Transcontinental Race No. 5 - TCR5 - #TCRN05 - 2017

So I'll go for 5 who I think will make the top 10:

@skinny
Bjorn L
Ian To
Rimas
Matthijs

No @hippy ?????

@hippy was always doing this as a wind down from TABR which was his A event. Messages from his training camp have not suggested any reappraisal of that strategy so, while I'm sure he'll do a good ride, I don't think he is targeting the podium.
I also think it has probably got a bit more competitive as, each year, more people get more of an idea how to ride these kinds of events, better planning, preparation and race strategies.
But really it depends on who has trained. eg Matthijs did a couple of fairly run of the mill TCRs then he really trained through winter for IPWR, and was up with the front group for the first few days. Someone else could have done that, eg Rimas reckons he is in the best shape he has ever been.
And there are loads of new people, names I don't recognise. Some of them could turn out to be quick.

All good points but the reality is that we want to see hippy suffer and therefore need to encourage him to compete.

Hippy will suffer. So he can complain!

Mazon´s not riding either. I´m a bit disappointed as he came in third last year yet found the time to go to the beach. Rode with him a couple of times back home in Belgium. Feck he´s strong.

Really pleased to see that Stephane Ouaja #12 is riding again. One of the most entertaining riders of the past two years.

Also good to see Gareth Baines #37 and Lee Pearce #29.

Stephane Ouaja

Rode it fixed two years ago and a French ex-messenger.

I hope he hasn't put any money on that :)

I'm expecting Andy Sallnow and Matt Falconer to be in the top 10, snapping at the heels of a top 5 placing. The women's race looks quite interesting. Hopefully much closer than previous years.

There ist also a mention to Michael Wacker who got 12th at TABR eben with an accident and Hansi Nyfeler who scratched last year in the top10 before CP4. Heute has already good Resultat this year.

P.S. Yes Ich am 167 again

I only do this so I can whine on Twitter.

Rode it fixed two years ago and a French ex-messenger.

He had a top 10 when riding fixed. He took the ferry based short cut. Always an exciting rider to follow. I think he is still a messenger, judging by his strava anyway. Either that or he cycles around Paris in a haphazard way all day!

Hippy will suffer. So he can complain!

Hippy will complain even if he's not suffering. Better that he does so with cause.

Super keen to follow this, living vicariously through the nutters that actually race it.

I saw earlier that a couple of the Mash guys from SF are doing it.

Good luck chaps.

It would be good to have the rider list with nationalities and genders (although please let's not have women in pink). Twitter/Instagram names would also be very useful.

Stéphane Ouaja was @Keiway#152 last year. As Clive says, he's #12 this time. Last year, he finished 14th. hippy and skinny seem to have kept their numbers from last year (142 and 75).

Also, Clive will be very pleased that David Coulon, aka @Uber-Hero, is riding again, #130. I'm surprised that it seems to have escaped his attention so far. :)

You love it!

I must have missed David. Delighted that he is riding @Uber-Hero on here.

I missed him, too, the first time I went over the list. It just occurred to me to look for him and there he was.

I'm @f0rmat on twitter and @eachann.gillies on IG. I added to a tcr twitter list earlier that I'll dig out too

Edit - Take a look at TCRNo5 by @K_Vaiders: https://twitter.com/K_Vaiders/lists/tcrno5?s=09

I never even linked your name to your lfgss name.

Have another beer hippy, ya dickhead.

Have just seen Eurostar staff unload at least 4 bikes with aerobars and bike packing kit. Anything to do with you lot?

They were being nice and gentle!

So very jealous. I'm just here for some dumb meetings.

Thanks. Will follow.

I thought hippy hippy from the TABR was riding but I can't find his name on the list.

I'm @f0rmat on twitter

Ahhh an 0 not and o.

Format with a little o leads to a fellow who tweets exclusively in Mandarin.