TCRNO7 – Transcontinental Race 2019
1.Prologue- My road to Burgas
The Transcontinental Race. The big one in my eyes. The Transcontinental was the race that caught my attention around 5 years ago while running out of things to search for online at a job that saw me staring out of the window for most of my shifts.
I had bookmarked a video to watch about the race and it involved 2 guys racing the TCR as a pair. It followed them through the ups and downs of the race and all the bits in between. From watching this film, I was instantly hooked. After watching the film, I delved deeper into the growing culture of racing long distances self- supported The TCR was founded by Mike Hall who was one of the greatest long distance racers of his time. This suited me. I had raced short distances when I was younger, but lost interest in riding around in circles seeing the same sights every year. I needed something more. Something different for every ride. I loved touring, but ultra distance racing combined my love of racing and touring perfectly.
So I first put an entry into the race in 2016, but was unsuccessful. Looking back, I am pleased that I didn’t get a place because I was no where near prepared physically or mentally for the race, it was a shot in the dark. From then on I started riding regularly again and hastily entered the Transatlantic Way Race in 2018. The TAW in 2018 was a blast, but I really suffered. The TAW warrants its own write up (I will get round to it at some point). What came from the TAW was the knowledge of how to tackle these events, and most importantly, I knew wanted I more.
So spending long nights meticulously going over the TCR application form in the winter of 2018 for the 2019 edition of the TCR paid dividends as I received an email in January 2019 confirming I was successful and had a place in the race! I remember all emotions flooding at once, but I couldn’t keep the grin off my face all week. Before receiving this email, I had planned various races in the lead up the the TCR just in case I did get an entry, but also had a back up race at the same time if I didn’t.
I don’t like calling going for a bike ride, training. I think in my mind when I put a tag on it like that, or even write a rough plan down of what I think I should do, I always come up with excuses on the day why I can’t do it. So I didn’t plan any training, just riding and races. I wanted to enjoy my riding and racing and that’s what I did, no pressure. Long rides to and from work during the winter ensured I got a good base and prep races went to plan through spring.
Bike was sorted, body was feeling good, kit and travel plans were coming together, holidays booked and I could not wait to get out to Bulgaria and see Europe on 2 wheels. For me the TCR is an adventure as well as a race. I have always said I will stop doing anything in my life if I don’t enjoy doing it. That’s why I stopped road racing. I knew I was going to enjoy the TCR though, exploring new routes every day, what’s not to like. My first objective was always to finish. Positioning to me was never really a high priority, I wanted to finish and test myself to see how quick I could get from one side of Europe to the other while having a mint time. And I did.
Jordan Matthews 