After all the months of hard work and preparation, today was the day it all came together as TCR races from all over the world congregated on the Pantheon of Fallen Antifascists monument on the Burgas esplanade.
First a document check (insurance and medical). Then a bike check to ensure we have all the necessary lights, reflectors and PPE wear, and the finally the all NB Spot Tracker handover and activation – live tracking of my ‘dot’ can be done here:
Live race tracking for Jody Forrester – Cap 17
I then shot back to the hotel for some more admin and downtime, before heading back to registration area for the rider briefing. Most of us usually listen with half an ear at these things but for a race of this magnitude, and held in the spirits that the race is formed, it really is an incredibly NB moment for us all to take stock of Anna’s insights and cautions.
Organising races such as this is a massive task, I take my hat off to her and the big volunteer staff that post themselves in isolated mountains for days on end as fatigued and often grumpy riders check in. Very special people – thank you!
Now I am in possession of my all NB brevet card (old school cardboard) that gets stamped at each check point as I go by. This and my tracker will be my two most prized possessions over coming 16 days. A unique element of this race is that you may hit each check point and finish in the allotted time but after the officials have reviewed your GPS track, they can either add time penalties of disqualify you completely- always focus on riding within the rules, even when it’s o so tempting to take a major road/tunnel etc. It’s for our safety.
So we line up at 6am tomorrow and off we go, I am looking forward to getting my head into the space of riding a bike and absorbed in that single task. I find all this prep and admin far more draining (esp given recent challenges) than the act of peddling for hours on end. Time to get that chin up, look to the horizon and get into explorer mindset mode.
Let’s do this !!!