Oh fuck – Its a long way with lots and lots of climbing!
I’d not heard of any of the checkpoints before this, but they are all at the tops of mountains. The northern Alps means the weather can be appalling.
Start Geraadsbergan -> CP1 – Bielerhöhe Pass, Austria
Bielerhohe is where the GB rowing team (ie Steve Redgrave) do their altitude training. Its at 2033m, with a 1600m climb up to it.
https://www.transcontinental.cc/controlstcrn06#/copy-of-tcrn06-cp1-1/
| # | Notes | Countries | Distance (km) |
Distance (miles) |
Ascent (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geraadsbergan, including the Muur Rolling Ardennes countryside |
Belgium | 200 | 124 | 2171 |
| 2 | Belgium Luxembourg France |
199 | 124 | 1806 | |
| 3 | 800m climb into the black forrest | France Germany |
197 | 122 | 1817 |
| 4 | Lake Constanz, then into the Alps, starting the 1600m climb up to CP1 | Germany Switzerland Austria |
180 | 112 | 1496 |
| 5 | Checkpoint 1 – Gaschurn -> Bielerhöhe Pass (2032m) via the Silvretta Strasse | 19 | 12 | 1134 | |
| Totals | 795 | 494 | 8400 |
The route goes through Belgium, France or Germany, a little bit of Switzerland, then climbing into the Austrian alps. The Ardennes in Belgium and the Black Forest in Germany means its a rolling route. There are significant climbs in Germany and Austria.
CP1 Bielerhöhe Pass, Austria -> CP2 Mangart saddle, Slovenia
The Mangart saddle is a pass just south of Klagenfurt, which I know well as I went there 3 years ago for 2 weeks to do Ironman Austria. Its a cracking alpine loop at 2000m high, with a nice climb up to it, (obviously). The loop is narrow, with no protections, many switchbacks, hairpins and rustic unlit tunnels.
https://www.transcontinental.cc/controlstcrn06#/copy-of-tcrn06-cp2-1/
| # | Notes | Countries | Distance (km) |
Distance (miles) |
Ascent (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fighting through the alps into Italy over the 1300m Brenner pass |
Austra Italy |
207 | 129 | 2209 |
| 2 | Continuing east through the Alps, 2 passes to get over, (1200m and 999m) | Italy Austria |
201 | 125 | 2157 |
| 3 | 1400m climb to the start to CP2 at 2033m | Austria Slovenia |
33 | 21 | 1628 |
| 4 | CP2 – Descent of the Manglert Saddle, then another 1200m climb up to Vrisic Pass at 1600m | Slovenia | 60 | 37 | 1628 |
| Totals | 501 | 311 | 7622 |
The Route goes east through the alps, to Slovenia’s highest road. This section will be a killer, with 2-3 significant alpine climbs in succession. Its also through congested busy Alpine valleys, with many restricted tunnels requiring detours.
I’ve routed along as much cycle path as possible, which will be slower than the roads, but safer and less stressful. However, I have no idea of the surface of the paths so may have to re-route if they are poor
CP2 – Mangart -> CP3 Karkonosze Pass, South Poland / North Czech border
Its at the top of yet another mountain, up Poland’s steepest climb.
https://www.transcontinental.cc/controlstcrn06#/copy-of-tcrn06-cp3-1/
Getting out of Austria is not easy.
| # | Notes | Countries | Distance (km) |
Distance (miles) |
Ascent (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heading North through the Alps | Slovenia Austria |
122 | 76 | 1145 |
| 2 | 3 Alpine passes to leave the alps, at 900m, 1280m, and 866m | Austria | 201 | 125 | 2172 |
| 3 | Rolling countryside into the Czech Republic. 700m hill north of the Danube | Austria Czech Republic |
198 | 123 | 2426 |
| 4 | Climbing into Southern Poland | Czech Republic Poland |
214 | 133 | 2362 |
| Totals | 735 | 456 | 8105 |
CP3 Karkonosze Pass -> CP4 Bjelašnica, Sarajevo, (Bosnia).
The Bosnian checkpoint is up yet another mountain, where the 1984 winter olympics were held.
The route heads south across Czech Republic, maybe Hungary or Austria, down into the Balkans, into Croatia then Bosnia. Hungary proved a bit challenging for riders in tcr#5, (with lots of roads banned to cyclists) so I may stay left. It should be flat till it hits Bosnia. Bosnia is not flat.
https://www.transcontinental.cc/controlstcrn06#/copy-of-tcrn06-cp4-1/
| # | Notes | Countries | Distance (km) |
Distance (miles) |
Ascent (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1200m climb to CP3 – over 10k, ie 10% average, but its nearer 20% at the top. Descend and head south |
Poland Czech Republic |
201 | 125 | 2147 |
| 2 | 700m rolling hills till I decend into Austria and head to Vienna | Czech Republic Austria |
207 | 129 | 1947 |
| 3 | Run down the Hungarian border, 500m climb | Austria Hungary |
203 | 126 | 1345 |
| 4 | Flat, flat, flat | Hungary Slovenia Croatia |
207 | 129 | 1000 |
| 5 | Flat, Flat, oh bugger, Bosnia is not flat 900m, then 1100m climbs |
Croatia Bosnia |
201 | 125 | 2155 |
| 6 | More Bosnian hills, climb toward CP4 | Bosnia | 95 | 59 | 1385 |
| 7 | CP4 parcour – 800m climb at 8%…. on gravel. ffs! |
Bosnia | 10 | 6 | 790 |
| Totals | 1124 | 698 | 10700 |
CP4 Bjelašnica -> Finish Meteora, Greece
Bosnia is hilly, So is Montenegro. Albania is flat, (ish) but Greece is definitely not flat. Its not downhill to the finish.
Oh, and there are dogs 🙂 from Croatia onwards
https://www.transcontinental.cc/controlstcrn06#/copy-of-tcrn06-cp4/
| # | Notes | Countries | Distance (km) |
Distance (miles) |
Ascent (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Big 1000m hills in Bosnia and Monte Negro Its not getting any easier |
Bosnia Montenegro |
204 | 127 | 4247!! |
| 2 | On to the plains of Albania. Oh God! To Tirana |
Montenegro Albania |
213 | 132 | 1167 |
| 3 | climbing out of Albania – several 900m climbs | Albania | 204 | 127 | 3030 |
| 4 | Hilly Greece, then a 600m climb to finish. | Greece | 186 | 116 | 2492 |
| Totals | 807 | 501 | 10930 |
Summary
3962 km
2462 miles
45800m ascent.
A Pirate takes on The Transcontinental Race, again... 