08D // 15H // 02M
That is how long it took Kristoff Allegeart to cycle from Geraardsbergen in Belgium to Çanakkale in Turkey. Along the way there are four control points and parcours that riders must pass through; however the race itself has only one stage and the clock never stops, regardless of sleeping, eating, or mechanicals. Rider’s aren’t allowed to receive any outside help and must carry everything they need with them.
Last year I spent a week in Istanbul documenting the end of the 3rd TCR - this year I have been travelling with one of two control cars and covering the entire race. The TCR is an incredibly gruelling event with some competitors only sleeping a couple of hours a night and covering what seem like inhuman distances every day. They experience a loneliness and isolation that is intrinsically difficult to convey, while the majority of my interactions with riders were at the most social points of their ride - either check points where volunteers mark their brevet cards or when we passed them in the control car and they have the opportunity to speak to the Race Director.
Spending so many days on the road it is important to look after yourself. Easier, but more time consuming if you choose to stay in hotels, but quicker and more effecient if done whenever the opportunity presents itself.
James Hayden realised he had a chest infection on the second day and wouldn’t be able to ride competiviely. He had been one of the favourites to win.
Kristoff barely stops. 20 seconds at the top of a pass to eat a bar of chocolate and put on a jacket. He suffers like all the riders do, but he rarely shows it.
Volunteers man check points 24/7 as riders may arrive at any time.
There is a certain dance to the routine of the more experienced riders. Less time stopped is more time riding.
Local hotels are very understanding of how precious cyclists are regarding their bikes.
A brevet card, stamped at each check point with the number of days, hours and minutes it has taken the rider to reach there.
Some competitors are met by other riders, some by loved ones and others - often early in the morning - only by the volunteers managing the check point. Joe’s dad came out to Turkey to welcome him on the finish line.
Each rider has a GPS tracker that pings their location every 5 minutes allowing a strange kind of spectator sport - dot watching: