Q&A with TCRNo5 Winner, Melissa Pritchard

Melissa Pritchard is no stranger to long-distance cycling (she did spend almost 2 years riding 33,000km 'The Loong Way Home' around the world, after all). But in 2017 she added some speed to her adventures, and entered her first ultra-distance bike race; TCRNo5. Not only did she finish, but Melissa won the women's race altogether.

Although she won't be racing this year, Melissa will be volunteering at the start in Geraardsbergen, and despite all there is to do, managed to find some time to speak to us as well. Here, she talks of her experiences riding last year, and what's in store for this year's crop of riders at TCRNo6.

Photography: Kristian Pletten

What first attracted you to the TCR?

What enticed me most about the TCR is the fact that it sounded impossible. Upon learning about this race, I asked myself; Can I really do something like this? Is my body physically capable of such a challenge? I feared I couldn’t, so - as with anything that poses a threat to me in my life - I decided to confront it in order to overcome it. I soon found myself filling out the application in October of 2016. Determined not to fail, I had to know the answer myself.

What makes it such a unique experience?

The TCR is a unique experience because no two racers take the same course, nor is the route the same from year to year. Each and every participant has to find the route that best suits them, and this can even change during the race. As a result, there is a lot of pre-race logistics that don’t exist in other self-supported races. During the TCR participants can alter their route, and make last minute changes in order to be more competitive and adapt to their situation in any given moment. As a dot watcher, which I found myself doing occasionally even while racing, it is exciting and motivating to see the slew of dots cross Europe. You not only have to be physically stronger than your competitors, but you have execute precision and good judgement on the road at each and every moment.

What will riders be thinking and feeling during this week preceding the start?

The anxiety will definitely accumulate during the week prior to the race. While your list of things to prepare for the race should decrease, many times there are a lot of little logistical items that need attention, making the last week stressful - especially if riders need to travel long distances to reach the start line in Belgium. Racers will probably also be double checking their route, making sure they have all of it traced and successfully saved to their devices. Then of course there's all the gear, which riders will be making sure is set and ready to go.

What do you think of the route and Checkpoints this year?

What makes the TCR so unique is that that route changes from year to year. Last year all the checkpoints were on paved roads, although with some of the road conditions, you could barely say they were roads. This year there is a checkpoint on a gravel road, which Mike (Hall) was fond of. The race heads further north than last year, but not as far east, passing through Poland and The Czech Republic - two new countries this year. There is still a good portion of the race in the Balkans, making for more challenges considering road surfaces as well as food options.

Who do you think are the riders to watch?

I have to admit, I have been a bit disconected following the preparation of this years race and stalking the riders. I was more interested in that last year when I was competing. Of course James (Hayden, 1st 2017) and Bjorn (Lenhard, 2nd 2017) will put on a good show for us all, but watch out for Alexandre Bourgeonnier, who came in second in 2015 and then scratched in 2016. I have to admit, I don’t know much about the women’s race. There is one returning female, Caroline Item, and Svenja Schrade, who volunteered at CP3 last year arriving by bike, and seemed quite tuned in to observing the racers in the hope of participating herself at some point. There seems to be several pairs who are couples too, and considering last year's pairs, husband and wife combinations make for strong riders in this category. It's going to be fun seeing who ends up out front!

You’re going to be volunteering at the start in Geraardsbergen. Why was that important to you?

It was out of the question to participate this year (I got pregnant just after the race last year and gave birth in May), but my partner and I are keen on being there at the start to see familiar faces, cheer on the racers, and give back to the organization. It will be good fun and interesting to be on “this side of the race” this year.

Melissa will be appearing alongside James Hayden and Bjorn Lenhard in a Q&A in Geraardsbergen on Saturday 28th July, the day before the 2018 race starts. "Whether you are one of the racers, a friend, family, volunteer, dot watcher or spectator," say the TCR organisers, "we hope you'll join us."