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Bikes of Trans Pyrenees Race 2023
30 September, 2023
This weekend, the 2023 cohort of the TPR will make their way from the shores of the Atlantic in Southwest France, over the Pyreneen watershed three times before reaching the Costa Brava on the Mediterranean and turning round to return to Saint-Jean-de-Luz again. Riders need to route themselves between five control points and a handful of mandatory parcours, but the roads, tracks and paths between are theirs to choose.
For 2023, the race will be approximately 200km longer than 2022, totalling ~1,700km, but has an additional 10,000m of climbing amounting to ~40,000m. For the more adventurous souls, there are a handful of hiking trails that can be used to link up the mandatory sections. This makes this year’s edition hillier than ever and combined with the potential hike-a-bikes, the eternal dilemma of balancing adequate equipment and weight will be more critical than ever. As Lost Dot claim, this certainly is "one for the grimpeurs".
The race starts at 06:00 (CEST) from Saint-Jean-de-Luz in France's Basque country, don't miss a beat by following veteran racer David Sherrington's commentary here.
Moustafa Fawzy
Name: Moustafa Fawzy
Age: 45
Cap number: 88
Location: London
Bike: Mason Bokeh Ti with SRAM 1x XPLR AXS including Blips for aero shifting. Hunt wheels with a Son Dynamo hub powering Supernova lights.
Key items of kit: Ortleib Saddle Bag, Restrap Frame Bag and Tailfin top tube pack.
Lucas Becker
Name: Lucas Becker
Age: 28
Location: France
Bike: Focus Izalco Max
Key items of kit: Maybe I should bring some hiking shoes? There may be some walking involved. But for sure the sleeping bag and mattress to regain some energy and the Sinewave light to see the cows in the night.
Gendron Florent
Name: Gendron Florent
Age: 37
Location: Bordes, Pyrénées Atlantiques
Bike: BMC SLR01, Shimano Ultegra Di2 avec pneus Michelin Pro 4 endurance en 25mm et roue Fulcrum 38mm.
Key items of kit: Sacoche arrière de Ortlieb, Support de gourdes arrière de type triathlon de marque WOHO model X Touring, Sacoche de tube de Apidura. Lumière avant de marque Klamp et double lumière arrière.
Joost Klarenbeek
Name: Joost Klarenbeek
Age: 31
Cap number: 005
Location: Girona
Bike: Curve Belgie V3, Sram Red/Force Groupset on Zipp 303 Firecrests
Key items of kit: Lights by Exposure, Sleeping system by Sea to Summit, some bits and pieces from Rapha to keep me warm/dry/comfortable and a Tailfin + Apidura frame pack to carry it all. Will add toptube bag for more snack carrying capacity.
Marco Hoeksema
Name: Marco Hoeksema
Age: 42
Location: Appingedam, Netherlands
Bike: Canyon Endurace SF SLX 9 DI2. Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groepset met voor 50/34 en achter 11/34 en de DT Swiss Erc 1100 wielset.
Key items of kit: Ik rij mijn Canyon met een combinatie van Apidura en Restrap tassen. In de 7 ltr zadeltas zit alle regen en koud weer kleding. De Apidura racing frametas is voor de elektronica en persoonlijke verzorgingsmiddelen. Restrap top tube tas is voor het stallen van o.a. snacks. De Garmin 1040 solar wijst mij de weg. Verlichting van Exposure, o.a. Blaze en Diablo. Erg blij ben ik met de specialized Stix back up verlichting en Apidura draagbare musset.
Rob Gardiner
Name: Rob Gardiner
Age: 34
Cap number: 135
Location: Cotswolds, UK
Bike: Vitus ZX-1 and Zolla 40mm Kyiv wheels with tubeless 28mm Continental GP5000S tyres. Shimano 105 hydraulic groupset with 50/34 crankset and 11-34 cassette. SPD pedals for obvious reasons...
Key items of kit: A Tailfin combined with top tube and frame bags. Also a couple of feed pouches, which can together carry about 12 hours' worth of sweets, possibly more at a push!
Russell Kesley
Name: Russell Kesley
Age: 53
Cap number: 120, I think :)
Location: South East London
Bike: Passoni TopForce
Key items of kit: Apidura bags when the straps work, top tube and saddle, Restrap straps. Sleep as much as you can in luxury. Tubes, food pouches x 2, legs + spare set x 2, lungs x 1 pair. Lucky item : ice cream store locator on satnav.
Jasper Veeckman
Name: Jasper Veeckman
Age: 35
Location: Ghent, Belgium
Bike: Kona Rove LTD, Shimano GRX 31/48 Crankset with 11/40 cassette. SP Hub dynamo with Supernova Lights.
Key items of kit: Topeak framebag, Topeak saddle bag (not in picture) Topeak toptube bag and Vaude Handlebar bag. I never leave for a ride without my 2 pink bottles from muc-off ;)
Mark Chandler
Name: Mark Chandler
Age: 50
Cap number: 78
Location: London
Bike: Look 795 Blade RS
Key items of kit: Marmalade sandwiches 🥪😋
Mike Smith
Name: Mike Smith
Age: 40
Cap number: 52
Location: Manchester, UK
Bike: 2019 Fairlight Secan, Shimano Ultegra/GRX Di2 groupset, Hunt Superdura Dynamo Wheelset, Continental 5000TL 32mm tyres (to be added).
Key items of kit: Tailfin rack and top tube bags, Restrap Frame Bag, Redshift Suspension Stem, Profile Design Aero bars on 40mm risers, Supernova Dynamo front & rear lights.
Florent De Boisvilliers
Name: Florent De Boisvilliers
Age: 43
Cap number: 103
Location: Bordeaux, France
Bike: Origine Axxome II 350, Shimano Ultegra 50/34 x 11-34, Ksyrium SL, Continental GP5000 tyres, Garmin Rally RS200 pedals and Garmin Edge 1040 solar.
Key items of kit: Bags: Ortlieb Seat-Pack 11l, Apidura Expedition Frame Pack, Riverside Food pouch.
Lights: Klamp EXR1600 (front), Lezyne Zecto Drive max (rear) and Lezyne Femto USB Drive (rear).
Dean Ansell
Name: Dean Ansell
Age: 45
Cap number: 77
Location: Pambula Beach, Australia
Bike: Fairlight Strael 3.0, Ultegra Shimano Di2 12sp (50/34 with 11/36 105 cassette), Hope wheelset with SON dynamo, Continental GP5000 32mm, Selle SMP VT20C saddle, Garmin Rally pedals
Key items of kit: Tailfin Aeropack and top tube bag, Apidura racing frame pack, SON front and rear lights, Garmin Varia rear light, Exposure Joystick front light, Garmin 840 solar, sleeping mat and bag, emergency bivvy.
Tobias Johansson
Name: Tobias Johansson
Age: 48
Cap number: 90
Location: Laholm, Sweden
Bike: I will ride my Wilier Rave SLR equipped with a Shimano Ultegra Di2 12 speed groupset, 50/34 and 11-34. For tyres I'll go with Vittoria Corsa G2,0 and they sit on a wheelset from Carl Z. Handlebar comes from Prime, aero bar from Deda and saddle is Spyd 3,0 from Repente.
Key items of kit: Bags are Wilier branded from Miss Grape. For navigation I'll rely on Wahoo Elemnt Bolt. Light is Magicshine. Sleeping gear: Sea to Summit.
Jon Regler
Name: Jon Regler
Age: 48
Cap number: 008
Location: Dorset, UK
Bike: Olive; she's a Cannondale Topstone 4 Carbon, "Standard issue".
Key items of kit: Restrap aero-bar, frame and saddle bag. Tailfin toptube bag and cargo-cage with small pannier on forks. OMM pouch for bonus snacks. Garmin Edge 1030 Plus and a Beeline Velo 2 for navigation. Trusty iPhone. Inov-8 trail running vest with 2x soft flasks for additional hydration. Alpkit bivvy + mat + Mountain Hardware sleeping bag. Tools, spares, 2 x sets lights, 2 x powerbanks + fast charger.
Koen de Weerdt
Name: Koen de Weerdt
Age: 42
Cap number: 108
Location: Belgium, Antwerp, Schriek
Bike: Ridley Kanzo A, Shimano 105 with 34/48 x 12-34t.
Key items of kit: Orlieb handle bar bag, Orlieb top tube bag and Renegade saddle bag.
Andrew Garrison
Name: Andrew Garrison
Age: 31
Cap number: 38
Location: Chester, UK
Bike: Sonder Camino Al, GRX, Sonder Alpha Wheels.
Key items of kit: Alpkit saddle bag and cockpit pouch enhanced with Voile Straps. Borrowed Wilier frame bag. Running battery packs, Ravemen front light and head torch. Alpkit Hunka Bivy and mat. Continental GP5000 AS TR tyres 35 mm with Pirelli Cinturato smartube.
Nahuel Passerat
Name: Nahuel Passerat
Age: 38
Cap number: 131B
Location: Ariège, France
Bike: Factor LS
Key items of kit: Roue MaKadamm Gravax 31 dynamo. Pneu Continental AS TR 700x32mm.
Josep Mari Cabanas Coma
Name: Josep Mari Cabanas Coma
Age: 51
Cap number: 107
Location: Masies de Voltregà (SPAIN)
Bike: My bike for the TPRNo3 is a Niner RTL9 Steel. It's got GRX groupset with double crankset (gear combination 48-31T and 11-34 D) I bring whels DT SWIS 1600 with continetal tires Grand Prix 4 Season 32x700 and the front weel with a SON dynamo hub.
Key items of kit: BAGS: for the handlebar I bring the Vap Butterfly 3 suport with a bag Ortlieb Dry-Bag 7L and a bag Race Stem Bag of Restrap, for frame I bring two Apidura bags, an Expedition Top Tube pack 1L and an Expedition Frame Pack 4,5L, for rear I bring a bag Race Saddle bag 7L of Restrap.
Lights: The Supernova lights, front Airstream 2 and rear Airstream Tail Light 2.
Ayoub Sahli
Name: Ayoub Sahli
Age: 29
Cap number: 043
Location: Paris, FRANCE
Bike: - Bike: Canyon Aeroad SLX 8.0 Di2, 2023, Stealth. Wheels: DT Swiss ATRC Dicut 1400 58mm deep on the rear Wheel rear and Light Bicycle with SONDelux hub dynamo front. On both wheels I'll be running 32mm tyres (yeah we do love a bit of gravel, or even hike&bike, at LostDot ^^)
Why the Stealth color: other riders won't see me coming 😈. Jokes aside, I will be having some reflective tape all over moving parts of the bike. Safety first you know ;)
Key items of kit: Apidura Racing packs: 7L Saddle, 1L Top tube and 2.4 Frame and Canyon 2L handlebar bag. Miscellaneous: For navigation I'll be using Hammerhead Karoo 2 head unit. Sinewave Beacon + Exposure Red-Eye for lights.Down jacket as the Pyrenees are a cold place to cycle this time of the year. Sinewave Beacon as I am a cyclist who uses A LOT his phone camera to catch the moments, so having an energy source is key for me.
Micha Mayer
Name: Micha Mayer
Age: 34
Cap number: 67
Location: Germany
Bike: Cube Nuroad with Shimano 11x GRX (46/30 Front - 42/10 Back), Shimano One 32mm Tubeless Tires.
Key items of kit: Ortlieb Seat-Pack for Sleeping Bag, Bivy and Clothes, Apidura Aerobar Pack for Food/Electronic Storage, Garmin Edge 1040 Solar, Sigma Lights and Lupine Piko Headlamp.
Richard Sidney
Name: Richard Sidney
Age: 49
Cap number: 130
Location: Duns, Scotland
Bike: Fairlight Strael 3.0, Shimano 105 Di2, Hunt Carbon 50 Wheels with GP5000 28mm & Tubes. Ergon SL pro saddle.
Key items of kit: Apidura race bags. Garmin Edge 830 for Navigation. No sleep system as will be staying in hotels. Lezyne Macro drive for lighting.
Christian van Rens
Name: Christian van Rens
Age: 41
Cap number: 123
Location: Cologne, Bergisches Land, Germany
Bike: FAIRLIGHT SECAN 2.5. SRAM Rival 46/33 x 10-36t. Duke Worldrunner wheels with Chris King Hubs, Vittoria Corsa Control 34mm. Profile Designs Aero Bars, Beast Ultrabar Fizik Saddle and some Thompson parts.
Key items of kit: Mix of Apidura; Custom Baby Legs Bags and Wizard works. Wahoo Bolt & Backup; Smartphone with Fidlock phone mount. Western Mountaineering HighLite, Exped mat and Mountain Equipment bivy. Lupine Piko, Lupine Penta, Lupine Rotlicht.
Vaughan Allison
Name: Vaughan Allison
Age: 59
Cap number: 58
Location: Boulder, Colorado, USA
Bike: Vitus Energie 2020 Crossbike fitted with SRAM Force eTap. Crank Rings 48/30 Cassette 36/10. Wheels Hunt Alloy Gravel Rims, Shod With 32Mm Specialized Pathfinder Pro 2Bliss Gravel Tire.
Key Items Of Kit: Saddle Bag: Black Burn 7L Harness and Removal Drybag, Frame Bag: Alptour 2L. Top Bar Bag: Topeak (Small For Tools). Handlebar Bag: Topeak 5L Harness And Removal Drubag.
2 Fullsets Front And Rear Lezyn Re-Chargeable Lights Approx 1000 1 Set Of Small Specilzed Lifts For Day Running Head Lamp.
Ruben Platte
Name: Ruben Platte
Age: 28
Cap number: 126
Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Bike: Canyon Endurace CF8
Key items of kit: I’m using Apidura bags and a hydration vest. Saddle bag contains a lightweight bivvy setup. Top tube bag and snack pouch are empty so lots of room for food. 32mm Conti tyres for comfort and confidence on the gravel sections. And I’ve brought hiking sandals and a DIY hike-a-bike strap to avoid banned tunnels…
Christian Müller
Name: Christian Müller
Age: 35
Cap number: 80
Location: Düsseldorf, Germany
Bike: Rose XLite Six with Shimano GRX 800 46/30, 11-32 for the climbing bit.
Key items of kit: Apidura top tube + saddle bag, small backpack / hydration bladder, running shoes for potential hike-a-bikes.
Vincent Gauvin
Name: Vincent Gauvin
Age: 31
Cap number: 22
Location: Quebec, Canada
Bike: Parlee Altum disc, Zipp 303 wheelset, Continental GP5000 28mm, Shimano Ultegra Di2, 50-34 crank and using a Wolftooth RoadLink for à 11-42 casette.
Key items of kit: Tailfin rear bag, Bontrager frame bag for food & electronics, Tool bag attached under the Tailfin frame.
Lights: Garmin Varia in the back, Garmin varia in the front + Magic Shine RN3000
Sleeping: Emergency bivy, but plan to sleep in hotel
Lucky item: a picture taped on my top tube.
Rob Hyde
Name: Rob Hyde
Age: 45
Cap number: 124
Location: London
Bike: Mason Bokeh
Key items of kit: Arkane wheelset with SON dynamo, 46-30 chainrings for the mountains, rear red reflector from my daughter's bike!
Juan Miri
Name: Juan Miri
Age: 46
Cap number: 93
Location: Paris
Bike: Cannondale SuperSix Evo HM, Shimano Ultegra, Hunt Race Aerowide Aluminum wheels, Profile Design bars, Enve Components and Challenge Strada Bianca Pro tyres.
Key items of kit: Apidura bags.
