tcr no5 – first thoughts – oh bugger!

Tcr no5 – first thoughts….
I’ve not read anything in detail, but this is what leaps out

Romania – fuck that’s a long way East and feels very foreign sitting on a train in London. Thoughts of Romanian orphanages, gypsies.. The unknown and stereo typical.

But.. Transylvania!

Bulgaria. Oh  fuck.  The odd street view of Bulgarian roads = lorries or potholed/cobbles monstrosities, or both together.  oh

High Tatras, low Tatras in Slovakia – never even heard of them

ie its the usual mix of known, (4000k, 40000m climbing), the unknown (anywhere south / east of Italian / Austria alps.  It looks a little flatter than this year, but a little longer.

Race Details

START // GERAARDSBERGEN | BELGIUM

– 646k, 6000m climbing.  The black forrest is apparently to be avoided if possible as its constant hills….   France will be shut as usual
Belgium, France, Germany

CP1 // SCHLOSS LICHTENSTEIN | GERMANY

– 578k, 9500m climbing.  Into the alps!, and a pointless up and down climb up monte grappa at the end – Wikipedia’s entry for Monte Grappa starts with the following – ‘Monte Grappa is considered one of the most difficult Italian cycling climbs’  oh.  Its gonna be a hard section as I have to get accross the alps from north to south first.
Germany, Austria, Italy

CP2 // MONTE GRAPPA | ITALY

–  988k, 9000m climbing.  Out of the alps.  Does not look too bad at first glance…..  but we are heading east
Italy, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia (up to 7 countries)

CP3 // HIGH TATRAS MOUNTAINS | SLOVAKIA

–  810k, 7700m climbing –  Slovakia, Hungary, Romania – includes climb up to the Transfagarasan highway – looks a highlight.

CP4 // TRANSFAGARASAN HIGHWAY | ROMANIA

–  1020k, 10000m climbing.  The longest and probably most unfamiliar section.  Includes a sting in the tail in Greece.  Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Greece – 11 different counties in all.

FiNISH // METEORA | GREECE

Logistics to/from Meteora look a nightmare, but it looks a cracking place to finish.

Oh and I entered yesterday.  The major issue is now getting in – the race has over 1000 entrants for 250 places, and I pulled out last year, so will I get in this year….?

hmm

I am already thinking of back up plans (trans am..??)