About the race
The Transcontinental Race, known as the TCR, is a self-supported bike race across Europe. Riders cover roughly 4,000 km in a single stage, with the clock running from the start until the moment they finish. It was founded in 2013 by the late Mike Hall and is run by Lost Dot.
History
The first edition started on 3 August 2013 with about 30 riders, and Kristof Allegaert took the first win. Interest grew quickly, and by the fourth edition in 2016 more than 1,000 people applied for a place, with about 350 accepted. Recent winners listed by the organiser include Christoph Strasser (2022 and 2023), Robin Gemperle (2024) and Victor Bosoni (2025). Fiona Kolbinger won the 2019 race outright.
The format
Self-support is the founding rule. Drafting is banned, and so is help from other racers, friends or family; food, lodging and repairs must all be bought commercially. There is a mass start, then riders pick their own route between a handful of control points. Routes and distances change every year, from about 3,200 to 4,200 km, and the fastest riders usually take 7 to 10 days.
The 2026 route
The organiser's route page describes the twelfth edition, which started on 19 July 2026 in Trondheim, Norway, in near-midnight sun. The control points were:
- CP1: Flam, Norway, with the Rallarvegen climb out of the fjord.
- CP2: the Tatra mountains in Slovakia, via the Czech climb of Praded and the Chopok ski mountain.
- CP3: Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, near the disused 1984 Olympic bobsleigh track.
- CP4: Leskovik, Albania.
- Finish: Kalamata, Greece, after passing Olympia.
Entry and cut-offs
Check the organiser for entry windows, time limits and the date of a future edition. Wikipedia notes that places have been limited and applications have exceeded them. Check the organiser before planning.
Where to watch
Because riders choose their own roads between control points, there is no fixed spectator route, and the organiser's pages give no spectator advice. The start and control points are fixed places, and the finish is where, in the organiser's words, riders get a warm embrace and a cold beer.
Weather
The race runs in July and August, crossing mountains and plains in several climates. Riders can meet heat, cold at altitude and rain in a single week. This is general background, not a forecast.
SourcesTranscontinental Race, Lost Dot · Wikipedia: Transcontinental Race