Transcontinental Race (London - Istanbul) - #TCRNo4

Tuesday lunchtime update

93 Remy Pedussel

Only 83km to go. Seemingly not moving and something seems to have happened to his transponder. Hopefully it will be resolved soon as he is so close to the end.

127 Andreas Thier

280 km from the end. Could make the Turkish border later today or early tomorrow.

130 David Coulson

85km from CP4. Stopped in the village of Gacko in Bosnia very close to the point where, it seems, 134 Winston Christie-Blick retired eight days ago.

Great News

It appears that there were issues with Remy Pedussel's tracking device and he is now recorded as having arrived at the finish.

Chapeau!

Just over 23 days of riding. Magnificent effort.

Only two riders left on the road and 127 - Andreas Thier with 254 km to go is not far from the Turkish border.

David Coulon is only 58 km from CP4.

Might see him tomorrow.

In budva tonight then going to kotor tomorrow. Going to try knick the kom off my mate.

It would be great if you did meet the legend that is David Coulon. If you do, please tell him we are rooting for him. Also find out a bit more about the man behind the legend and let us know.

Hope the neck is repairing and that you are enjoying your epic ride.

I am seriously impressed with David, I just checked where he was and at that point I was feeling pretty shit. If I was there and thought I had two weeks at least to go I would have certainly gone home. Bloody chapeau to him!

@skinny hope the ride to Split is more fun, absolutely crazy for doing that. I haven't ridden more than 10 miles in total yet since

It's easy. It's good for the body to be cycling. Good recovery.

Yeah will do @cliveo

Our man is now only 14 km from CP4 and still riding. Great work.

Andreas Thier with 254 km to go has stopped just short of the Turkish border.

Wednesday morning update

127 Andreas Thier

224 km from the end. After a 17 hour break, Andreas got underway a couple of hours ago and has now crossed the Turkish border and is making good headway in the undulations of Turkey. Much will depend on how he rides today but it is possible that he will get there tomorrow or even, if his rest was aimed at one final push, today.

130 David Coulson

857 km to go. He stopped, presumably for something to eat, before the climb to CP4 and then climbed through the night arriving at CP4 at 4am local time. Four hours rest there and he is on his way towards Istanbul.

These guys. Heroes. Such a long ride, and so difficult. I can't even imagine being able to put that in that kind of effort. Amazing, every single one of them.

David Coulon appears to be off on a frolic. He seems to be heading along a road to no where.

2 Attachments

You have to climb to the top of the national park. It's a dead end but part of the rules.

OK. Thanks. It looks beautiful but tough.

And well worth it at the right time of day, not much to see after dark though! So glad to see him power on through!

@skinny pretty jealous that your back doing Lovcen, I loved that climb!

Did you ride this year?

Yeah as a pair though, such a good race really looking forward to Mikes plans for next year.

Well done. I am awed and amazed by everyone who set out.

What number were you?

172, it was such a good race with an amazing bunch of people. Lovely to meet everyone and the brief encounters, with either passing or being passed

Yeah I've fallen in love with Montenegro!

Did you hear any rumours on next year? Shame!

Eleven and a half days. That is really impressive. Yet you seem to have planned regular stops and sleeps. Were you in hotels or sleeping rough?

What was the most difficult aspect of it?

How was it riding in a pair? Were you evenly matched?

So many more questions one could ask...

There no real rumours that I heard, other then investigating plans for a different finish strategy, some how making it safer when coming into Turkey/Istanbul. Mike was obviously checking out potential different checkpoints on the way home, he didn't let on to where they might be.

There was the two of us, we did it in an hour shy of 14 days. There was a mixture of bivvy bag and hotels, but maybe had too much rest ;) . Riding as a pair was good, great to chat to someone when stopped or comment on things you saw. But it wasn't really faster. Always riding to the weakest person that day and working to each others body clocks. Need to stop to use the toilet, sleep, eat, etc. Stopping at shops often took longer as well as you'd both like to go and see what you wanted to eat/stock up on. We weren't to dissimilarly matched, although Tim had knee pain a few days. I'd like to do it again solo though, really test what the body can do, although hopefully fall short of the hallucinations some riders saw!

Just do it Clive, give up your high flying, jet set life, stop asking questions and take to the long distance saddle. You know you want to.

For the moment it will have to remain a fantasy lived vicariously through the heroic exploits of others.

Thanks Neil. You must be so proud of your accomplishment.

Wednesday afternoon update

25 days and 17 hours

127 Andreas Thier

118km from the end. Still riding. Will definitely be there by this time tomorrow.

130 David Coulson

824 km to go. Out of the Montenegro mountains and heading for the Albanian border. Should finish in a week's time.

Yeah I heard nothing really. I wonder about a Turkish start.