From a parking in Kissamos at sea level to Kallergi mountain cabin at 1600m
A bit of stress before the start but at 9 AM the 2 nd edition of the Transcreta Race finally starts. An exploded plastic bag brings merely 12 riders in movement. Yep, you read right, only 12 masochists take part in this event where adventure and beautiful views are the main ingredients. During the briefing last evening, organizer Marcus asked us to forget everything what we know from other organizations: TransCreta is something special and that is what we will find out today.
I ride the first 20 km together with a Tsjech, an extremely fast mountain goat, just like me the first 20 km. Then it goes steeply downhill with the power, but the trails go steeply up. After an extra tour of 4 km, little mistake from me, but sometimes it looks more like a game of find-the-sign’, I ride together with Anthony White, an Engish friend from Manchester, and an Austrian guy. In the steep climbs I have to let the others go, but in the short downhills I manage to close the gap. But the magnificent views and the winding trails let me forget my sore muscles and boiling brains.
Except concentrate in order not to miss the Greek-blue signs, you need to watch carefully not to ride over the local flora. Not that we would damage anything, but everything that grows here has thorns and stings where a cactus would be proud of. Kroki sends his 4×4 Vitara over the rocks and surprises us more then once with motivation, pictures and assistence.
During the one but last climb I have to give up and need to go to the small ring in the front, which cracks me mentally. Pepe has no problems and swiftly passes me. After an asphalt section the last climb starts with the finish at the mountain cabin at 1600m altitude. This is no present because the steep climb with loose rocks is a real lactic acid factory. The finish is a relief, the view breathtaking: on the right we see the Libian sea, on the left we discover Chania and the Kretan sea.
Oh, yesterday we met Jan, the only other Belgian guy in the race. Just before I left home my wife drove over my bike, he tells with a smile. Luckily not a lot of damage and he can start the race.
Domie & Pepe
Stage Info – What the organizer says
Distance: 110 km
Ascent: 3100 hm
Results
Stage result
| Heren | ||
| 1 | Radko Sibl | |
| 2 | Paelinck Peter | |
| 3 | Sacre Dominiek |
General classification
| Heren | ||
| 1 | Radko Sibl | |
| 2 | Paelinck Peter | |
| 3 | Sacre Dominiek |
Foto album
Transcreta Race 2006
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Transcreta Race 2006
Vechten om de bike in de fietstas te krijgen
Fighting to get the bike in the bag
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Transcreta Race 2006
Afscheid nemen van de supporters thuis
Saying goodbye to the supporters at home
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Transcreta Race 2006
Reevax gepakt en gezakt in de luchthaven van Luik
Reevax ready to go at the airport of Luik
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Transcreta Race 2006
Wachten op het transport naar Kissamos
Waiting for the transport to Kissamos
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Transcreta Race 2006
Ontbijt met Thomas, een van de helpers tijdends de race. Na de foto gezien te hebben, is hij prompt naar de kapper gegaan.
Breakfast with Thomas, one fo the helpers during the race. After seeing this photo, he promptly left for getting a haircut
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Transcreta Race 2006
Aan Domie's BMX is niet veel werk om te monteren
Domie's BMX does not need a lot of work to assemble
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Transcreta Race 2006
Culinaire specialiteiten uitproberen (eigenlijk gewoon the vreetzak uithangen)
Trying culinary specialties
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Transcreta Race 2006
Ook het hotelzwembad werd getest en goed bevonden
Also the hotel pool was tested and found to be ok
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Transcreta Race 2006
Kissamos heeft het meeste klare zeewater van heel Kreta
Kissamos has the most clear seawater from Crete
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Transcreta Race 2006
Eerste kennismaking met Kretenzische offroad wegen, heel veel mogelijkheden voor lekke banden !
First test on Cretan gravel roads, many opportunities for flats !
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Transcreta Race 2006
Reevax klaar voor de start in Kissamos
Reevax ready for the start in Kissamos
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Transcreta Race 2006
10 van de 12 deelnemers klaar voor de start
10 of 12 participants ready for the start
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Transcreta Race 2006
Domie over de Kretenzische gravelwegen
Domie over the Cretan gravel roads
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Transcreta Race 2006
Nog snel een schietgebedje voor de laatste klim
A quick prayer for the last climb
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Transcreta Race 2006
En die mag er wezen, 4,5 km over grove gravel en stenen
And that's a tough one, 4,5km over rought gravel and rocks
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Transcreta Race 2006
Domie ziet af vandaag
Domie is suffering today
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Transcreta Race 2006
Start 2de etappe: direct bergaf
STart 2nd stage: immediately downhill
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Transcreta Race 2006
Domie is goed bezig
Domie is doing well
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Transcreta Race 2006
Machtige killem onder een brandende zon
Mighty climbs under a burning sun
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Transcreta Race 2006
Eindeloze slotklim naar Askifou
Endless climb to Askifou
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Transcreta Race 2006
Zonsopgang in Askifou
Sunrise in Askifou
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Transcreta Race 2006
Gunther en Domie
Gunther and Domie
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Transcreta Race 2006
Highway to hell
Highway to hell
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Transcreta Race 2006
Beloning voor een dag afzien
Reward for a day of suffering
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Transcreta Race 2006
Kroki onderwe op het parkoers
Kroki on todays stage
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Transcreta Race 2006
Pepe in de afdaling
Pepe in the descent
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Transcreta Race 2006
Als toetje een supersteile klim
A supersteep climb as dessert
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Transcreta Race 2006
De camping in Axos
Camping in Axos
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Transcreta Race 2006
Kroki's auto na 4 dagen: een klein beetje stof
Kroki's car after 4 days: a little bit of dust
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Transcreta Race 2006
Tre3intje
Uphill train
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Transcreta Race 2006
Domie is gecrasht
Domie has crashed
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Transcreta Race 2006
Kroki zorgt voor een extra bevoorrading
Kroki makes for an additional water station
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Transcreta Race 2006
Nog enkele deelnemers van vorig jaar...
A few participants from last year ...
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Transcreta Race 2006
Groooooote ijscreem als beloning
Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig icecream as a reward
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Transcreta Race 2006
Moeilijke klim langs de kust
Difficult climb along the coast
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Transcreta Race 2006
Droge en stoffige landschappen
Dry and dusty landscapes
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Transcreta Race 2006
Domie's cassette is gebroken
Domie's cassette broke
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Transcreta Race 2006
Stikkapot een beetje schaduw zoeken
Looking for a bit of shade
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Transcreta Race 2006
Veel supporters onderweg
Many supporters on the way
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Transcreta Race 2006
Slecht nieuws: de wedstrijd wordt gestopt
Bad news: the race is stopped
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Transcreta Race 2006
Over de weg naar Agios Nicalaos
Over the road back to Agios Nicolaos
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Transcreta Race 2006
Het Kreta- WC-moment, eindeloos wachten op de plons !
The Kreta toilet-moment: endless waiting for the plunge !
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Transcreta Race 2006
De pijlen waren soms makkelijk te vinden ...
The signs were sometimes easy to find ...
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Transcreta Race 2006
maar mobiele pijlen maakten het dikwijls extra lastig om de juiste weg te vinden!
but mobile signs made it often hard to find the right direction !
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Transcreta Race 2006
Any closer and I'll have you for lunch !
Any closer and I'll have you for lunch !
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Transcreta Race 2006
De residentie van de familie Geit
The residence of the Goat family
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Transcreta Race 2006
De officiele finish-bevoorrading van de organisatie
The officiel finish-catering station of the organisation
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Transcreta Race 2006
De finish-bevoorrading georganiseerd door Sybille en Angelique. Bedankt dames!
The finish-catering organised by Sybille and Angelique. Thanks ladies!
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Transcreta Race 2006
Radek Sibl wordt toch nog tot officieuse winnaar gekroond
Radek Sibl is crowned unofficial winner
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Transcreta Race 2006
De pijnlijke afloop wordt volgens dokter Jan het best verteerd met ...Appeltaart !
The painful end is, according to doctor Jan, best digested with... Apple pie !
