Our Vision

The Global Biking Initiative fosters a worldwide cycling community – United by a passion for riding bicycles, where individuals from diverse backgrounds come together to cycle, explore new spots and cultures, forge meaningful and valuable connections, and create a network of lasting friendships across the world.

Our mission statements

Cultivate Connection: Bring individuals together from all corners of the globe, fostering cross-cultural understanding, and strengthening the bonds of friendship through shared biking adventures.

Promote Exploration: Encourage exploration of diverse landscapes, cultures, and communities through eco-friendly biking, fostering appreciation for the world's beauty and diversity.

Nurture Relationships: Provide a platform for forging deep and lasting connections among biking enthusiasts, enriching lives with meaningful relationships that span continents.

Celebrate Diversity: Embrace and celebrate the diversity of our global community, creating an inclusive environment where every background and perspective is valued.

 

Through our mission, the Global Biking Initiative seeks to create a vibrant global network of passionate cyclists who actively contribute to a more connected, diverse, and sustainable world, one pedal stroke at a time.

 

 

The people behind the GBI

Michael Leuenberger
Managing Director

Michael is the originator and founder of the first GBI back in 2008, where he set-up a first charity ride with more than 60 people, cycling from Düsseldorf in Germany to Newbury in the UK, and raising more than 20.000 Euro of funds.

Anja Richter
Finance

Anja knows the GBI since many years as cyclist as well as volunteer in various roles, and everybody knows her. 
She mainly controls the GBI finances, but in addition she is higly involved in participant care activities prior to and also after the tours. During our smaller events she is responsible for the touroffice, hotel management as well as for 'snack management'.

Oliver Harzen
Communication & marketing

In 2009 Oliver joined the GBI community as cyclist and after falling in love with the event he engaged himself in different roles in the GBI organisation since 2014.

Heba Kamel
Social Media Consultant

Heba ist the new face of the team. She knows the GBI as cyclist during her participations 2011-2013. Heba is responsible for the complete social media presence including all events of the GBI Event GmbH since November 2023. She has an extensive knowledge of the social media work for more than 20 years and therefore she is the perfect fit for the small core GBI team. She will accompany our cycling events and blog onsite to inform our followers and friends of the GBI 'live'. 

Thomas Küpper
Routing

Thomas has several years of experience with the GBI. The is an enthusiastic cyclist and knows what is important to develop excellent bike tracks for such a huge bike event.

Klaus Schubert
Nutrition & location scout

Prior to the tour he acts as location sout and checks for adequate accommodation for hundreds of people as well as for the hotel rooms at all stages to ensure a relaxing sleep.

Andreas Neukirchen
Logistics

Andreas is the chief logistics officer of the GBI Europe tour. He and his team are taking care of the transportation of participant luggage as well as the matresses and tents for the camp accommodation.

Herbert Langer
Fleetmanagement

Herbert is responsible for the overall fleetmanagement of the GBI. He coordinates the rental trucks and cars we need for our different events. He takes care of all other related topics, e.g. tolls, truck navigation and legal aspects.

Wiiwii (Wael Sharaf)
Location

WiiWii has a long history of supporting GBI. Many probably remember him for introducing ice cubes, fruits and berries at our nutrition booth for the first time. Currently, he is responsible for location logistics, including dormitories and catering.

Nadine Messner
Touroffice

Nadine is caring attentively for all needs of the participants during the tours. No matter if you have looking for your room key, want to buy merchandising stuff or need to know the dinner times, she has always an open ear and an appropriate answer.

Peter Hoeger-Wiedig
Pick-Up / Shuttle Service

Peter ensures that anyone who can't complete the stage on their own is picked up along the route. Additionally, he shuttles participants between the hotels and the GBI camp in the mornings and evenings.

Antje Lehner
Pick-Up / Shuttle Service

Antje ensures that anyone who can't complete the stage on their own is picked up along the route. Additionally, she shuttles participants between the hotels and the GBI camp in the mornings and evenings.

Petro Stoda
Pick-Up / Shuttle Service

Petro ensures that anyone who can't complete the stage on their own is picked up along the route. Additionally, he shuttles participants between the hotels and the GBI camp in the mornings and evenings.

Alice Malafronte
Pick-Up / Shuttle Service

Alice ensures that anyone who can't complete the stage on their own is picked up along the route. Additionally, she shuttles participants between the hotels and the GBI camp in the mornings and evenings.

Nikita Jaspers
Pick-Up / Shuttle Service

Nikita ensures that anyone who can't complete the stage on their own is picked up along the route. Additionally, she shuttles participants between the hotels and the GBI camp in the mornings and evenings.

Kevin Mifsud
Hotel luggage

Kevin started his GBI career on the Gothenburg tour in 2018 and since then he is an inherent part of the GBI family. With his calmness he takes currently care of the luggage of the hotel guests.

Mohamed AbdelRahman
Security

Mohamed monitors the camp and the bike park during the night. In particular, he makes sure that no unauthorized persons have access to the GBI Camp, that no bikes are stolen and that no dangers arise from fire or similar.

Heidi Hisham
Security

Heidi monitors the camp and the bike park during the night. In particular, she makes sure that no unauthorized persons have access to the GBI Camp, that no bikes are stolen and that no dangers arise from fire or similar.

Gregor Kleinhesseling
Technical Support

If you have flat tire - Gregor repairs it. If your gear shift is broken - Gregor fixes it. If your brakes are squeaking - Gregor adjusts them. And he has always an open ear for any kind of problem or question.

Lars Arne-Frick
Medical Service

Lars (left) accompanies the cyclists on his motorbike and is ready to provide first aid if needed.

Jochen Vise
Medical Service

Jochen (right) accompanies the cyclists on his motorbike and is ready to provide first aid if needed.

Volunteers
A large team of charitable supporters

Every event requires a lot of supporters and assistants. Carrying luggage, barbeque, logistics mounting and de-mounting, mattresses and other location services, driving the service busses, and, and, and... A GBI event would not be possible without a large team of engaged people!

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