Big Ride". Cyclist Magazine. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
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