{"id":34138,"date":"2015-07-24T14:35:58","date_gmt":"2015-07-24T12:35:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/non-categorise\/the-transcontinental-race\/"},"modified":"2025-10-18T23:08:01","modified_gmt":"2025-10-18T21:08:01","slug":"the-transcontinental-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/en\/adventure\/the-transcontinental-race\/","title":{"rendered":"The Transcontinental Race"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;section&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;0px||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||||false|false&#8221;][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=&#8221;on&#8221; gutter_width=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;100%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;100%&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px|0px||0px|false|false&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_slider show_pagination=&#8221;off&#8221; module_id=&#8221;custom-paralax&#8221; module_class=&#8221;custom-slider&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_image=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Conference_Matthieu.jpg&#8221; parallax=&#8221;on&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; auto=&#8221;on&#8221; auto_speed=&#8221;3000&#8243;][et_pb_slide _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_enable_color=&#8221;off&#8221; background_image=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/TCR-carrousel-1.jpg&#8221; background_enable_image=&#8221;on&#8221; parallax=&#8221;on&#8221; parallax_method=&#8221;off&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;50px||||false|false&#8221; sticky_transition=&#8221;on&#8221;][\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_enable_color=&#8221;off&#8221; background_image=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/TCR-carrousel-2.jpg&#8221; background_enable_image=&#8221;on&#8221; parallax=&#8221;on&#8221; parallax_method=&#8221;off&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;50px||||false|false&#8221; sticky_transition=&#8221;on&#8221;][\/et_pb_slide][\/et_pb_slider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;75%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;90%&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;30px||||false|false&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_font=&#8221;|300|||||||&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; header_font_size=&#8221;40px&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||0px||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; header_font_size_tablet=&#8221;25px&#8221; header_font_size_phone=&#8221;20px&#8221; header_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h1>THE TRANSCONTINENTAL RACE<\/h1>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"black-thin-line\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/div>\n<p>[\/et_pb_code][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;22px&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>16 days \/\/ 15 hours \/\/ 48 minutes<\/em><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;30px||||false|false&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;2em&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>At midnight on July 25, 2015, I set off on the third edition of the Transcontinental Race, alongside 172 other cyclists from the four corners of the globe. The rules of the race are simple: cycle from Flanders to Istanbul via 4 checkpoints in Europe, unassisted and unsupported. The first of us will arrive in just under 10 days, averaging 425 kilometers a day.  <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;0px||||false|false&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_video src=&#8221;https:\/\/vimeo.com\/187994537&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_video][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;90%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;90%&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;2em&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>&#8220;In the early days of bicycle racing there was a time when plucky riders took on long hard races alone with no team cars and soigneurs to look after them. They were hardy and desperate men who ate what they could find, slept when they could and rode all day. They weren&#8217;t professional athletes or men of means, they were mavericks, vagabonds and adventurers who picked up a bicycle and went to seek their fortune.&#8221;<\/em><\/h2>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;100%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;100%&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_code _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;]<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" height=\"400px\" src=\"https:\/\/api.mapbox.com\/styles\/v1\/matthieutordeur\/cl0pjuue7001b14o1o9ockiva.html?title=false&amp;access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoibWF0dGhpZXV0b3JkZXVyIiwiYSI6ImNsMGd5Z2JtazAxeHUzanA1djFlMjR5YmEifQ.B2RIIEbvXbVCQLuUV5jVRg&amp;zoomwheel=false#2.97\/48.11\/15.1\" title=\"Transcontinental\" style=\"border:none;\"><\/iframe>[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;90%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;90%&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Belgique.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;Belgium&#8221; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Day #0, Grammont, Belgium. H-5 from the start of the race. Matthias Wjst  <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;90%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;90%&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/20150724_184653__DSC9778@4928_x_3280.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;20150724_184653__DSC9778@4928_x_3280&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; align=&#8221;center&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Day #0, Grammont, Belgium. Briefing before departure. Matthias Wjst  <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;90%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;90%&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_2656-scaled.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_2656&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Day #0, Grammont, Belgium. Departure for a race of over 4,000 kilometers. I have particularly nice shoes, thanks Dad.  <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_2692-scaled.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_2692&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Day #0, Grammont, Belgium. On the Muur, a monument to cycling history, start at midnight. <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;90%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;90%&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_2662-scaled.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_2662&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Day #0, Flanders, Belgium. At each checkpoint, we have to get our &#8216;brevet card&#8217; punched. <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_2694.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_2694&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Day #1, Belgium 3am. I&#8217;m number #148, and we&#8217;re each equipped with a GPS tracker so we can be followed every 5 minutes! <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;90%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;90%&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_2704-scaled.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_2704&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Day #1, Champagne-Ardenne, France. On the verge of hypothermia for the first night of the race, I treat myself to the luxury of a Formule 1 hotel for the second, on the outskirts of Ch\u00e2lons-en-Champagne to sleep better and dry out my gear. <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_2717.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_2717&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Day #2, Burgundy, France. Bed and breakfast in Saint-Seine-l&#8217;Abbaye. <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;90%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;90%&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_2725-scaled.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_2725&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Day #3, Louhans, France. Disaster! Achilles tendonitis prevents me from continuing the race. I&#8217;d underestimated my training and my tendons weren&#8217;t ready for such an intense effort. I stop for 36 hours, on the verge of giving up.    <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_2735-scaled.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_2735&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Day #4, the pain subsides a little, and I adapt my pedaling technique by putting the tip of my right foot forward to minimize strain on my Achilles tendon. I don&#8217;t meet my daily target of 250 kilometers. Today, I&#8217;m only doing 170 kilometers.  <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;90%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;90%&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_2749-scaled.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_2749&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Day #4. Passing Lyon. Objective: South.  <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_2766-scaled.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_2766&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Day #4, Beaurepaire, France. Overnight under the stars in Is\u00e8re. <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;90%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;90%&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_2777-scaled.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_2777&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Day #5, B\u00e9doin, France. Ready to climb the G\u00e9ant de Provence, classified as hors cat\u00e9gorie by the Tour de France. <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_2790-scaled.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_2790&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Day #6, Mont Ventoux, France. At the summit of Mont Ventoux at 1,911 m, the night is cool. I sleep in a garage.  <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;90%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;90%&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_2806-scaled.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_2806&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Day #6. First checkpoint at the summit of Mont Ventoux, France (altitude 1,911 m). Climbed by night the day before, heading for Italy.  <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;90%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;90%&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_2816-scaled.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_2816&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Day #6. Lunar landscape at the summit. <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_2817-scaled.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_2817&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Day #6. Icy descent to Sault, France. <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;40%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;90%&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_2823-scaled.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_2823&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Day #6, Lac de Serre-Pon\u00e7on, France. Past Mont Ventoux, I&#8217;m approaching the race with a little more serenity. <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;90%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;90%&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_2847-scaled.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_2847&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Day #6, Brian\u00e7on, France. Sunset over the Alps, I rediscover my own country. <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;90%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;90%&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_2851-scaled.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_2851&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Day #6, Brian\u00e7on, France. 10 kilometers from Italy. My tendonitis is still sore, but I&#8217;m trying not to think about it too much and to keep moving forward as much as possible.  <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_2872-scaled.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_2872&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Day 7, Casale Monferrato, Italy. A taste of Turkey, refueling at a kebab shop. <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;90%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;90%&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_2891-scaled.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_2891&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Day #9, Italy-Slovenia border.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_2904.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_2904&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Day #10, Ljubljana, Slovenia. After more than 2,100 kilometers since the start, I&#8217;m pretty tired. I collapse a little after lunch on the outskirts of the Slovenian capital, exhausted.  <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;90%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;90%&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_2906-scaled.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_2906&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Day #10. Slovenia brings its fair share of green hills and plains, a welcome change after three extremely gloomy days in northern Italy. <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_2911-scaled.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_2911&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Day #10, Slovenia. Ouch. With the Alps behind me, I&#8217;ve completed just over half of the race&#8217;s total ascent (42,000 metres of D+).  <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;90%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;90%&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_2919.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_2919&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Day #10. Night-time border crossing between Slovenia and Croatia. <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_2944-scaled.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_2944&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Day #12, Vukovar, Croatia. Passing the third checkpoint! The heat is overwhelming, and I can hardly ride between 1pm and 4pm. The mercury climbs to 46\u00b0C.   <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;90%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;90%&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_2952-scaled.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_2952&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Day #12, Croatia &#8211; Serbia border. After a few days&#8217; reflection, I make a difficult decision. I choose not to go to checkpoint #4 in Montenegro and thus abandon the race and an official ranking. Unfortunately, my tendonitis slowed me down too much in France and I won&#8217;t be able to get to Istanbul before the organizers&#8217; departure. As well as being all alone on arrival in Istanbul, I&#8217;d also have to postpone my flight to Irkutsk in Russia, which I&#8217;d taken to start a new adventure, this time in a 4L! (see the adventure entitled &#8220;Crossing Central Asia in a 4L&#8221;)     <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;90%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;90%&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_2955-scaled.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_2955&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Day #13, Serbia. Beginner&#8217;s mistake. Not taking the shortest route on the map.  <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_2960-scaled.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_2960&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Day #13, Kraljevo, Serbia. My iPhone, which serves as my GPS, gives out on me. It won&#8217;t charge. I hurry to find a hotel and methodically write down the rest of my route to Istanbul on a piece of paper. I&#8217;ve got just under 900 kilometers to go, blind.    <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;40%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;90%&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_2970-scaled.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_2970&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Day #14. Penultimate border before Turkey. This is the second time I&#8217;ve cycled through Bulgaria. The first was in summer 2011 (see the adventure entitled &#8220;Budapest &#8211; Istanbul&#8221;).   <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;90%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;90%&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_2997-scaled.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_2997&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Day #15, Kap\u0131kule, Turkey. Entering the eighth country of my race. I&#8217;m 300 kilometers from the finish line!  <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;90%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;90%&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_3001.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_3001&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Day #15, L\u00fcleburgaz, Turkey. Shortly before 11pm at a gas station, exhausted after a 300-kilometer day. <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_3003-scaled.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_3003&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Day #15, L\u00fcleburgaz, Turkey. On my last night of the race, after more than 16 hours in the saddle, I find shelter in a copse 20 meters off the E80 freeway in Turkey. <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;90%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;90%&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_3020-scaled.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_3020&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Day #16, Istanbul, Turkey. The Bosphorus. <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;90%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;90%&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_9638-scaled.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_9638&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">3,775 kms, 16 days \/\/ 15 hours \/\/ 48 minutes<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;30px||||false|false&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;2em&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>The difficulty of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.transcontinental.cc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Transcontinental Race<\/a> is reflected in the number of withdrawals: half of us didn&#8217;t make it to Istanbul. Although I crossed the finish line after 16 days of effort, I still don&#8217;t have an official ranking since I didn&#8217;t go to checkpoint n\u00b04 in Montenegro. A difficult decision, but one I don&#8217;t regret. Following my injury in France in the early days, my only objective was to get as far as possible in the race. Every day was a real struggle in which I had to cope with fatigue, bad weather, boredom, loneliness and suffering&#8230; A unique experience of self-sufficiency, both sporting and mental, which opened the door to resources and potential I&#8217;d never imagined I had.    <\/p>\n<p>Find all the photos by Matthias Wjst, official photographer of the Transcontinental Race 2015 on <a href=\"http:\/\/wjst.de\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wjst.de<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;30%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;90%&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/matthieutordeur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/TCR-Logo.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;TCR-Logo&#8221; url=&#8221;http:\/\/www.transcontinental.cc&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; align=&#8221;center&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; module_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;2em&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.transcontinental.cc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">www.transcontinental.cc<\/a><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n<span class=\"et_bloom_bottom_trigger\"><\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>16 days \/\/ 15 hours \/\/ 48 minutes<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":32412,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","spay_email":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[62,63],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34138","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adventure","category-home-en"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.2 - 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