Transcontinental Race (London - Istanbul) - #TCRNo4

Bi-Everesting?

These riders are so inspiring!

Go @hippy @skinny

Bi-Everesting?

no

#pray4gooch

Hippy is sitting on that?

its the bristles causing the irritation.

haha

lol. Amazed at the humour on display from the riders. Also, finding the time and inclination within the daily slog.

What would be the difference in mileage/elevation if a rider chose to leave the mountains to the south, say near Lugano, and rejoin somewhere near Treviso? It's probably too big a detour to be worth it. That said, it looks like Hippy's just turned south...

...or is just going to check out Pizza Centrale

Looks like he is the first one to try a more southerly route on, be interesting to see where he heads.

Looking forward to the next couple of days as after CP3 there is a greater variety of route considerations.

I was just coming here to ask the same question. It looks like @hippy is headed south. Which is either a stroke of genius or suicide for hopes of a top 10 finish...
I LOVE the Transcontinental :D

He's going over the Gotthard by the looks of it.

He got hard going where sorry?

Glad that he's having a good time but I hope his minced cock can take it.

Looks like the only viable route south from there is exactly what @tomasito mentioned. All the way out of the mountains and round the bottom. Hoping for a tail wind round the flat lands perhaps. Easier to crunch out some mega overnight miles I can only imagine.

Looking at ride 201 and wondering where he's going....

Do you think anyone will head from CP1 to CP3, then back to CP2, down the East coast of Italy, and hop on a ferry over to CP4 area?

Hahaha, that's comedy genius!

Easterly winds in Lombardy atm. Not strong mind.

I think he's more likely to head to Lugano, then across the top of Lake Como, then up the Valtellina through Aprica and over the Passo del Tonale to Cles, then onto CP3 from there.

Interesting.

How much time difference is it if you add 60 miles to save going over another 2-3 passes?

I guess it could actually work... if 60 miles is 4-5 hours and those passes are going to cost you that time in gain.

But then... re-entering the mountains from the South is a whole slog by itself.

Maybe he just went the wrong way?

No.

those passes are going to cost you

They'll cost in effort too, I expect - maybe the difference in being able to spend a few more hours in the saddle during the day

I can't fathom what any of the riders south of Lyon are thinking.

He just wants to go round lake como on one of those fancy European speedboats.

Yes, that route also looks possible, but it's a big old dog-leg. It'll be really interesting to follow.

This is what I love most about TCR - so much route strategy on top of the mind-blowing endurance. Hugely inspiring and exciting.