Transcontinental Race No. 6 - TCR6 - #TCRN06 - 2018

Sounds like a better explanation. I looked at the elevation again and it's not that bad, though I don't have 10 day's riding in my legs and it would probably still make me weep.

Neil Matthews #171 has reached CP1

Ede Harrison (179) is about 200 kms ahead

Anyone mentioned Alexandre Le Roux #186 who seems to have recently turned north rather than following Bjorn and Matthew's route. The road looks like it loops south again pretty soon but I can't see much advantage to that route.

Cheers, missed her when looking through the list.

Thanks, see above. ^

looks like he's on route now.

Bit of a party going on up the Bjelasnica atm.

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Matthew has been increasing his lead over Bjorn over the last few hours.

#20 for the win! :-) Poor old guy had a nightmare with his navigation, I spotted a Control Car 2 going up there to put him on the right track (good job!). Then he blitzed down to near Sarajevo, only to briefly get lost again on the way to Bjelasnica! His persistence is amazing though.

Anyway, he must have told the CC2 about the problem with his route, as they headed to that muddy singletrack road to help out other riders going in that direction but luckily most of the people heading that way had opted for a better road in the end, so they (CC2) seem to have positioned themselves in another spot, to welcome them all.

And #42... oh my! He's now in Montenegro but it looks like he went over an unmarked border crossing - if he didn't get his passport stamped - he might have serious problem on the way out!

But what I really don't get is how people choose these irrational routes? Ultimately the quickest and safest way through a rugged terrain will be along the main automotive roads. Google Maps do not differentiate between asphalt roads and goat tracks marked as road - one should use ViaMichelin for routing, followed by corrections using RideWithGps and satellite imaging. That's how I do it anyway.

Ha wow. That will be fun at the CP

Mathew Falconer on the final parcours. Must be the next to finish. Chapeau!

Björn quite close but no chance of a catch.

Fair play to him barely mentioned him all race then he poles up in 2nd. Skinny got to share that buffet now...

Second for Matthew Falconer. A 1-2 for GB, it's like track cycling at the Olympics.

Not on . The rules need to be changed #doctored . Well done Matthew a great 5am last day attack.

Björn in third. 7k to go.

Mathews dot is bouncing ! Chapeau !

!

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That's a ballsy effort from
bjorn. Given the number of setbacks he's had, top 3 is phenomenal.

Is Björn broken down again? 186 is picking up speed.

Edit, didn't refresh. Great job by Björn.

top 3 is phenomenal

Was he towards being first or..?

I've been planning a route from London to Athens and some people told me not to go along the valleys and the main road (easier, flatter routes) in the Balkans, purely because there are gangs operating and you could easily get attacked with your bike stolen and you robbed, before even realising it. Some areas are pretty rough, and that's not the landscape I'm talking about. So better of via remote paths, especially when riding at nighttime..

No I took the bigger official crossing point south of those. But I did write about those earlier in this thread.

I’m not sure you’ll have to worry about that.

Of the 6 TCRs I don’t think I’ve heard any reports of anyone being the target of a Balkan gang.

@Anthi
They may have been referring to stray dogs. They tend to gang up and attack cyclists :-D.