TransCreta Race

Organiser broke, race cancelled !

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Organiser broke, race cancelled !

7h10 AM
For the first time this week it is chilly this morning and there are a few clouds in the sky. A sign? Everywhere in our tent is packing material of yoghurt, chips and cakes, leftovers from last minute shopping by Kroki yesterday evening in an attempt to make our growling stomachs silent. The right rear tire of Kroki’s jeep is as flat as can be. Unloading everything from the jeep to find the right tools to put the spare tire on.

7h25AM
the van picks us up and brings us a few kilometers further for breakfast.

7h30AM
Breakfast is not ready yet. Last night the father of the restaurant owner died, but they are doing there best to arrange evrything. Like so many times the accompanying persons help a hand. Breakfast as such is plenty and we even eat a bit too much.

8h50 AM
Transfer with the van to the start. Our bikes, yesterday left unguarded here, are luckily still there. They told us nothing could happen.

8h55AM
Kroki quickly puts some oil on our chains (no time yesterday) while we prepare eveythingto start.
“Shit!”, myh startnumber has dissappeared from my bike. It was a bit worn out during the past days, but I know that nr 101 was still on the bike yesterday evening.
Double shit! Also my brand new, 350 eruro HAC-4 tacho with altitude and heartbeat meter has disappeared, including handlebar mount. I mention it to the organisation, but a few surprised looks is all I get. Since yesterday evening the atmosphere has changed and everybody is a bit aimless. Everywhere are little groups of riders talking and the race enthousiasm seems far away. But we still have to bike as we have 3 more stages to go and for this very though stage it is more then time that the hit the pedals.

9h12 AM
The crew calls all riders together in one of the white alleys of the pittoresk mountain village for an announcement. Organiser Marcus asks the word and then it becomes painfully quiet:
“ I just got a phone call from the bank that all my credit is used. There is no more money and I have no other option then to cancel this Transcreta Race at this very moment. You can ride the 43 km to the finish point in Agios Nicolaos over the road. We will drop off your luggage and make hotel reservations, everythingon own expenses however.” Despite the earlier rumours there is a shock wave through the group and everybody is nailed to the ground.

No 7th, 8th and 9th stage.
No winner on the podium.
No finisher party in Agios Nicolaos.
No boat trip in the bay.
No hotel nights in the beautiful town.
No more breakfast or dinners.
No happy end.

Everything where everybody has lived to, where everybody dreamed about, where everybody paid for is suddenly swept of the table. I can’t help it, but a tear of dissappionted rolls from under my dark Evil-Eye sunglasses. Next to the sportive, there is also the financial hangover, for which the only hope is the annulation insurance of the organiser.

What an anti-climax after an extremely though, but fun week of adventurous mountainbiking through magnificent Crete. After a Nescafe we ride over asphalt to agios Nicolaos where we will stay in a simple hotel. With Marcus’ help some try to rearrange their return flights while the crew arranges an evening closing dinner.

Reevax now goes to grab a a bite to eat and drink a good glass of Retsina wine, and try to make the best out of the next days.

Pepe

Stage Info – What the organizer says

Distance: 124 km
Ascent: 3850 m

 

Results

Stage result

  Heren  
1    
  Paelinck Peter  
  Sacre Dominiek  

General classification

  Heren  
1    
  Paelinck Peter  
  Sacre Dominiek  

complete results

vorig verslagetappe overzichtvolgend verslag

Foto album

Transcreta Race 2006

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Vechten om de bike in de fietstas te krijgen
    Fighting to get the bike in the bag

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Afscheid nemen van de supporters thuis
    Saying goodbye to the supporters at home

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Reevax gepakt en gezakt in de luchthaven van Luik
    Reevax ready to go at the airport of Luik

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Wachten op het transport naar Kissamos
    Waiting for the transport to Kissamos

  • 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

  • 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

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Culinaire specialiteiten uitproberen (eigenlijk gewoon the vreetzak uithangen)
    Trying culinary specialties

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Ook het hotelzwembad werd getest en goed bevonden
    Also the hotel pool was tested and found to be ok

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Kissamos heeft het meeste klare zeewater van heel Kreta
    Kissamos has the most clear seawater from Crete

  • 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 !

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Reevax klaar voor de start in Kissamos
    Reevax ready for the start in Kissamos

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    10 van de 12 deelnemers klaar voor de start
    10 of 12 participants ready for the start

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Domie over de Kretenzische gravelwegen
    Domie over the Cretan gravel roads

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Nog snel een schietgebedje voor de laatste klim
    A quick prayer for the last climb

  • 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

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Domie ziet af vandaag
    Domie is suffering today

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Start 2de etappe: direct bergaf
    STart 2nd stage: immediately downhill

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Domie is goed bezig
    Domie is doing well

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Machtige killem onder een brandende zon
    Mighty climbs under a burning sun

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Eindeloze slotklim naar Askifou
    Endless climb to Askifou

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Zonsopgang in Askifou
    Sunrise in Askifou

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Gunther en Domie
    Gunther and Domie

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Highway to hell
    Highway to hell

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Beloning voor een dag afzien
    Reward for a day of suffering

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Kroki onderwe op het parkoers
    Kroki on todays stage

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Pepe in de afdaling
    Pepe in the descent

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Als toetje een supersteile klim
    A supersteep climb as dessert

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    De camping in Axos
    Camping in Axos

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Kroki's auto na 4 dagen: een klein beetje stof
    Kroki's car after 4 days: a little bit of dust

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Tre3intje
    Uphill train

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Domie is gecrasht
    Domie has crashed

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Kroki zorgt voor een extra bevoorrading
    Kroki makes for an additional water station

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Nog enkele deelnemers van vorig jaar...
    A few participants from last year ...

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Groooooote ijscreem als beloning
    Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig icecream as a reward

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Moeilijke klim langs de kust
    Difficult climb along the coast

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Droge en stoffige landschappen
    Dry and dusty landscapes

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Domie's cassette is gebroken
    Domie's cassette broke

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Stikkapot een beetje schaduw zoeken
    Looking for a bit of shade

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Veel supporters onderweg
    Many supporters on the way

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Slecht nieuws: de wedstrijd wordt gestopt
    Bad news: the race is stopped

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Over de weg naar Agios Nicalaos
    Over the road back to Agios Nicolaos

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Het Kreta- WC-moment, eindeloos wachten op de plons !
    The Kreta toilet-moment: endless waiting for the plunge !

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    De pijlen waren soms makkelijk te vinden ...
    The signs were sometimes easy to find ...

  • 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 !

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Any closer and I'll have you for lunch !
    Any closer and I'll have you for lunch !

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    De residentie van de familie Geit
    The residence of the Goat family

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    De officiele finish-bevoorrading van de organisatie
    The officiel finish-catering station of the organisation

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    De finish-bevoorrading georganiseerd door Sybille en Angelique. Bedankt dames!
    The finish-catering organised by Sybille and Angelique. Thanks ladies!

  • Transcreta Race 2006

    Radek Sibl wordt toch nog tot officieuse winnaar gekroond
    Radek Sibl is crowned unofficial winner

  • 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 !