Transcontinental Race (London - Istanbul) - #TCRNo4

I was alerted to it by this post here on Apidura's instagram

'Machine' Allegaert, although his birth name is Kristof, mile munching Montenegro. Rather frustrated attempting to find CP4 but still in first on @thetranscontinental nonetheless.

I was wondering if it was unexpectedly hard to navigate to CP4 using Kristof's route, and whether or not that would affect Skinny (who seems to be approaching from a similar direction), but this was the only unusual navigation I could find.

EDIT: Actually, for whatever reason that route must be ok... the tracker suggests that the official car was following him when he took it...

77, Peter Sandholt is at border control into Montenegro, seems like he's taking the long way around.

Yeah there are two routes drawn on the map, but Kristof's route isn't one of them. That said there may be other variants that were discussed but haven't been publicised. Or the course may have been changed for practical reasons and volunteers at CP4 may send everyone that way.

Neil Phillips looks to be taking the most direct route to CP4. There is a tiny road over the hills and strait down into Pluzine, however google satellites don't show anything resembling a border crossing. Will that get him into trouble when he tries to leave Montenegro?

I work with Alex Wright. She's got a dead tracker (98). Pushing on, near the alps with a broken chain but fixed and rolling again! I'll pass on any messages of support to her :)

Tried to message alex on twitter but she does not follow me so couldnt therefore pass on the northern love .

Will that get him into trouble when he tries to leave Montenegro?

Depends how high the fence is.

Yep, that road looks sketchy but beautiful. If it works, so much shorter than the alternatives.

Is this where the tracking could end up really helping some of the later riders. If they see he's made it, it will be hard to turn down, but if he turns back, everyone will know its a no go?

I tried twittering Alex too, but she only has ears for Clive, might be freaking her out all these middle aged men contacting her.

Had a chat with her on Twitter this morning. She sounds like a determined woman. She said that she had to get to the end by 21 August. If she keeps up her current progress she should manage that. Wish her well.

Anything more you can tell us about her and her previous experience?

Tactical- he's climbed up a cliff with his tracker, then he will turn it off, abseil down then turn it back on in a few hours time. #spineracetactics

Canny.

Hah!

What is Peter Sandholt up to?

Northern love sent (with extra gravy)

I'll keep y'all updated until she reaches CP2 where a new tracker is waiting for her!

@WornCleat she has to get back by the 21st as I'm going away then :P

Ha! So it's all your fault.

If she averages 160km a day she will finish with time to spare and sh is doing better than that so far.

Couldn't you delay by a day or two or work remotely? ;-)

He's forgotten that the race isn't going to Kotor this year...

Maaaaaaybe. We both applied for entry knowing only one of us could do it. 4 weeks off work but back in time for the other to have a cheeky mini tour at the end of August. I broke my collarbone into three pieces a couple of weeks ago, glad I didn't get in now.

The sense I got was that she is feeling a little isolated. If you look at the videos, the riders in the bunch and at the front are seeing the cars go by quite frequently. Joe and Emily are being filmed almost every day. Alex has only seen anyone at CP1. Otherwise she has been alone. Encouraging messages of support, even from strange middle aged men who spend their summers watching dots on a screen, make her know that she is not alone.

It is important that she does finish. I know I cannot ride like hippy or skinny. I am pretty sure I cannot ride like Darren or Frank. While I probably cannot ride as well as Alex, there is a glimmer of hope that lights up my day dream that I could.

Couldn't have put it any better pal. She is a stubborn, determined nutcase, she'll do it and god forbid anything that stands in her way

From Alex Wright (98 Broken Tracker)

"I'm an hour away from Pontarlier. Gonna get some kip there then heads towards Neuchatel. Had a nightmare night last night and slept for 2 hours wet in a hotel car park. Need to dry kit, eat and sleep"

Looks like #172 Neil Phillips is through the border. Bosnia > Montenegro. Making good progress to Pluzine. Second to CP3. [edit]

Through as in over a border, or through as in done with this bicycle malarkey?

Darren Franks ‏@darrenfranks 17m17 minutes ago
My body is broken. Held together by k-tape, drugs and #rule5. Refuse to scratch so taking a day to heal #TCRNo4S114