During this ride Anna and Mike bet on social media, pretty much. Which definitely makes big sense!

As a not-member of the social media world, I have my wife who follows up on these channels for me, at least for TCR stuff.

TCR sent out two race cars and a media car/ van.

I met the media van quite some time, although I almost never met the race cars. Good indication that I was not riding upfront the race.

I must have been an internal decision to focus on the faster riders. In my imagination the stories are more being written by other racers. The ones that might struggle and get back into the race. Nevertheless, the clips that are online until today, are really really well done.

Even more the images that are being taken during this race are more than just beautiful. You should consider that it is not really easy to actually find a spot out on the road. Driving the car all day long and looking for riders. Then getting these riders into some good shots. For me this is one of the most challenging jobs during this race, aside from the riders doing their race.

There is a general youtube channel from TCR, as well as an Instagram Account.

Camille (instagram)and John, thank you for your great work! Even I do really like your pictures. Now, I can even enjoy them, during the ride it was not something I got really into, until some friends sent me screenshots of myself in any of the social media channels.

Francis Cade (youtube), thank you as well. I enjoy watching your movies, keeping this ride and many sceneries even more alife than my own pictures, not my memories!

As my wife Nico is excellently following the TCR details and news, here are some updates and details from my ride, that really surprised myself.

(The link in general: http://www.frrt.org/tcrno4/riders)

The recorded route via tracking and routing from TCR differs to mine, but only in a smaller range:

3622km TCR measurement

3678km Max garmin

 

My dots:

http://www.frrt.org/tcrno4/r/82-max/map?bounds=39.50404,-13.53516,51.17934,43.37402

 

Dates and classement for check point passing. Surprising for me is the small variance in the classement during the entire race. From 51st to 39th, so only 12 places variance during 13 days of riding. Big surprise for me, indicates a relatively constant cycling, which I do not feel at all. Also the daily distances are variing quite a lot.

Start: Geraardsbergen

22:00 Jul 29th

Control: Clermont Ferrand

13:42 Jul 31st (51st)

Control: Col de Ceyssat

14:54 Jul 31st (46th)

Control: Grindelwald

12:50 Aug 2nd (51st)

Control: Furkapass

20:23 Aug 2nd (53rd)

Control: Alleghe

19:26 Aug 4th (51st)

Control: Passo di Giau

20:26 Aug 4th (47th)

Control: Pluzine

12:25 Aug 8th (44th)

Control: Zabljak

17:53 Aug 8th (42nd)

Finish: Canakkale

7:09 Aug 12th (39th)

The daily breakdown indicates quite obviously that there had been some serious climbing, at least for my experience. The climbing itself and the lack of my brakes functionality directly shows the low mileage on the climbing days. And yes, the chase to Canakkale from Alexandoupolis had really been the fasted part of my entire race, so not only in my mind also on the records. Simply looking at the climbing figure, I get dizzy, really dizzy. I like climbing, but I do not like racing up the hill if I know another thousand kms are waiting to be pedaled:

Day 1

0:02 – 21:19 Jul 30th

Track / Route: 340.2 / 369.2 km

Climbing: 3508.0 m

Moving: 17.3 hours, 21.3 km/h

Day 2

9:26 – 21:52 Jul 31st

Track / Route: 324.3 / 354.4 km

Climbing: 3768.0 m

Moving: 23.6 hours, 15.0 km/h

Day 3

22:02 – 20:27 Aug 1st

Track / Route: 199.2 / 220.9 km

Climbing: 3343.0 m

Moving: 12.4 hours, 17.8 km/h

Day 4

22:07 – 20:23 Aug 2nd

Track / Route: 179.8 / 236.7 km

Climbing: 7593.0 m

Moving: 17.1 hours, 13.8 km/h

Day 5

22:11 – 21:46 Aug 3rd

Track / Route: 159.5 / 202.8 km

Climbing: 9095.0 m

Moving: 15.3 hours, 13.3 km/h

Day 6

22:37 – 21:59 Aug 4th

Track / Route: 209.6 / 259.5 km

Climbing: 11292.0 m

Moving: 17.5 hours, 14.8 km/h

Day 7

22:08 – 21:46 Aug 5th

Track / Route: 206.0 / 241.3 km

Climbing: 5223.0 m

Moving: 11.7 hours, 20.6 km/h

Day 8

22:05 – 21:50 Aug 6th

Track / Route: 204.5 / 225.8 km

Climbing: 4918.0 m

Moving: 12.9 hours, 17.5 km/h

Day 9

22:10 – 21:56 Aug 7th

Track / Route: 211.3 / 232.0 km

Climbing: 3578.0 m

Moving: 11.0 hours, 21.1 km/h

Day 10

22:06 – 21:54 Aug 8th

Track / Route: 200.2 / 253.4 km

Climbing: 11337.0 m

Moving: 16.2 hours, 15.6 km/h

Day 11

22:36 – 21:54 Aug 9th

Track / Route: 170.2 / 223.8 km

Climbing: 8014.0 m

Moving: 14.3 hours, 15.7 km/h

Day 12

22:04 – 21:53 Aug 10th

Track / Route: 279.9 / 304.2 km

Climbing: 3318.0 m

Moving: 15.6 hours, 19.5 km/h

Day 13

22:03 – 21:59 Aug 11th

Track / Route: 294.8 / 327.3 km

Climbing: 3514.0 m

Moving: 17.5 hours, 18.7 km/h

Day 14

22:20 – 7:09 Aug 12th

Track / Route: 150.3 / 170.2 km

Climbing: 1460.0 m

Moving: 7.5 hours, 22.7 km/h

 

All in all this had been the craziest thing I have done on a bicycle, so far.

About a week before the race started I decided not to follow the weather forecast anymore, in general. I’d say this made my life a lot easier during the ride. I had my route planned and I did not intend to change this routing plan. Actually there is no bad weather, there are only wrong clothes.

For my ride and my timing there have only been three or four times of rain, more or less heavy.

• Getting up to Grimselpass
• Getting down from Furkapass
• Getting down from the alps over to Trieste
• Crossing Istria at night

The first days in France and Switzerland had all just been about getting used to climbing, with more or less fun. Having a huge mountain to be conquered or having several smaller ones that are just in the way, for mentally this makes a difference, a big difference. You wanna get forward but there is another climb that slows you down, again. The significant temperature differences also made me kind of sensitive, as I was only wearing the cycling shorts, and no knee or leg warmers. This might lead to a minor change in selection of equipment for a potential next ride.

For getting out of Italy and Croatia this had been a combination with heavy thunderstorms and I did stopp over for several hours, as I have some special connection to thunderstorms, which I did not want to meet again during this ride.

Wind in Croatia had been a bigger issue that finally cost me at least half a day, therefore we prepare buffers.

With entering Macedonia in the early morning heat came up. To be honest I expected the heat way earlier and I had the greatest respect. Finally I only had two days of real heat, nevertheless on the second day, due to a un-careful planning of one route, I had to suffer in the heat, as I had to correct my routing by climbing up an unattractive mountain west of Alexandroupolis. It was just too much and I had to recover from that activity for some hours.

Weather was the big thing to be discussed to influence the race in advance.

Border crossing was my big uncertainty, so I spent some more time on that. Everything went smooth, others had to return from their prepared route to another border checkpoint. As I already had that experience, I really wanted to avoid that situation.

My biggest point, I was looking forward to the most, had been all the people. Before the race I might have said, all the different people. Now, after the race I have to admit they are not different at all. They are individual as we have them around everyone of us, every day.

Friendly

• Belgium
• French
• Swiss
• Italian
• Slovenian
• Croatian
• Bosnian
• Montenegrin
• Kosovarian
• Macedonian
• Bulgarian
• Greek and
• Turkish.

Stopping and asking for help anywhere you got help. The people are more than willing to help, if it was the directon, water, food or also some food. The more I headed towards the East, the arms were open, even though language had been a classical hurdle, but only for the first few seconds. Everything could be solved anywhere. People are nice to us riders, open and helpful. Looking into the past, they have not been so nice to their neighbours.

It just took time to get through Switzerland, with their special way of treating their guests, I always had the feeling of not being welcome, from entering the country until getting out of it to Italy, with one exception. After descending from Grimselpass, I met with James and we stopped in a nice hotel in Gletsch, for having some hot teas and soups before getting up to Furkapass during the night. These guys had been really pleasant and helpful. Also in Andermatt we jumped into a small bar, after midnight, and they still offered us some ovomaltine and tea. After the night in Andermatt I promised myself to make it to Italy for a nice and warm breakfast on the next morning.

 

One other thing, they all had in common:

Nobody that wanted to know about what we were doing there, could believe what we were doing.

As I had to find a way out of my situation yesterday just before entering Alexandroupolis, I lost my mind and a lot of time.

The sun really shot me down yesterday while I tried to get out of this hot pot.

After I finally found my way to Alexandoupolis I laid down on the street and fell asleep immediately for about two hours. The sun was just dawning and the clock was ticking. It was almost 2100, Nico and I had plans for next day 0900. 12 hrs left for a little more than 200kms. It got clear that this is going to be a chase as I would need some shorter rests in between.

After only three hours of hard pedaling, 2357, I reached the border to Turkey. Polite officers proceeded quickly although the Turkish border crossing contains five check points.

On the ride to the border I met Dario, Frank and also Emily. I pushed forward as Nico was waiting. So literally the last two nights had been sleepless.

After my second rest I started my chase to Canakkale. Nico let me know that there were no re-booking options for the evening or next day, so no alternatives available. Preconditions had been not so bad, slight tailwind and not too many cars. The Turkish dogs -that are pretty big- had been relatively lazy at night, but well organized. The lazy one barks, the others can be prepared. Longer legs means higher max. speed.

The motorway from Ipsala towards Canakkale was desgined in cooperation with my navigation planning skills; it took every peak in sight. As the battery for my front derailleur dropped pretty early after the border, means no good climbing ratio.

So the chase began when the sun came up. A disgusting nescafe was basis for my staying awake. Still tired from the second almost sleepless night, I slowly raised my bpm with help of my cadence. Some parts of the roads were in an amazing shape, others the direct opposite. I was really astonished that I still had reasonable reserves. I shouted a rhytm to myself and paced me up to velocities I did not ride during the entire race before, only downhill.

Getting to the border and the chase to the ferry at 0800 had been the fastest section of my race; the last passages of the race.

Just got on the ferry at 0755, with breakfast. Arrived in Canakkale at 0820, welcome committee  (Kristof showed me the direction, standing in the middle of the roundabout, thank you) and a huge kiss from Nico.

Quick shower and then directly back onto the ferry. Our transfer bus to Istanbul was waiting on that exact same ferry.

It is some kind of unfortunate as it would have been great to talk to the riders, again. As we do so during riding it is not so bad, not being present! Enjoy your party tomorrow. We have just landed in Frankfurt. The plan worked out 100%!

I gonna update the last days here, as in between riding had the major focus and feeding the blog is not just some work for seconds. It requires your concentration, either less on the road, less for eating or less for sleeping. That is the choice you have to make. Sometimes typing things into the blog is an equal to talking to people, for example if you are lying anywhere outside at night!

Good morning from Macedonia. After cycling through Kosovo hills and mountains for hours my achillies went on strike, although I wanted to pedal through the night.

I had a rest at an UCK memorial. Around six I got up, as I had to walk down some stairs, I was really afraid to fall as my feet are able to walk anymore, bicycle only.

I took about a rough hour until my feet accepted me as their boss, again. Then we went into the hills between Kosovo and Macedonia, crossed the border and headed into Skopje. Although I would love to see something of this town, I decided to find the shortest way through, as traffice was getting more and more and warmer as well.

Now, 0900 I am having breakfast with Börek, espresso and water. Rebecome a börek fan!

After breakfast I gonna head towards the border. Not pushing too hard, find a good/ acceptable flow.

Picture follow, even if I did not take a lot!

These guys deserve a separate story.

I tried the shortest way to Alexandropolis, along the coast line, failed. Suddenly it turned into really rough gravel. As I wasn’t willing to take this risk, I started climbing. Slow, good breathing and what else is important not to fall off.

Having a rest in a mini shadow place and figure out how to proceed.

 

is my god for today.

He fixed my frontbreak. For the last to days I could only use one of the two brakes. Not real fun for getting down from the mountains we crossed.

I am happy again, my brakes can be as noisy as they want, as long as they work!
Thanks man, you made my day!

Cycling many smaller hills in Kosovo and assuming to take a shortcut, I went up a longer hill, in the beginning of dawn.

The surprising thing on that day was that each village had on house with open gates and loud music. I did not investigate into this one, it looked as if there was a special festival day going on. As I learnt from another rider, yes special day: Saturday.

I came up to that lonely peak and there was a place looking like a restaurant, as I was looking for one, I could not resist in entering this place. The waiter came out immediately to help me with my bike and showing me the way in.

Having a seat, the guys inside – inside was room for max. 8 people- tried to get me involved in their round. There were already pretty drunk what made them really nice people, probably. As each one of them looked like a bear for himself.

As one guy spent some time in Germany and I remembered some Russian, we could have a rather good conversation. Here one of my basic rules for conversation in the US came in place! No talks about politics and religion. This would make sure that I leave this place as welcomed as I came into it.

One of the guys, he seems to be the head of something, offered me to stay in his house over night. I told him that I only sleep every second night, which was a little lie. They told me that it is not safe riding through the night out here. As I told them for how long time I was already riding through the night, they asked me where my pistol was to protect myself against wild animals. I told them that I do not own a pistol and that I do not need one. At that moment all of the present guys, lifted their shirts and showed me their guns. Hu, this was a really strange moment.

As it is impossible for me to look through these influences of the military onto the people, it is definitely a difficult thing. Each village has big painted walls with their army heroes that protected the villagers. I cannot say anything about the separation of executive and legislative levels in such areas or even countries. Old bosses also remain bosses in the new organisation.

Shortly before I left my dinner place, an escort of three big cars rushed to that restaurant and the guys walked through the restaurant, saying hello to everyone by kissing left and right. Also I got involved in that ceremony, the stinking foreigner. Led out by the guy that I called Boss,  these guys went outside to a separate table to discuss whatever. This was a special moment during my ride and I cannot be certain that these guys were always nice. This is the moment when history and ethnies come into place. For example, if I was a Serbian, definitely I would not have been welcomed at that place, the way I was.