I started at 9 PM and stopped only a few minutes later, at the first petrol station outside Litoměřice. Resupplied there, and was ready for the all-night ride. After nearly 1000 km done already, I had another 700 to do now, until the second CP.

I checked the FMC page to see what was up and I was amazed about the leading four, who were already around Plzeň. „Better get back to work,” I said to myself, switched my phone into offline mode, played my favorite song, and continued into the dark Czech Republic.

The route was great, and the more I was focusing on the road, on the moment here and there, on the little climbs and small Czech towns I was passing through, the progress was better and the fun was bigger. I was well prepared for the whole night ride. Was having enough food on me, was pretty fresh and rested if I can say that and my sleep in the hotel was so comfortable and good. Short I must say, I could have slept a bit longer, but I was happy with what I had.

The night went fast, it wasn’t too cold and I didn’t stop much through it. Only once or twice really, when I doubted my route choice. I remember thinking „it suppose to be flat on this section”, but no, it wasn’t! A second control point was located in the heart of the Alps, and I knew that some proper climbing is going to happen there, but, before I would get there, I had a huge chunk of Bavaria to cover and I needed another little plan to get myself through it. This time it was a reward. Reward that I’ll give to myself if I get into the Alps in a good time.

In the morning I was already pretty close to the German border, where I stopped at the petrol station for my last Kofola and a little breakfast on the go.

Bavaria also started pretty hilly. My CZ-GE border crossing was placed at about 700 m.a.s.l. and before I reached the flatland around München I had to cross a few more little mountain passes. I was enjoying the climbs, the descends, and the forest that felt so fresh in the morning. The flat part was long and pretty boring. Lots of „no-cycling” signs on big roads and cycle roads, that I had to take, but even with that my progress was really good and in the afternoon I had the Alps in sight. The feeling was amazing. Only yesterday evening I was in the Czech Republic, pretty close to Poland, and less than 24 hours later I can see the Alps already. A bike is an amazing and powerful tool. I couldn’t stop thinking about it, and honestly, I didn’t want to because that thought was just awesome.

I’ve booked a hotel in Imst, which was my reward, and supposed to be more than halfway through Austria, and wrote a message to the owners that I’ll be coming about 10 PM with my bike needed to be safely stored. As for my stops that day, I wanted to minimalize them as much as I could. I stopped twice, first in Mcdonald’s around München for a lot of veggie burgers, milkshakes, and coke, and later in a typical bavarian restaurant located in one of the towns just before the Alps. I had a strong coffee there and some more sweet drinks. After that, I was ready for the Sharnitz Pass, where I chose to cross into Tirol. Entering the Alps was as always super exciting, and it was also great to meet a few dot watchers on the way there.

When I got to Austria it was dark already. I descended into the river Inn valley and did continue towards my hotel. Switched my phone back on to let the hotel know that I’ll be a little bit later, but instead, I noticed a message from them saying that my booking was canceled because they allow bringing bikes to the property only if you book a minimum of two nights. How crazy was that I was thinking and got super angry and suddenly started to dislike all the Austrians. I was tired, I knew I wanted to sleep and my promised reward was gone. It wasn’t nice at all, and I had to convince myself that it wasn’t my fault. I didn’t feel much sleepy but I felt tired generally, my body was tired and slow. Ok. I got myself together and decided on a bivvy. I found a small barn next to the road where on the back of it somebody left a pretty big rolled carpet, so I used it as my sleeping mat. It was after 11 PM when I rolled into my bivvy and ate some food leftovers that I had on me. I set my alarm for 1:30 AM and fall asleep. It wasn’t too cold, I was well sheltered from the wind and I could hear the animals (cows probably) from inside the barn. It wasn’t a bad spot.

Before 2 AM I was already back on my wheels. I still felt super tired, but I was hoping that it will get better while I’ll get my body going again. The next section of the route I knew. I’ve been there in 2019, after descending a mighty Timmelsjoh Pass during the TCRNo7. So I just followed the road that I have ridden three years earlier and I couldn’t wait to get to Italy, as at that moment, I was super upset about Austria.

Sometime after sunrise, I reached the border through Passo di Resia. From there I took the lake on the top by the western side, avoiding the main road, and I said hello to amazing Italian Alpine cycle roads. I knew it probably wasn’t the fastest option, but it was worth taking this route. The descent to the valley at the bottom of Stelvio National Park was so good, with no cars through narrow, fast, and empty cycle roads. If only the whole race was like that.

Before entering Switzerland I stopped for a quick Italian coffee in one of the little towns that I was passing by. Unfortunately, these few towns were small enough to have any place for proper food, which I was needing already, so I decided to continue until CP2, where I promised myself to have a big meal.

Again I was on the road I was riding before. This time it was in 2017, while I was descending Ofenpass, during TCRNo5. Now I was going the opposite direction, and once entered Switzerland I took south to take a mighty Umbrail Pass.

I must admit, this climb was hard for me. I must have been pretty exhausted because there was no way for me to push hard through it. The only thing that got me going with a reasonable speed was the huge willingness to get to CP2 as rider no 5. I knew that the whole pack of riders was only a few kilometers behind me so there was no time for playing with weaknesses.

I didn’t stop at the top and didn’t even put any layer on for the descent. Went straight down to Bormio through amazing switchbacks pretty busy with cyclists climbing up in the opposite direction. It is the way to Stelvio at the end, so no wonder why.

Even if I was super hungry already and didn’t have more food on me anymore, I decided to not stop in Bormio but to ride straight up onto another climb. I knew that somewhere on the way there will be a hotel with CP2. „I’ll eat there,” I thought and rode up towards the Gavia Pass. My Garmin said, CP2 in 1.5 km, and I only left the city. That was super news, but after this 1.5 km, it indicated another waypoint, CP2 at 12 km. Such a disappointment for a tired super hungry rider. Anyway, I still was super motivated to get there 5th so I found some leftovers in me and pushed my way up to the CP2 where I finally arrived after midday, about 48 hours after visiting Czech CP. I was super happy to get there 5th, and considering two short periods of sleep on the way I was also happy with the time that it took. There is nothing better than a little success on the way.

The control itself was charming. Meeting old mates like Chris Thomas who I was racing hard during TCRNo7 was a wonderful surprise. There was a race team with Anna, and we chatted a bit about the afrobeat playlist on my phone. But even with all that, the answer to the most important question, „Is there any food here?” was „No!”, and that situation underlined another huge broken promise that I made to my already wiped-out body. After the CP3, there was a pretty huge chunk of a climb left, to get to the top of the Gavia Pass, and honestly, I don’t know how I did convince my legs and most importantly, super hungry stomach to do it.

To be continued…

Check my TCRNo8 ride on RwGPS > here <

Cover Photo: Charlotte Gamus, The Transcontinental Race