Transcontinental Race (London - Istanbul) - #TCRNo4

Come on DC!

779 km to go. David Coulon rode until gone 01:00 local time and was back on his bike by 06:00. He seems less leisurely in his approach now.

He is still averaging over 100 km a day over a period of 27 days which is no mean feat. Indeed it seem that the Straight Tracking Distance covered of 2963.26 km is likely to be an underestimate of his actual distance and so his daily distances are not to be sniffed at.

It also makes one appreciate the achievement of the others all the more.

Andreas Thier who finished yesterday had a Straight Tracking Distance covered of 4160.22 km in just under 27 days which equates to 154 km a day. Put back in a few kinks and he averaged around or over 100 miles a day for 27 days. That is 27 consecutive Prudential Ride 100s and much of it over considerably more challenging terrain and road surfaces than the Surrey Hills.

And now think Leo Tong who did it in two thirds of Andreas Thier's time with a daily average therefore closer to 150 miles a day and of all the others down to Josh Ibbett who took about one third of Andreas Thier's time.

Really impressive.

Go David!

^ enjoying the commentary / analysis, cheers. Go David indeed.

Part 2 from Josh http://www.huntbikewheels.com/blogs/news/57561731-transcontinental-race-2015-josh-ibbett-s-race-summary-pt-2

Great writing.

Salut mon cher! #fixiefamous
<3

I'm looking forward to the later instalments of this rider's reports;

http://www.albannach.cc/sra-x-tcr-part-1/

I have been really enjoying the rider write ups, looking forward to seeing more

I've just read the whole thread again- missed most of the exciting racing stuff as was in Montenegro with shit internet.
I'm looking forward to seeing some of the footage- the film guy did lots and lots and lots of filming and interviewing, and Mike got a drone out and attached a go-pro, and the results were stunning. Hoping they'll get some pasted together soon.
Also- lots of support on here for lovely Joe (Todd, #89). Yet no-one seems to have mentioned his age.
He's 19, you guys

19? Wow. Was he the yungest rider? How old was the oldest?

By the way, what can you tell us about David Coulon? Still 732 km to go.Not started yet today.

David Coulon is underway. He is skirting around the north of Kosovo before heading south east in the direction of Sofia. Possibly a couple of days from Sofia but those two days will see the end of constant mountainous terrain. He's been riding through mountains for the last six days.

Currently on day 29. Straight Tracking Distance covered is 3065.83 km and so still over 100 km per day. 731 km to go and so, hopefully, he will finish next weekend.

The oldest was 61, and the before and after shots of him look like 2 different people! I'll see if I can find them.
I know nothing about Dave C I'm afraid

.

61? Now I almost feel shamed into action ;-)

Thought you might say that!

@Katie-Coo Hope you're going well after all this fresh air at Lovcen ;)

Don't know where I have read about Joe#89 being asked something like "you are going with light luggage" and then answered "it's all I could afford" - I know that feel bro -

Nice vid by Chris White following Alain Rumpf to the finish.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qB_-kYU4Izo

David Coulon had a pretty good day in the mountains yesterday, stopped for only 7 hours overnight and is now "only" 624 km from the finish. He has one last pass through the mountains to Sofia and then a flatter approach (but by no means flat approach) to Istanbul.

Straight Tracking Distance covered 3221.43 km

29 days 11 hours of cycling so far.

Really solid day riding from David Coulon today. 520 km left to go. He is in the outskirts of Sofia. Through the worst of the mountains although a more than lumpy bit coming up on the other side of Sofia and then the heavily undulating road to Istanbul.

His pace is picking up and if he can sustain it, he could be there by Thursday. Definitely by the weekend.

Didn't most riders report strong headwinds into Istanbul too? If so Dave's challenges aren't over yet!

That finish in Istanbul looks sketchy as fuck. Given they're all about sending riders to remote places you'd think they could finish in a smaller town or on the outskirts of Istanbul or something.

Istanbul is a city of 18 million people. It has grown massively in the past 30 years. I suspect that the idea is to finish in the edge of the continent and so the shore of the Bosphorus is it. Gallipoli would achiece the same thing without being in such a massive urban environment.

Coming from the arboretum is the easiest way, you get in to the bosphore, and then it's fluid to the finish

Yes huge wind coming from north coast.

After 30 days on the road, David Coulon has just ridden through the night. He stopped briefly in Sofia, presumably to refuel, and is now 460 km from Istanbul. He is still riding and on a plain half way through the lumpy bit just beyond Sofia.

He is about halfway from CP4 to Istanbul but with the mountainous first half behind him.

Allez David!