Welcome to the sixth edition of the Transcontinental Race. The Transcontinental is a bicycle race from point A to point B, via Control Points, where solo riders and pairs race without outside assistance. There are few rules, summed up by our final rule: ‘Ride in the spirit of self-reliance and equal opportunity.’ As our race founder Mike Hall once said, it’s an event ‘where a rider can simply pick up a bike, shake hands at the start line and race thousands of miles for the pure satisfaction of sport.’
THE TRANSCONTINENTAL RACE No.6 is SUPPORTED BY
APIDURA, KINESIS, Lezyne AND PEDAL ED
With additional support from Cycling in Flanders
and the town of Geraardsbergen
Click on the CP icons below to learn more about the race
Click to access the #TCRNo6 tracking map
#TCRN06 is the first Transcontinental Race designed and executed without its founder and creator Mike Hall at the helm. Lost Dot, a team of racers and close friends and colleagues of Mike, are the organising team behind the race and we have worked hard throughout the year to produce a race we think Mike would have been proud of.
We are only too aware that we will never be able to replace the genius of Mike Hall; the TCR and the bike packing community as a whole will forever be the poorer for having lost such a leading light. We can however, ensure his hard work and vision are kept alive. Our goal is to ensure that the Transcontinental Race remains a grassroots event, the way Mike Hall envisioned; run by racers for racers. Our intent is to uphold the race’s reputation for excellence and innovation and to continue Mike’s legacy of inventiveness and creativity. To that end we continue to learn, develop and improve this wonderful event and hope to do so long into the future.
We could not have produced this race without the constant and untiring support of our volunteers, race partners and sponsors. They are too numerous, and often shy, to be named individually but without them this race could not have taken shape and be about to take place. So we thank them most humbly on behalf of ourselves, our riders and all the supporters who’ll be watching the race unfold this year.
2017 was a tragic year in the short history of this sport. The shock to the whole community was palpable. The TCR organisation took the decision to continue to provide the race infrastructure, trusting each rider to use their own discretion in deciding their immediate course of action, which was, for the overwhelming majority, their continued will to race. As the race progressed so did our coverage of it. There were tough times and there were lighter times, but not for one moment did we forget our fallen friends. We were and remain a community bound in grief and bonded in defiance.
Prior to his death Mike spent a lot of time thinking about what drove him to race. While we would never encourage anybody to attempt the TCR unless they are sure, this event is for people who know what they want. We feel bound to share this eloquent and heartfelt description of why one of our most enduring talents chose to race his way around the world:
“I... wish to counter the premise that one cannot enjoy intensely one’s surroundings whilst expending oneself. Indeed I’ll go further and assert that the effort of climbing a mountain or crossing a continent serves only to enhance its delights and majesty in a manner no leisurely wanderings can approach. Racing … has been a transformative experience for me in so many ways and in some way has touched almost everything I have done since. The trail might take the body to the physical place; covering vast distances through wild open and desolate landscapes alive with wildlife and changing before your eyes. The race however, the thrill of the chase, the potent cocktail of adrenaline, endorphins, fatigue, sleep deprivation, stress and finally relief takes the mind to quite another. The personal satisfaction, confidence and empowerment from the achievement lasts a lifetime. For me this combination is untouchable.” The Bugle Magazine, Brooks England.
The race follows a simple set of 10 rules
The clock will start at 22:00 on 29th July and not stop until the riders reach the finish line in Meteora. Apart from 4 mandatory Control Points there is no fixed route for riders to follow. Outside support is prohibited, riders must only use what they can carry with them or what they can find at commercially available outlets.
FOLLOW THE RACE ON OUR Blog, podcast and SOCIAL CHANNELS #tcrno6
