THE R&D TEAM
Marlene, a Canadian and Spanish citizen, has lived in Europe for more than 27 years and speaks 4 languages. Marlene started her European adventure in Paris at the age of 18, studying languages, eventually moving to Spain. Since then, Marlene pursued an international career in the high-tech industry leading major projects in Europe and abroad.
Like many, Marlene was busy managing the demands of a young family and a growing career when she discovered cycling and mountaineering which became a basic essential to maintaining some sanity in her life. Marlene spent many years as a weekend resident in Gredos. She has organized cycling tours for family and friends in France, Italy, Switzerland and Northern Spain. She also has a keen interest in culinary arts and oenology which eventually lead her to become a Certified Sommelier. After a 3-year stint in Calgary, Canada, Marlene is back in Spain and is the motor behind developing new experiences and destinations for Go Cycle Tours.
Jennifer, the Canadian counterpart to the Spanish-Canadian initiative is a natural sports woman stemming from her youth playing competitive badminton both provincially and nationally and continuing to becoming a tennis instructor. If being a CFO hadn't got in her way of playing golf professionally, we’d have seen her wheeling her golf cart on the greens instead riding her bike on the roads! It was on the trips to Spain to visit her sister that she discovered the incredible opportunity to cycle roads that were virtually abandoned. With a passion for anything physical, cycling, travelling or enjoying great wine she and her sister decided it was time to share and motivate other people to join in this great adventure of cycling and personal development. Jen often co-hosts/guides many of Go Cycles guided trips.
Isabel our Gredos native, is deemed by many the Martha Stewart and “Honorary Mayor” of Hoyos del Espino. Isabel worked with Marlene in the high-tech industry and later developed a housing project with her husband in Gredos which is what brought Marlene to discover Gredos! She is the very active President of ASENORG, the regional commerce association for Gredos Norte where she has been instrumental in many initiatives including Gredos Libre (free access to the Gredos Mountains) and saving the emblematic Parador of Gredos from closure in late 2012. Isabel lives in Hoyos del Espino and works with regional and local governments on strategies to mitigate depopulation of rural areas in Spain by developing and implementing responsible and sustainable tourism programs. Isabel is a big Go Cycle supporter and our local consultant for the area.