GRAND COLS CYCLING TOURS
TEAM
GRAND COLS CYCLING TOURS SQUADRA
Grand Cols Cycling Tours was founded in 2023 by Rinie Sminia (Diemen) and Joop Forster (Venlo). Rinie is a passionate cyclist with extensive experience in entrepreneurship and in planning and guiding cycling tours in high-mountain regions. Joop is an experienced mountain cyclist who has ticked off many Grand Cols. After three successful years of substantial growth, Joop decided to step away from the business because he could no longer combine his work for Grand Cols Cycling Tours with a full-time job. Joop will still be joining the rides!
Rinie knows the finest routes in the European high mountains and works with a network of (local) experts, including route developers and experienced cycling tour guides, to offer you an unforgettable cycling adventure.
Rinie: ‘Climbing the Grand Cols together with other cyclists provides experience, confidence, pride and (cycling) friends for life!’
RINIE SMINIA
Chef d’Equipe Grand Cols Cycling Tours
I have been following professional cycling (‘de koers’) since I was young. The radio reports of the famous Dutch reporter Theo Koomen (yes, so long ago) played an important role in this. I also cut out the results of the Tour de France for my scrapbook. A cycling career was not (yet) in the cards. However, I have practiced other sports at a high (national) level. I had my first experience with the Grand Cols when I went to the Alps with some fellow students; an unforgettable trip that was not followed up because family and work came first.
In 2018 I decided to return to the mountains to cycle cols. A trip to Gran Canaria turned out to be a deception; I couldn’t get over a single hill! Then things changed radically: new bike, bikefits, Tacx, Zwift, Wahoo, Watt Bike, better nutrition, heart rate monitor, power meter and coaches; the cycling fever had got hold of me. After that things went quickly. The weight flew off and six months later I ‘flew’ over the Canary mountains. In the years that followed I climbed the Grand Cols in the Alps, Pyrenees, Vosges and Apennines. I also took part in the Nove Colli together with 11,000 Nibalis; magnificent! The Grand Cols in Andorra have recently impressed me the most.
At the same time, as a business consultant and former entrepreneur, I immersed myself in the business side of cycling. At other organisations, I gained experience organising and guiding cycling tours, including the Coast 2 Coast Pyrenees, Across the Alps (South) and on Mallorca. The next step could only be starting my own business in cycling. Meeting Joop provided the decisive push. We got on well together and our experiences matched perfectly. What could be better than pooling our experience, knowledge and skills and sharing them with other cycling enthusiasts?