Transcontinental Race (London - Istanbul) - #TCRNo4

While idly skimming across the map of France just now, I came across two places, quite close to one another, called La Machine and Le Gros Fou. For some reason, I immediately had to think of hippy at that moment.

James is one of a number of Dulwich Paragon riders there.

Cant see Kristof being beaten.

Track leaders website does, if you click on a rider and open the full history link, the stats pop up on the right hand side.

Cant see Kristof being beaten.

Bernd Paul's keeping up OK so far, non?

He hasn't stopped for more than 10 minutes yet. Not sure how much longer he'll be able to keep up that kind of pace.

He averaged 280 miles a day when he won it in 2014 on 2 hours sleep..

Theres a village called Anus.

Emily Chappell taking a detour to see the sights

Frontrunners so far are Kristof Allegaert, Bernd Paul, Neil Phillips, and skinny.

Neil's a Londoner, but seemingly not a forumenger.

That name must be a bit of a nuisance if you live there, it means it probably attracts lagered-up Brits. :)

Bit of an arse I'd imagine.

I dunno, it's in the arse end of nowhere.

Neil's a Londoner, but seemingly not a forumenger.

Oh, the horror!

Looks like it's chucking it down at CP1 at the moment. Not going to make it a nice arrival for the front runners.

Neil Phillips' bikepacking picture:

http://cobbles-to-kebabs.co.uk/

Oh, the horror!

Some people just don't need oxygen.

Nice bit of anal action there.

As far as I can make out, Emily's first woman so far, unless I've missed or misread a name.

That pump is massive, but must coming in handy as a metre rule to line everything up neatly.

For following individual riders, I find this list more useful than the Trackleaders one:

http://www.frrt.org/tcrno4/riders

At least four forumengers on the first page. :)

I know Neil Philips, he is super lovely, with a nice beard and a penchant for ice cream, so I am stoked that he's doing well!

He rides for a team called Kibosh and smashes the mid-week crits on a regular basis. I don't think he has ever ridden fixed/track which would explain the lack of forumengerness.

Andy Sallnow who is 9th currently was one of the fastest finishers of the Rapha Manchester to London Challenge. Did 220 miles in just under 12 hours. Also a nice man.

Hippy's found the beer.

Only 19k left to first control. It will be just over 24 hours. Amazing.

fuck yes, this is what I want to hear