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

Nice pic of Toshy and Lauder first up in this:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/gallery/2017/aug/11/the-transcontinental-bike-race-2400-gruelling-miles-across-europe-in-pictures

Neat little video diary from Jen Tough #230

https://youtu.be/zbTFCTu-kh0

David Coulon seems to have had some dark moments last night.

His tweets tend to be fairly surreal. A window into the type of mind that can put itself under such psychological stress and then go back for more.

It is not for anyone to tell him to get off the road. Gentle encouragement and support is what he needs. He is eccentric. He responds to life differently. He wouldn't be doing what he does if that was not the case. That said he is capable of scratching if he needs to. He did last year. I just hope that he contains his demons and achieves what he wants to achieve.

Also, last night was one of his first all nighters on this race. Enough to scare anyone.

Maybe he should stay of twitter then. For what he said was not in the spirit.

Yes, nice clip that.

He doesn't come across well in those tweets at all, especially given how much Mike's family still seem to be involved in the event.

He's also complaining about the route and seemingly blaming it on the organisers.

Clearly he's tired but I think limiting his Twitter use would have been a good idea.

Especially that last one... Think frustration and exhaustion had taken the upperhand...

I know. And I feel for him. I know how it is.

It's sad so see really. If he's not enjoying it just stop. It should be fun.

does it just mean riders who wish to ride as a pair must register as such, presume there has to be a rule about not drafting each other?

Pairs are allowed to draft each other.

Tosh & Lauder have done ok but they did use quite a few banned road sections so, if another pair is close behind, they may not retain their first place!

Which?

Someone turned up yesterday that used a motorway border crossing. DQ!?

It's all been fed back and, I am sure, will get sorted out in due course!

Apparently that guy (if the same one) used the motorway crossing police instructions - they wouldn't allow him to use the one he intended to and told him to use the motorway one - so probably a time penalty to reflect the time saving. Assuming it's true, of course, but the event has to depend on people's honesty.

Do pairs have to finish together?

No, but it is the time of the second one that counts, so no point in dropping your buddy!

But that was known before and it was listed in race manual as a banned road.

I had not read the inappropriate tweet. I have sent David a message suggesting its deletion.

Also replied in the most friendliest way...

But that was known before and it was listed in race manual as a banned road.

Sure. It's one they need to look into and make a call on with full info. If a policeman orders you to do something, you don't have a choice, but what did they actually say and why?

Last year, @Swissy got a penalty of 2 hours when he was told to go on a motorway by a policeman. I expect it would have been more for someone who just decided it would be quicker and went on it.

I was once cycling through Hyde Park and the road was blocked by the police. Policeman told me to ride down the (empty) pavement. At the other end, a PCSO jumped out and tried to give me a ticket. I said, 'that policeman told me to' and he let me go!

David sounds like he must've had one or more very close calls in last day or so? The bemoremike question needs to be removed really though.

In other news, super-bodge:

This year they were categorically banned in the manual and at the briefing it was noted anyone who took one would be DQ because they were in utright banned.

People had oleabty of time to go on the Macedonia governembt website and check the border crossings. Plus they were all discussed at length in the Facebook group. No excuse.

Ha! Saw this from cap 204 the other day:

1 Attachment

Brilliant!

If they said they would disqualify people then they should stick to that.

But if you get told to do something by a policeman, you have to do it. That takes precedence over any race rules.

Except your route being bad so you take a non existent border crossing.

Yet loads of others on carbon bike didn't have forks break in the first place. Hmm... #trollololol

Where was this? Macedonia? Love me a bit of off road... In 40degC... with no water. :)