Singletrack/MTB
Gravel/All-road
Dirt-road Touring
Fat-bike
Robin Gemperle was the first to finish the 2024 Transcontinental Race yesterday, riding more than 4,000 kilometers in just 8 days, 23 hours, and 59 minutes. Find photos from his ride and a statement from Lost Dot, the organizers of the event, here…
Photos by Tomás Montes and Michael Drummond
Ultra-endurance athlete Robin Gemperle of Switzerland is no stranger to bike racing. He got into cross-country mountain biking at a young age, eventually working his way up to World Cup racing with Swiss National and Scott-SRAM teams, and left professional racing when he was just 20. 2023 was a big year for Robin, completing the Hope 1000, The Transcontinental Race, Badlands, and winning the Atlas Mountain Race. And at just 26 years old, he apparently has no plans to slow down.
Yesterday, Robin took first place at the 2024 Transcontinental Race No.10 (TCR), completing the roughly 4,000-kilometer race across Europe in 8 days, 23 hours, and 59 minutes. Each year, the race location changes, and participants are free to choose their own route between the mandatory checkpoints, which brings an interesting angle to the race. 330 riders of over 40 nationalities are participating in this year’s TCR, making it one of the most well-attended ultra-endurance races. Lost Dot, the event organizer, put together a statement summarizing Robin’s win, which you can read below.
“A deserved victory, Robin triumphs as the winner of the 10th edition of the Transcontinental Race, the first of over 300 riders to reach Istanbul. Robin has executed a tenacious yet disciplined ride, blending his characteristic playful enthusiasm with an increasingly mature and experienced race strategy. This unique blend has seen him lead the field for the entirety of the Race with unwavering perseverance. As the first rider to every Control Point, Robin has exhibited determination in the face of difficulty and a calm, level-headed temperament throughout the physical and mental peaks and valleys of his chosen route. Mike Hall said that the most prepared are the most successful, and at every turn Robin has shown the attention to detail necessary to be the first to the Finish.
We are delighted to see Robin take the win after last year’s hard-fought contest across the continent led him to finish in second place on TCRNo9’s podium, six hours behind winner Christoph Strasser (001), in a passionate Race that clearly left him with unfinished business. Just four days ago, he told us that his three TCR experiences amounted to “an experiment, a defeat, and now hopefully the win.” This commitment to the long game makes Robin an excellent Transcontinental Race ambassador and rider. He displays a mindful Race spirit that honors the roots and ethos of Lost Dot and the self-supported racing community, representing the sport with respect and panache.”
Congrats to Robin and everyone participating in this year’s event. There are still hundreds of riders out riding. You can follow their progress along live on the event page here.
Further Reading
Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info...
Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed.
