Meet the Ciclos Major Team
Darryl Leese
The Founder of Ciclos Major, who can normally be found on or near the front of our Cappuccino group, perhaps our most popular group, especially as the season moves on into March & April. An absolute master of the lanes of the island, Darryl has undiscovered and little used roads and routes to most destinations on the island. With 15 years’ experience, Darryl is also fully versed in ride and group management and will ensure every day out is a day to remember! When he’s not riding Darryl is hard at work on his computer pulling the whole operation together, handling the admin of bookings, transfers and looking after client requests. He’s the conduit to our superb accommodation with the Zafiro hotels group, and his contacts on the island mean we have access to great local partners to help us offer that special experience.
Liz Rooney
Although Liz first cycled in Mallorca only six years ago, she is similar to Victor Kiam (‘I liked the shaver so much, I bought the company’), as soon as Liz started riding on the island she was hooked and liked it so much she’s rarely been off the island since that time! When she’s not on the bike you’ll find Liz working hard at our meet and greet functions, assisting with the admin, bookings and looking after the welfare and general needs of our clients. Not being a traditionalist means Liz fully understands the needs and requirements of the modern cyclist and athlete and is key to driving our fresh approach to all things Mallorca. During the day and on the road, you’ll find her either working in our Cappuccino group or hosting our Ladies Only rides!
Ben & Karen Dennett
This ‘golden couple’ of Mallorquin cycling know the island top to bottom, and side to side! B&K have been cruising the lanes of Mallorca for over twenty years and they ably manage our Cappuccino group. Both have a background of racing, and Karen is currently enjoying a renaissance in her time trialling form! Ben is the diesel of the duo leading this group to the base of the climbs, whereupon Karen takes over in the mountains, marshalling their group smoothly to the high summits. B&K love to head south and to take their clients to the ‘other’ little visited chain of mountains that Mallorca has to offer.
Robbie Harcourt
Robbie has been riding in Majorca since 1989, not every year but fell in love with the island enough to keep coming back. He has taken part in many forms of road and off-road cycling and now, after taking the opportunity to retire early, settles for touring his local Cheshire cafes and lanes plus time trialling; 'a tourist who just happens to be able to go relatively quick'.
He has toured in Canada, the USA, plus a good few parts of Europe, including the Alps, over the years and is an established club rider with many years in the West Manchester CTC/Nova CC and Salford CC clubs.
Robbie usually guides our Americano or Cappuccino groups and has often worked with Ben & Karen, while he professes not to be able to match Ben's almost encyclopeadic knowledge of the lanes. He is happy on all terrains although the higher mountains are tackled with a certain level of grim determination these days, tempered by the knowledge that 'gravity sucks downhill as well'.
Robbie also builds and maintains his own small fleet of machinery so can help out with most issues as they arise, although some modern electrickery can leave him scratching his head.
Tim Ball
An expert when on the roads of Mallorca and renowned Ploughman, Tim brings a wealth of experience to our team. Usually guiding our Cappuccino riders and being from the rugged North of England, Tim is equally at home on the flat, or in the Mountains. His mountain biking background means his bike handling skills are second to none, and he can impart that knowledge, and the tips and tricks of that trade, onto our clients. With some of our Cappuccino riders being relatively new to cycling, That’s the kind of benefits attending an organised cycling holiday can bring to the improving rider. Tim is also a fully qualified mechanic and has a passion for all things tractors!
Mary Bower
A keen road rider and time triallist, Mary has ridden at a high level in the UK and will be on hand to offer support to all our groups and particularly to help our lady riders. Mary had been riding regularly on Mallorca for ten years and whilst she loves to visit the Caves of Campanet, her knowledge of the island is now fully comprehensive. Quick in the hills and smooth on the flats, Mary is equally at home working with any of our established guides or leading out groups into the varied terrain Mallorca has to offer!
Melissa Dowell
Melissa started competing in triathlon in 2007, previously from a swimming background. She has ridden the Mallorca 312 and completed over a dozen Ironman races, including Ironman Mallorca and has qualified for The World Championship Kona Ironman five times. She competed in this event three times gaining two Age Group top 10 finishes. Melissa has also competed widely for Great Britain throughout Europe and further afield, racing both World ITU and European ETU long distance and middle distance age group championships.
In 2016 she won gold in the age group world championships long course triathlon in Oklahoma and more recently a silver medal in Pontevedra Spain in May 2019 and in Ibiza in 2023. She also has four golds, a silver and two bronze medals from racing for Great Britain in European age group championships. Melissa has wide experience from attending training camps around the world and has delivered training sessions to a youth triathlon squad for several years.
Debra Peck
An experienced timetrialist from the UK, now living in Mallorca for the last 8 years. Debra has built up her knowledge of the roads here on this beautiful island to enable her to guide, encourage and support you enhancing your “Ultimate Mallorquin Cycling Experience”. Her focus is on the Cappuccino level rides and the Ladies only rides.
Al Spurden
A former runner and relative late-comer to cycling, Alan is a new addition to the Ciclos Major Guide Team and is currently building up his knowledge of our routes by shadowing Antony in the Espresso groups. Most comfortable when climbing or on the front of the group into a headwind where his experience in time-trialling and even pacing comes to the fore.
David Hunter
David commuted in London traffic since the '80s, finally joined a cycle club -Brixton Cycle Club -in 2016 and has ridden LEJOG, Ventoux, Atlas Mountains. Since retiring as an anaesthetist & intensive care doctor he has moved to South Coast, becoming a member of Christchurch Bicycle Club and Lymington Triathlon Club and has made annual pilgrimages to cycle in Mallorca over the years. He enjoys traffic free cycling and happy on long steady rides. David joined as Ciclos Major Guide October 2022 and is building his knowledge of the many lanes and roads around Mallorca, he admits he is excellent at drafting and loitering at the back when not guiding the rides!
Steve Tucker
Steve has been riding in Mallorca for over 30 years. A former first category road racer, he has raced in the UK and in Belgium. In more recent years he has turned his hand to Masters racing and in 2019 won the prestigious British Masters Cycle Racing national points series and was also Midlands Circuit Race champion in the E Category.
Now retired from racing (though never say never) he has turned his hand to guiding for Ciclos Major and enjoys guiding others on some of the best roads Mallorca has to offer, from the classic mountain roads and climbs, to lesser known routes through the quieter areas of the island.
Steve usually guides the Espresso or Americano groups but just enjoys the fabulous roads and weather so is happy to guide all levels with the emphasis being on riding as a team.