Transcontinental Race No. 8 - TCR8 - #TCRN08 - 2022

I mean why they can't just publish a drive folder with gpx files of them I don't know.

I guess they put them in Komoot as part of the sponsorship deal. Not sure it's a good idea though as it shows people how shit Komoot is.

I'm clearly missing something but I can't work out why anyone would do this the wrong way.

Just seen where the checkpoint is for CP4, which is what I was missing! It's miles from the parcours. Will need to do more route planning now.

4200/47000 is a tough one

I've now spent loads of time on it and put the parcours in properly.

As I worked through it I saved loads of time and took out loads of climbing. Then I had to add loads back again as I found other stuff. And I've got to 4200/46000.

I don't see it changing massively from there - unless I've missed something significant. So it's one of the hilliest routes as well as the longest - up there with 2015 for length (which was pretty flat) and almost as hilly as 2016 (which was a lot shorter). On that basis it could well be the hardest route so far.

What software is the 46,000m from?

RWGPS

Should be reasonably accurate then.

Route pretty much finished. Almost went mad trying to optimise the combinations of parcours directions with ferries.

A few changes but they have more or less all netted off. So I'm at 4,180km / 46,600m, which is pretty much final, unless I discover something major that I have somehow missed.

That's less than some people I know. I wonder how much motorway you'll fine you're on :)

Probably none. Although there is one area where there is motorway construction underway, so I have an alternative.
I wonder how many weeks I have spent on fine tuning this! I'll be annoyed if anyone has got a better route!

Someone always has a better route (than me). :)

TCR vets, how did you sort the medical note? My GP has said they won't help, my medical insurer (bupa) has also said it's not something they cover and the private hospitals I've tried so far were not of much use. Keen to know what route others have found.

Fucking gps.

You can pay an online company. I think @frank9755 might know. Or Google.

I used an app called DocTap, bit spendy but very quick and convenient as it was just across the road from my old job

You could try https://www.sportsmedicalcertificates.com

Great, either of these look fine. Cheers guys.

I used the one hippy linked. But I'm going to try babylon, which I have free via my wife's work bupa. They said they will do it. I'll find out shortly.

Turns out babylon won't do it, after saying they would. So I'll use SMC

Yeah I have Babylon too, also a no.

Christoph Strasser is riding.

Ladies and gentleman:
I will do my first unsupported race this year and take the challenge of the @thetranscontinental Race at 24th of July. Starting in Belgium and finishing in Bulgaria, the #TCRNo8 will take the racers through Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Serbia and Romania and cover about 4000 kilometres.
There is free route planning between the 4 Checkpoints, I have to carry my equipment and be completely self-organized aloung the route. My legs are strong, I know how to ride long in a good pace, but I have no experience in unsupported riding yet.
Testing myself in this new challenge will be a great adventure and I am absolutely excited about it.
In the next weeks I will share updates on my preparation with you. Let’s see, how a successful @raceacrossamerica RAAM and 24h rider will do in unsupported racing 😉

Qutite something huh. He messaged me a while back, sadly too late in the day to swap plans. Nothings made me want to race on the road again, except that.

Oh, now it makes sense. Someone else was telling me "ooh wait until you see the start list". Bloody tease.

It's really interesting that he's doing it. I guess he is getting on and probably fancies a new challenge after winning RAAM so many times. He's a professional so needs to make money out of it. Clearly he has got the backing from his sponsors to do this which maybe shows that the unsupported scene is getting bigger than supported racing now - not that supported was ever that big.

I don't expect his sponsors will be expecting him to do anything other than win by a clear day or two. As he says, there are some new aspects for him to learn. But, having read his book, I expect he will have prepared for this in great detail and will manage fine without a team.

Everyone else is racing for 2nd.

there's always the variable of #gasstationfoods that might plays a role (together with many).
I suppose supported cyclist has a very restricted diet to boost their performance compared to an unsupported. although legs-wise he damn strong.