TEAM TALK: A Little Light – Team Jayco AlUla mechanic Vasile Morari & his 2,000km ride to raise money for charity
Our Moldovan mechanic goes back to his roots for a good cause
In the Moldovan language, “Luminita” means “little light.” In Sîngerei, in the north of the country, a “little light” shines amidst many difficulties, with the sole goal of never going out. This is a beautiful story.
Giving value
GreenEDGE Cycling mechanic, Vasile Morari has lived in Italy for most of his life, but he was born – and grew up in – Moldova. In July, he embarked on an epic journey that saw him connect the two countries that had nurtured him.
“I’d been thinking about cycling to Moldova for a while,” Morari explained. “I’ve spent 20 of my 34 years in Italy, but I’m still very attached to my roots. While discussing this idea, a dear friend of mine asked me if I’d ever thought about linking the trip to a charity initiative. It was a very valuable suggestion.”
The decision to raise funds for Centrul Luminita – a centre for children with disabilities in Sîngerei, Moldova – was the next step. “I wanted to do something for my community,” Morari said, “so I wanted to make sure the funds raised wouldn’t go missing. In other words, I wanted to deliver the money directly to the centre’s director without going through any institutional offices. You never know where they might end up!”
The journey
While the distance was big, planning the trip was very simple for Morari. “I don’t like to plan out all the details. I love adventure, so I said to myself, ‘I have to ride 2,000 kilometres in 10 days.’ The maths is easy: each stage will be 200 kilometres, and it doesn’t matter if it’s a few more or less,” he said.
To undertake the journey, Morari was given Max Walscheid’s 2024 Giant Propel Advanced to ride. He was accompanied by two of his friends: Mauro and Christian, who were stepping into the unknown as they had only ridden as far as Slovenia. Aside from the punctures and the urban crossings, the trip went smoothly – despite the relaxed planning approach from Morari.
The only majorly difficult moment came during the penultimate day of their trip near the border between Romania and Ukrainian. A strategy to avoid traffic saw them on a bit more of an adventure than they had bargained for.
“We used Komoot, an app that helps you avoid busy roads. Too bad it took us 40 kilometres on a dirt road through the woods, and to top it off, in heavy rain. The owner of a small shop ‘saved’ us by giving us hot tea and something to eat.”