Transcontinental Race (London - Istanbul) - #TCRNo4

Yeah, I've been following it. The Euro-jokes and bike pics are a bit boring but there are a few people who do know what they are talking about.

Feel free to give me a heads up if something is worthwhile. I don't have the patience to filter the noise!

Fkn border crossing nonsense... this is why I wanted to race TransAm.

There's some crossings listed here.
https://sq.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vendkalimet_kufitare

Now I need to work out which countries aren't in the EU and which I'm going to need visas for and then which border crossings I can use. Balls to this.

And people want to leave the EU, shitting hellstorm!!

Only Turkey in advance.
Can be done on their website, simple.

Ah, my northerly route is wrong here.
I've come in from E762 and not gone to Pluzine before starting the required parcours.

My southerly route comes up on the M6 through the "Ilino Brdo Border Crossing" so does hit Pluzine.

Decisions, decisions.

Unless I find myself at one of these 'local only' border crossings or miss an entry altogether and then find myself in some country with no stamp trying to get out again. Shit.

We need more countries in the EU, quick!

If you mean the road the heads basically west from Pluzine, around the water, past Camp Vrbnica, splits into two before crossing the border, it seems to disappear and turn into dirt road?

Unless I find myself at one of these 'local only' border crossings or miss an entry altogether and then find myself in some country with no stamp trying to get out again. Shit.

On the map version is does seem to disappear but on google earth is shows:

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But yeah probably a dirt road and a locals border

There's actually a picture of the road on the facebook group. It's a decent, unsurfaced road.
I can't post a link to the thread, but it says you need to apply in advance for a permit. But the link it gives is to Montngn govt webiste, which is down.
One guy reckons it saves him 1000m / 100km, so worth getting to the bottom of.

Only Turkey in advance.

Thank you! I didn't know that...

I don't think kosovo needs anything. So do check that one.
I need to ask Adrian. But keep forgetting.

I was thinking more along the lines of...

Kind of mixed information when googling for Bosnia to Montenegro border crossings, wikipedia lists three, found some old news about opening new crossings and still here's only two mentioned.
Kosovo doesn't seem to require visas. Although it of course depends on where you're from. And if you can use the locals border crossings with some kind of special visa, but that would maybe be in the gray area of the rules, as you'd have to arrange that in andvance.

Visa is fine in advance. You need to do it for Turkey.

Dirt roads >>>

Assuming I finish, I want to have the highest mileage of all the riders :)

if you can use the locals border crossings with some kind of special visa, but that would maybe be in the gray area of the rules, as you'd have to arrange that in andvance.

Might be one for Mike?

Yeah but I meant the discussion @frank9755 mentioned about crossing the border at some of the border crossings that aren't normally allowed for anybody but locals, where youd need to arrange a special visa for that. Although you would not need any visa to enter the country on the usual crossings. Dunno, but here's the discussions about that.

And I don't even need a visa for Turkey, as I'm from Finland.

Yes, wonder why he hasn't answered that in the fb group as he usually has to questions about rules.

Yeah I know, my point was if I need to get a visa in advance for Turkey, what's teh difference in getting a visa in advance for Kosovo (or elsewhere). Same thing really.

If someone wants to get a visa in advance to take a winding dirt road, feel free.

Good FB post share, thanks.

Yep, no point really to not give that possibility. Atleast if it's possible to everyone, no matter the nationality.

The issue here is Kosovo-Serbia but is anyone actually going to ride into Serbia on this edition? There's no need as far as I can see - it's too far north.

Except no one can find the rules for that crossing, since it's not listed anywhere.

If someone successfully crosses and another rider is later denied, will the first rider be penalised for taking a route that's not available to all riders?

They also talk about "off piste Montenegro crossings"

And the problem would be allowing making arrangements before the race.