Day 7 - It's party time!

Day 6 - The Women's Podium

Day 5 - The Race is Far from Over

Day 4 - We have a winner!

Day 3 - The race unfolds

Day 2 - We have a new leader!

Day 2 - A new dawn

Day 1 - Evening recap

Day 1 - The dots are moving

Registration and Bikes

Philipp Hanneck

Benjamin Koch

Jędrzej Gąsiorowski

Samuele  Tonello

Krystian Jakubek

Michał Wolff

Paweł Pieczka

Paweł Miłkowski

Tobias Stark

Piotr Gdowski

Thomas Schlatter

Tomasz Madzia

Tomas Rongen

Michał Makowski

Dawid Stanek

Julian Klose

Paweł Wszołkowski

Adrian Żółkiewicz

Dion Gerrits

Stefan Sirkiä

Vojtěch Jírovec

Michał Więcki

Piotr  Garnek

Marek Skýva

Wojciech  Gawliczek

Tomas Kovacs

Radek Wierzbinski

Thomas Schriefer

Joanna Rumińska-Pietrzyk

Piotr Skweres

Thomas Achtner

Viktorija Tomaseviciene

Evelyn Weiss

Bartosz Świderski

Markus Scheidt

Maciej  Cegiełła

Rafał  Wanat

Piotr Stęplewski

Marcin Zielkowski

Maciej Baranowski

Christoph Götz

Marcin  Wiktorowicz

Łukasz Bąk

Tomasz Kuś

Krzysztof Bujak

Krzysztof Sienkiewicz

Patrycja Drzewiecka

Anton Lasy

Marta Gryczko

Dariusz Matysiak

Justyna Jarczok

Fleur Cornelissen

Rafał Fałowski

Łukasz Zieliński

Marcin Kabała

Katarzyna Kozłowska

Gerold Lehmann

Maja Naumczyk

Paddy Dunne

Björn Lenhard

Łukasz Tarnawski

Rafał Dziadek

Grzegorz  Chłopek

Łukasz  Tasz

Morten Kjærsgaard

Dmytro Neporozhnii

Martin Mort Haubold

Matias Görlitz

Claudia  Decker

Clemens Groß

Richard Bent

Sylwia Kuropatwa

Maciej Mazurczak

Carolyn O'Dwyer

Stefan Kiełbasiewicz

Piotr Baranowski

Krzysztof  Nowak

Piotr Malczyński

Witold  Kania

Henry Compson

Media #1

Simon Epperlein

Michael Farbrace

Oliver Ball

Bartłomiej  Kozłowski

Michał  Orchulski

Nicolas Regel

Maciej Żabski

Bolesław Kowalski

Christian Jung

Thomas Horre

![Beskids](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6OrmT76DXD7vbdqDa2BtFi/a91607c3d1d3f17fdc350f847c2a2039/Beskids.jpg)
Our Dotwatcher map of RTPL#6 is slowly emptying with over 50 riders having crossed the finish line already! The dots are now all clustered around the finish line and only a few riders are left fighting on the roads around the Beskid Mountains.  This afternoon at 2pm the last CP4 closed and (almost) all riders reached it in time to get the penultimate stamp on their Brevet Card. From there onwards, it's the final 100km along the finish course to the finish line! It looks like all riders will make it in time, which is great news!
![BIMA2839](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/46UwJUzBtHbsza3VdGSlw0/638dff2aade63bf2f24d9fae23080421/BIMA2839.jpg)

![Winning Pair](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6L8IldM13NlChkAwrW8f7L/98882a1aabb6c5bf167367f6a0326dfb/Winning_Pair.jpg)
Meanwhile, our first pair __#222a Michael Farbrace__ and __#222b Oliver Ball__ have also made it to the finish. The two Brits took a total of 6 days, 9 hours and 32 minutes! Congratulations to both of you on winning the pair category!
![BIMA2683](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5ueYd8txzQ8xafjIO6irPJ/a2c520c7f6fc4049152107f2a533845e/BIMA2683.jpg)![Proud Patrycja](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5NNcusUBqOo9QI4UFHa6mx/d0c4162c71db4f7be7afb890900ecc99/Proud_Patrycja.jpg)

There have been many beautiful and emotional scenes at the finish line in Radocycna over the past few days and hours. Happy but exhausted, the remaining riders arrive at the finish line to the applause of their fellow riders. They receive the obligatory hug from Piko, and some are even awaited by friends and family who have travelled all the way to the finish line just to witness the moment of arrival.
![Hugs](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6XIiLT7kSrXCVvBbH1HejH/f9e67ff9654ab626af3912fbe2cebfcc/Hugs.jpg)

![Family](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5fA3w5iDydAXkAubX6MqFq/f9cdef43f9ef58bb5cd1bfbf68f9044e/Family.jpg)

Each rider can look back with pride at what they have achieved. They can look back with pride on the wonderful, but sometimes demanding and exhausting days full of unforgettable experiences, with pain and fatigue as their constant companions. Many smiling faces and a few tears of joy testify to the pride of what has been achieved, but also to the relief that it is over for now.
![Friends](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5GWinlPPMzo3rSLB2GMvd2/304810055f080a24c0686aa986cb3356/Friends.jpg)![Marta](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5A2LphlxBnm3NaDTRBD6Sq/897115564adfcb02b21b5ccfe6163af2/Marta.JPG)
After days on the road, other things suddenly take centre stage for the arriving riders: a proper and healthy meal and certainly no 7Days croissants, Haribo or Snickers. A cold beer, a long hot shower, a cosy bed and enough sleep, or simply letting your legs dangle and doing nothing. 
![Relaxing](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5OhwPcQiWscMHaAmJ3l8IH/75ef7c463cce15bef38fb26042fac0c8/Realxing.jpg)

Other riders who have been at the finish line for a while were talking about their experiences on the road, discussing route variations, laughing about failures and great moments, talking shop about equipment and technology, but also went to wash the smelly laundry and clean the bike thoroughly. Finally, everyone can sunbathe comfortably on the grass and take a nap without the fear of being overtaken. What a relief!
![Clothes](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3t4EUm3BapPEmSPhifhTCE/f9202f8742c6a7b3d11ef55ebf082ec3/Clothes.jpg)

The atmosphere and weather in Radocyna is great and everyone is looking forward to the finishers' party tonight! On top to bonfire, barbecue, beer and Kofola on tap, there will be an awards ceremony and Piko will be honouring the great performances of all the riders.  And of course, as always, the prizes will be awarded at the closing ceremony. However, unlike many other sports, it is not the fastest rider who will be awarded - on the contrary, the last riders (male and female) to cross the finish line before midnight tonight will receive the 'Black Bib Award'. Once again, this is to emphasise that ultracycling is not just about fast times and positions, but that all riders will be honoured, and that the adventure itself and pushing personal limits is an essential part of the sport. 

You are all winners! Enjoy the party and celebrate yourself!
![BIMA2399](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1cZNQNkzFP1HQqKfR4Xp2i/da0e2f858d887704b77b74dbd8e439de/BIMA2399.jpg)
![BIMA2866](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/715wXMWGRofiFMCEXznf2L/944a8ebbe8b6a5d268c251b4cea0e6c6/BIMA2866.jpg)

Photos: [Mateusz Birecki](https://www.instagram.com/birecki.photos/), [Tadek Ciechanowski](https://www.instagram.com/tadekciechanowski/)
and [Adrian Crapciu](https://www.instagram.com/adriancrapciu/) 

Text: [Bastian Schneider](https://www.instagram.com/tsunamibasti/)

Alright, dotwatchers, this morning we have a special update: First women rider home!

![Winner](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/7o4rSN6LeF4CtKpC5fCdoP/558d59765b2e1c7d58aec3c23049f77c/ADR06221.jpg)

After 4 days, 19 hours, and 19 minutes, __#3 Joanna Rumińska-Pietrzyk__ has crossed the finish line! What a ride she had. Despite facing early setbacks with lost lights and water bottles on the first night, and mechanical issues mid-race, she powered through and reached the finish line just before midnight last night. With this incredible resilience, we can tentatively crown Joanna as the Race Through Poland No.6 Women's race winner! Tentatively, because Piko and his team still need to verify that all riders have adhered to the route rules. But Joanna is a seasoned RTPL veteran, and it would be surprising if there were any last-minute changes.

![Viktorija](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/CHTiVcx7NC9xFnP88VeSU/b28a4f59945e45cc0fa51de6ebf0d5da/BIMA2122.jpg)

Following her, __#8 Viktorija Tomaseviciene__ arrived this morning at 5:30 AM. What a night that must have been. She took a few hours' rest at Checkpoint 4 but otherwise pushed straight through. A truly long final leg! Congratulations!

![Evelyn](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5QB8aSGyPEBKfdcTLz1QQ6/c571416e6519ff71bcb88d91aed5d066/BIMA2133.jpg)

About 1.5 hours later, __#20 Evelyn Weiss__ completed the provisional podium. Starting from CP3 in the night, she caught up with Viktorija at CP4. Between CP4 and the final parcours, Evelyn and Viktorija chose different routes, making for an exciting finish.

Every one of us dotwatchers would love to be at the finish line now to hear your stories!

A quick update for the scratch report from last evening:
__#226b Nicolas Regel__ had to withdraw from the race due to knee problems. This has separated the leading pair. __#226a Simon Epperlein__ continues solo, having passed through CP4. He won't be alone for long, as the finish line is near!

Photos: [Adrian Crapciu](https://www.instagram.com/adriancrapciu/) & [Mateusz Birecki](https://www.instagram.com/birecki.photos/)

Text: [Thorsten Naber](https://www.instagram.com/mouvementmondial/)


Many riders have already crossed the finish line, having raced hard and excitingly at the front. By nightfall, the top 10 were already filled. All those who have arrived can now rest.

![Finish](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6CLSacbPChyPtVXP6upkhp/6b4f871e7879fabe3825d922966ad1bc/ADR05937.jpg)

In ultracycling races, it's always interesting to see the condition in which people arrive. Some managed to sleep well the night before the last stage and show little sign of fatigue. Others have completely worn themselves out, reaching the finish line with their last bit of strength.

Besides the women's race, it's still a race for everyone else on the course, even though some have already finished. The riders currently on the road may be moving slower, but they've been in the saddle for more than four days and remain just as motivated. This deserves respect, and the beauty of this wonderful event is that everyone receives this respect. As soon as one rolls into the finish, they are greeted with applause, the famous hug, and genuine curiosity about their experiences.

![Campfire](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/7a1UDcJ6PWDLhovls04OSF/a0e70f214a9ff5478d6ba96fec5b1c76/ADR06036.jpg)

Radocyna is filling up with people — resting, celebrating, sharing anecdotes. It's beautiful to see everyone gradually gathering here. Even some who scratched will come to share their stories and listen to others. Volunteers, whom riders may have only briefly seen at a checkpoint, are here too, as well as photographers who spent countless hours on the road, sometimes surprising the riders. Shared memories —like remembering a late-night stop at the same 24/7 gas station, or discussing the most brilliant route ideas. 

"Gravel shortcuts aren't always a good idea" applies only during the race; afterward, those unrideable fields, steep slopes, and deep rivers become valuable memories.

What's next? CP3 Krížava was very busy last night, with more than 10 riders spending the night there. Some arrived in the dark, accidentally bypassing the checkpoint and gaining extra altitude. By then, the hut's corridors were already filled with sleeping people. Many found a small piece of carpet to rest as best they could, some right in front of the stairs. Others had it more comfortable with an seperate room, like __#20 Evelyn Weiss__, but she set off again in the middle of the night to tackle the descent westward in the dark. This venture was described by Philipp, the eventual first finisher, beforehand as kamikaze and sketchy.

![CP3 during the night](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1DvRTztQ2WpP3GsZVrNkAl/edde6eaa7604a3b0c3f6392f2bbcdf57/Screenshot_20240529-060152_Instagram.jpg)

This checkpoint remains open for one more night, closing at 10 AM. It looks promising; I am confident that most currently on the way will make it before the cut-off time.

The route to the final checkpoint, Cyrla (open until Friday noon), stretches far to the east, but fingers crossed, it the weather looks good. Apart from a few thunderstorms, the weather has been favorable—little wind and not too hot. These will be beautiful days on the bike! 

But despite the beauty of the route, remember, there are still some tricky sections and steep climbs ahead!

![Steep climbing](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6azYzdqIkCCugqPrN6kE9g/1d5c58686ba74fe31e927660045c6e87/BIMA1921.jpg)

Finally, the short scratch report:

__#32 Grzegorz Chlopek__ had to end the ride due to a knee injury that didn't improve over the last two days.

__#79 Morten Kjærsgaard__ scratched due to stomach issues and overall not the best condition, realizing he wouldn't reach the finish in time. Despite this, he enjoyed the amazing race, the beautiful landscape, the wonderful and tough moments, and the interactions with other riders.

Tomorrow, there will be another update from Bastian Schneider, especially with news about the exciting race for the women's podium!

Photos: [bite.of.me](https://www.instagram.com/bite.of.me/), [Tadek Ciechanowski](https://www.instagram.com/tadekciechanowski/)
and [Adrian Crapciu](https://www.instagram.com/adriancrapciu/) 

Text: [Thorsten Naber](https://www.instagram.com/mouvementmondial/)

Oh, what a drama last night! It's recap time again and we've already got our podium all set up.  
![Hanni the king!](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/f1Dx6fm11buOdZcmRQnFR/81e0b3fd749cdfdd2e9117a732f7f7a8/ADR05745.jpg)

![ADR05771](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/716A4RvUUemRjmIrhM0GJd/e1754124d6d1a8cc5f1a00e8c03f2415/ADR05771.jpg)

Congratulations to __#6 Philipp Hanneck__, who was the first rider to arrive at Radocyna this morning. He finished the race in just 3 days, 4 hours and 5 minutes! What a ride and what a fight! Philipp performed a close to perfect race. He perfectly managed to stay strong and fresh until the very end. Apart from being a strong rider, he showed an absolutely superb management of his physical strength and his energy. Key to his success was probably taking the right amount of time to get proper sleep and food and never to run out of steam completely. It was absolutely fantastic to watch his battle with Benjamin throughout the past two days – they were absolutely dominating the race from the very beginning.

![ADR05877](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/7xOl4RarSraEMiNufuQRzm/29253016c075c8d623c340473919787a/ADR05877.jpg)__# 53 Benjamin Koch__ rode an absolutely brilliant race and fought an electrifying battle with Philipp right from the very beginning. He finished in an absolutely fantastic second place, crossing the finish line after 3 days, 7 hours and 15 minutes. Benjamin was super positive and happy when he arrived, he really enjoyed the special character of this race and was very proud of his performance. The RTPL was his longest race to date and in the end it was just a small little issue that may have cost him victory. 
![The deciding moment](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6eJkQKgxBDP5mvHqwFpe80/4481074a61d501b52766b4105d69c753/Screenshot_20240528_221342.jpg)
He admitted that it was a mistake to try and get through the third and final night without sleep, as he was so exhausted that he started having hallucinations around midnight. Around this time he came across a lighted house and went to ask for a place to sleep, when a friendly man offered him a comfortable bed and even some coffee before he took his much-needed nap. It was at this moment that Phillip was able to overtake him on parcours 4, not far from the finish line. Thanks for the show Benjamin and hopefully have you back next time!

![ADR05901](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4ur75wFcUoLZ059qL4cXQG/3f0d500376573e157ad4d7ac693efa17/ADR05901.jpg)The podium was completed by __#7 Jędrzej Gąsiorowski__, who crossed the finish line after 3 days, 9 hours and 47 minutes! Congratulations Jedrek, amazing job and what a great ride! On his route, he demonstrated some really good planning skills and seemed to be well prepared for gravel sections, bad roads and river crossings - after all, RTPL is still an all-road race and Jędrzej performed superbly!

![ADR05937](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6eCRGMo341DaDApykBMVdD/b54bb5ae34cbd14d197897b117473cfb/ADR05937.jpg)![ADR05921](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/51egXFQL2dgWUTS2hkN419/fd256b4d6f044a97b9fcce29f0307098/ADR05921.jpg)At the moment we have six more riders who have completed the race. __#24 Samuele Tonello__, __#85 Krystian Jakubek__, __#9 Michał Wolff__, __#5 Paweł Pieczka__, __#55 Tobias Stark__ and __#84 Paweł Miłkowski__ were all happyly crossing the finish line and were all getting a hug of Piko.  Congratulations to all of you! Now it is time to enjoy some kofola and get some well-deserved sleep!

![DSC07284-2](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6w0xvoBqtFIzbmQV6aKFAi/e86e57900ef2fb60a8866f6f4ee5515a/DSC07284-2.jpg)![DSC07197](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6w9Vv2lTAMbADsLr2IrRZ9/09d8d50e791fa2a7443f981099cea109/DSC07197.jpg)
The women's race remains a real nail-biter! __#3 Joanna Rumińska-Pietrzyk__ had a rough night. Her bike broke down, and she lost a lot of time fixing it. Then, she had to wait for quite a while for a bike shop to open. This was a golden opportunity for __#8 Viktorija Tomaseviciene__ to pass Joanna. Viktorija was the first woman to reach CP3 after three days, 12 hours and 25 minutes. Joanna followed her just under two hours later. Also, __#20 Evelyn Weiss__ has fired the turbo and is quickly catching up with the two. She just got her stamp on CP3, a mere 50 minutes after Joanna. The situation is really exciting now, as the three leading women are riding just within a few kilometres of each other. It'll be down to clever route planning and good use of remaining strength to decide the final womens ranking.
![DSC07223](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4jzgQkYbdkzXGkVs0YLnZV/342fdc5298a03cf93e4897105e33d702/DSC07223.jpg)
![BIMA1854](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6ocLA8zfad3rjQXjEMupbw/3d4dfc5659763ec4f5a587c94deab4cc/BIMA1854.jpg)

__#226a Simon Epperlein__ and __#226b Nicolas Regel__ have retaken the lead in the Pairs category after the previous leaders unfortunately had to abandon the race. Simon and Nicolas are just starting the third parcours and are moving quickly towards CP3. Our remaining pair contenders, __#222a Michael Farbrace__ and __#222b Oliver Ball__ plus __#228a Bartłomiej Kozłowski__ and __#228b Michał Orchulski__ are almost neck and neck and have just crossed the border back into Slovakia on their way to CP3.
![BIMA1863](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5Z84CwDyKupYEVuowa9sQ6/b9647bbd8b043fb878a9a041287f53f2/BIMA1863.jpg)
![DSC07133](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6L7gv5LsOcRdNmzZv0uqGh/9af52c8917a4da57858bddaa4267940c/DSC07133.jpg)
At the back of the pack, Lantern Rouge __#60 Paddy Dunne__ just arrived at the parcours of CP2, which closes at midnight. It'll be tough going up there to make it on time, but Paddy's shown he's got what it takes before! Ukrainian rider __#22 Dmytro Neporozhnii__ is currently our second rider at the back. He's almost at the top of CP2 and should make it there on time! Keep fighting guys!

__#71 Carolyn O'Dwyer__ had to abandon the race due to saddle sores. She had a lot of fun and enjoyed the riding!

__#34 Rafał Dziadek__ fell on his hip, which forced him to quit. He’s getting some good treatment in the meantime. Get well soon, mate!

__220b Maciej Żabski__ unfortunately had an achilles injury, which prevents him from continuing. His partner __220a  Bolesław Kowalski__ doesn’t want to continue on his own. Yet, they were having a lot of fun and are happy to have participted in RTPL!

__#10 Łukasz Tarnawski__ also had to scratch.

Good night and safe rides everyone!

Tomorrows race day recap will be written by [mouvementmondial](https://www.instagram.com/mouvementmondial/), who is a RTPL veteran himself and knows the race very well!

Photos: [bite.of.me](https://www.instagram.com/bite.of.me/), [Tadek Ciechanowski](https://www.instagram.com/tadekciechanowski/)
and [Adrian Crapciu](https://www.instagram.com/adriancrapciu/) 

Text: [Bastian Schneider](https://www.instagram.com/tsunamibasti/)


Another scorching hot and sunny day in Eastern Europe is coming to an end, and wow, we are already deep in day 3 of the race!
![Beautiful Hungary](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2gwxqR5Q9ZapwBx6g7LWw1/f96285fe31af637c3bb92a81a5a561ad/DSC06804.jpg)
![DSC 0496](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6mcXsv4bZRBBlQrbZg0h5O/41e6cae5c65a52056a19213b6bbd333f/DSC_0496.JPG)

Most of today's race action was unfolded around the Hungarian Mátra Mountains range, on whose highest peak Kékes, CP2 is located. We’ve seen a constant stream of riders navigating along the parcours and making their way up to CP2.
![Hello Friend](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6ZCfWtbV7AdBrzp8H35dRn/c34ec2a9c514e9a15822bc315eebbb0e/DSC06960.jpg)
One rider described the parcours as “a typical Piko Race Through Poland parcours”. We can only guess what that means, but perhaps beautiful landscapes, small, winding but steep roads, stretches of gravel and a CP location with great views? Some of that, for sure. The area is famous for its ancient oak trees, which looked almost magical in the beautiful morning light and cast some welcome shade on the riders during the afternoon. ![DSC06863](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/7yKq0SIiyMZpNyZRsng8YX/8dc0caa1ca6da8b5fa94a7a54988aad5/DSC06863.jpg)
![DSC 0501](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/7AWfV94FuBYmNQDFt5YY1/f2b53e5f2d87506a153fd7994375e66c/DSC_0501.JPG)
On top of that, Kekes is one of Hungary’s most popular tourist attractions, so there were plenty of people to cheer the riders all the way up to the top to make sure everyone got their brevet stamp on time. Many riders also enjoyed the food and cold drinks (Riders favorite: Kofola) waiting for them on top. ![DSC 0586](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/aJ4nRoaWnBAYbCDm40e2U/c09208bf93aee6f747efc8b936dfb527/DSC_0586.JPG)

__#3 Joanna Rumińska-Pietrzyk__ held on to her lead with confidence, becoming the first woman to reach CP2 after 2 days and 41 minutes in the golden morning light! Great job, well done Joanna!![ADR05385](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/7BqX0abCeE86PGzph8bZWN/cd3dce1e570390db607112ef7340e15e/DSC06742.jpg) ![DSC06779](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/68T0YvgHoFDWl67G2ygSIn/de43a5e27cc73989b1fad02fe623e281/DSC06779.jpg)
She was able to extend her lead on the parcours overnight over __#8 Viktorija Tomaseviciene__, who was the second woman to stamp her brevet card a mere 6 hours behind Joanna.
![Viktorija](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1SJdy2W2rTmw9dHewhlVVU/5de9c240eaf7ae7b37381aaf3cbbc569/DSC06921.jpg)
__#20 Evelyn Weiss__ and __#11 Marta Gryczko__ are currently battling it out for third place. They both entered todays parcour to CP2 at almost the same time. Evelyn managed to pull away a little, but the race for the women's podium is far from over.
![Evelyn](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4ziS1KflkjED0mb4I5L28s/0a51e334815f5b09bedd8641219d60d3/DSC_0640.JPG)

The leading pair are still __#220a Bolesław Kowalski__ and __#220b Maciej Żabski__, which reached CP2 after a strong 2 days, 8 hours and 14 minutes ride. For the moment, they have a comfortable lead over the chasing pairs. 
Pair __#226a Simon Epperlein__ and __#226b Nicolas Regel__ have indeed set off for Hungary during the night, but they seem to have lost some time on their chosen route. The pairs __#222a Michael Farbrace__ and __#222b Oliver Ball__ as well as __#228a Bartłomiej Kozłowski__ and __#228b Michał Orchulski__ managed to make up some distance, so there are currently three chasing pairs close together. Also here, the battle for the podium is completely undecided - it remains exciting!
![Bolesław Kowalski and Maciej Żabski](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/63L4GhjAzPWgW5XBUP7H61/5bafc4a291aa0fe52521597725afa7b1/DSC_0569.JPG)

About 200 kilometres north of those scenes, the situation is completely different. There are no breaks for langos and beer here, the riders go full speed to keep up with the very front of the race. Here, in Slovakia, lies the Krížava mountain ridge. The pass collection website [quäldich.de](https://www.quaeldich.de/paesse/martinske-hole/) (German for tortute yourself, what an suitable name!) titles that climb up to Krížava as one of the hardest climbs in Slovakia. Well, I am not suprised that Piko chose that exact mountain as the perfect location of the next CP!

![ADR05385](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3ECfWkYbdsvkynbaLhb9VK/6a57838d3aae6f98b97e922acbe5b191/ADR05385.jpg)
__#43 Benjamin Koch__ was once again the fastest on the way north and up the parcours. He was able to defend his lead and was the first rider to reach CP3 on the summit of Krížava after 2 days, 5 hours and 24 minutes. He rode almost the whole night and only had a 2 hour rest, but he was in a good mood and felt strong. He didn't linger long after getting his stamp and quickly made his way to CP4, with second-placed __#6 Phillipp Hannek__ hot on his heels. The two were able to pull away slightly at the front, with Phillipp arriving around 1.5 hours after Benjamin.![Benjamin](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/SGTFobYQnqakg6IzWZMaU/92a964d543dc62ce4dad329ab1189577/ADR05376.jpg)
![Philipp](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1d7F8cyR9Feic0bduaEsna/5e43e23996150d5f82a7cbc2baea0156/ADR05435-2.jpg)
They were then followed by __#7 Jędrzej Gąsiorowski__, __#24 Samuele Tonello__ and __#5 Paweł Pieczka__, who were still within striking distance of the leading duo. There is a high possibility that once we get up tomorrow, we already have a winner for RTPL#6! Let's stay tuned!

This is where the race could really take shape. It's a dead end at CP3, so this is where a key moment could be decided. The views from the summit are pretty amazing, but there aren't many roads suitable for cycling. In fact, there are only a few steep gravel routes or small hiking trails. ![ADR05503](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/728FBR3344e9N8lmo2CsFJ/42f1df72ad116ccc69d7368eb9486583/ADR05503.jpg)
This means we have to make some important decisions to get to CP4. Should we take the risky, short route or the safe but longer one? So far, all riders opted to take the short but riskier option and found more or less rideable routes down from CP3. Let's see, if other riders will find new options!
![Routes from CP3](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4ZgZLfRqXkAvf2f5x7QkkG/90597b504744d57007deaa67a39b8cda/Routes_from_CP3.png)

The riders need to be careful here, as a mechanical or even a crash can happen quickly on these rocky trails. It's also important to keep an eye on the weather, as rain and mud can make the trails pretty tricky to navigate. A lot of riders encountered muddy dirt roads earlier today, which made some people question their route planning skills already.

One of those riders was __#85 Krystian Jakubek__, who found his bike fully covered in peanutbutter mud. On top of that, he had to deal with more technical difficulties. On the descent from CP2 he first had a puncture at the back, then at the front and then a cut in the sidewall of his tyre. He was able to fix the puncture with his last patch, but lost the contact to the very front. Fortunately, he was able to find a bike shop and replenish his stock of inner tubes and repair kit.![Unlucky Krystian](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6PjQxWu6IpMp9hgrXihzVr/c953c0d6ff04621d5f03dad7eb0fcd80/Unlucky_Krystian.png)

Good news from __#76 Maja Naumczyk__, who managed to get her pedal fixed after having to ride 70km just pedalling on her spindle. She's now heading into Hungary on two feet again!

Today is a big day for __#226a Simon Epperlein__, who climbed a Slovakian mountain pass at 1 a.m. as the first thing he did in his new decade of life. Happy birthday, Simon! Hope you got some cake too! At least he got some dirty feet, as he was spotted carrying his bike across a muddy stream. Hey, better than nothing!![Simon loves his bike](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/7kslZwHLksIZoQGNkuRx0A/0ec64305db777366053eb7165aadb61c/Simon_loves_his_bike.png)

Our Lantern Rouge __#60 Paddy Dunne__ is still going strong and fighting to make it to CP2 before it closes at midnight on Wednesday. He'll be crossing into Hungary soon.

__#6 Philipp Hannek__ is not only lightning fast, he is also a shining example when it comes to dental hygiene. My dear kids, always remember to brush your teeth at least twice a day!
![Philipp cleans teeth](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1XLup40IIlk9x7hxqocW3E/a7f293c1391b915542fda106f5f726f0/Philipp_cleans_teeth.png)

Todays DNF list is pleasingly short:

However, __#70 Richard Bent__ unfortunately fell on his elbow and couldn't continue anymore! Get well soon, Richard!

Just to clarify, I had some wrong information about __#1 Claudia Deckers__  yesterday's scratch, which wasn't due to exhaustion. In fact, Claudia felt great and really enjoyed the race at his point. However, she had a really bad experience in a small village in Slovakia. Some local kids chased her, threw stones at her and attacked her with sticks, which left a really bad feeling in her stomach. 
But she's fine now, on her way to CP3 and CP4, and enjoying her RTPL vacation!

Let’s close this post with this great conclusion by __#69 Anton Lasy__. Good night everyone and ride safely!![Anton is a poet](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/KXQO37ZItJc2StmAFGSwp/7b38cb19311ab225b23f88a1960efa6c/Anton_is_a_poet.png)

Photos: [bite.of.me](https://www.instagram.com/bite.of.me/), [Tadek Ciechanowski](https://www.instagram.com/tadekciechanowski/)
and [Adrian Crapciu](https://www.instagram.com/adriancrapciu/) 

Text: [Bastian Schneider](https://www.instagram.com/tsunamibasti/)


Another long day in the saddle is coming to an end and it was an eventful one!

![ADR04392](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3h3jukHtrnM3ZvxiMFYhXy/e73ae9718d93a2ae2bc31776caab4012/ADR04392.jpg)

Back in Poland, CP1 has just closed its doors. __#60 Paddy Dunne__ was the last rider to collect his well-deserved stamp shortly before the closing time. Great job, Paddy! ![Paddy on his way](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2xC9engVOASnL2PwTYtDG2/b61a3a3af02940e07de6e312ab828c55/Paddy_on_his_way.jpg)
Many thanks to all Volunteres, without your great commitment this race would not be what it is. Thank you for your support, for always looking after the riders and for spreading a good mood even in the middle of the night! Keep it up and enjoy your well-earned sleep!
![Stamps](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/8AmzHIaHojYmvbL8xmmPH/1031d8688fa6a7537062313a48121aeb/Stamps.jpg)

All riders are now on their way to CP2 in Hungary, but before they need to navigate through Slovakia. In my humble opinion, the route to CP2 should actually be more or less straightforward and unambiguous. I was all the more surprised by the numerous creative route options that I would never have thought of!
![Slovakia](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/16j2LQzwaDpSiCMiNJIVrk/9998a846055a33b9238150d2696c4156/Slovakia.JPG)
__#26 Björn Lenhard__ opted for a route which first led him very close to the Ukrainian border and then really far south, just to swing back north last minute to rejoin the main stream of riders. I'm curious if his choice will pay off, but Björn is one of the most experieced riders out there, so I assume he knows what he does! Some people even say, he was just looking for a McDonald's down there 😉
![Björn alone in Hungary](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/DhCzLIRGbP3R40AnvkkJW/c033b10cb7a508d06af8ca5ab2673a00/Bj_rn_alone_in_Hungary.jpg)

A completely different approch chose __#226a Simon Epperlein__ and __#226b Nicolas Regel__. They took a swing back north, straight towards the finish line, why I already feared they had scratched. But a quick look at their social media proofed that the two are in good mood, enjying drafting and the beautiful landscape and are indeed on their way to Hungary! A similar route was chosen by __#70 Richard Bent__ who is not far behind them.
![Northern route](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3JkTc3J45d5qSHQsU2Iwh3/ba96dc7555cafe98e04a24132676db59/Norther_route.jpg)

For the majority of the field, today was probably the flattest part of the race, the kilometres flew by and the aerobars were used extensively. Some time to relax a little, but as the pace was so high, the field of riders stretched out more and more. The front of the race quickly crossed Slovakia and then ploughed through Hungary. 
![Benjamin Koch](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5x1gmD1nEM5EbL1X5Fe0xf/e3fcdc63277d2a1dedcc96f7a47c05d1/Benjamin_Koch.jpg)
The fastest of all and the first rider to arrive at CP2 was __#43 Benjamin Koch__ who flew furiously across Slovakia and Hungary to get his second stamp in just 1 day 11 hours and 19 minutes! What an effort!  Benjamin didn’t sleep last night and he hasn’t decided yet, if he wants to ride through a second night straight towards CP3. The second rider to follow him about 2 hours later was __#6 Philipp Hanneck__. Philipp didn’t spend to much time at the CP, climbed up to Kekes and quickly descended to chase down Benjamin.
![Philipp Hanneck](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6ib2y1BbdB0XdVqGnJzBTC/8ffcc0eccb528dbe68a4e11612948bcd/Philipp_Hanneck.jpg)

__#5 Paweł Pieczka__ seems to have recovered from his arm injury very well. He made up a few places on the ranking on the way through Hungary and had his brevet card stamped as the third rider.
The pointy end of the race is still tightly packed, the race is far from being decided! The first three were followed at short intervals by __#7 Jędrzej Gąsiorowski__ , __#78 Tomasz Madzia__ and __#84 Paweł Miłkowski__ who got caught in a heavy downpour on his way up through the parcours. They are now on their way back to Slovakia, off to CP3!
![CP2](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6VTO3iLTq45tSJTli6XYSf/2a4722a8ef684aa69be30339655b3df2/CP2.jpg)

The tide has also turned in the women's race. After defending champion __#1 Claudia Decker__ left the race (more on this later), __#8 Viktorija Tomaseviciene__ has taken the lead and is currently about 10 kilometres ahead of __#3 Joanna Rumińska-Pietrzyk__. The two are almost in unison on the way to CP2 and still have to cover about 40 kilometres to the beginning of the parcours. The third-placed woman is currently __#20 Evelyn Weiss__ from Switzerland, who is chasing the duo with a current gap of around 80 kilometres.

The warm weather was one of the main problems for the riders this afternoon. After leaving the mostly forested and often cool Bieszczady Mountains, the flat Hungarian plains turned out to be a little less merciful with less shade and a lot of burning sun. Some riders coped with this better than others, but all had their own coping mechanisms like seeking shelter in the shade, avoiding sunburns and drinking plenty of water.
![Sunburn](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2TwlHFHyUmupGXPi5IgdBG/3d49c1be04cfe7df02667dc431e3739b/Sunburn.JPG)

Maybe __43 Krzysztof Sienkiewicz__ got a little bit too much sun on his head and thought he turned into a train? At least he was seen riding on some small train tracks and seemed to have fun 🚂
![43 Krzysztof Sienkiewicz](//videos.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3YNtaWQqE4iZssdMS9rqDK/3fbb9a1084f7d77595edd723e7cf75f7/43_Krzysztof_Sienkiewicz.mp4)

Sleep deprivation is always an issue in Ultracycling. Reducing stopping time to a minimum is almost essential to finish a ultracycling race high up in ranks. At one point all riders will have to make a desicion when and for how long they gonna stop and get some sleep. On the first night, when riders are still strong and fresh, they often sleep very little, if at all.
![Sleep, sweet sleep](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2fVDJvLCHtmvvM9UMQvzEQ/d031fdfe42aca49a4863b638f9b6b049/Sleep__sweet_sleep.jpg)

On of those riders with just a very brief nap last night was __#11 Marta Gryczko__, who was fighting her fatigue by blasting some loud beats through the Slovakian countryside. Maybe that could also be a succesfull strategy to scare away those bite-happy village dogs?
![Marta Gryczko](//videos.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4ZUSCA0NOvmbwEBRRJfyiQ/2b9f41ff8c9a1e5928d4fb95964605d6/Marta_Gryczko.mp4)

__#85 Krystian Jakubek__ had some problems with a snapped shifter cable. Thankfully, he had a spare one, but this misfortune cost him some time. He is currently on the second parcours, chasing the front pack again and almost at CP2!
![Ultratigger Mechanical](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/33jGBh6FZ1RszPKvuUggqi/7e867418962802937563a9f9fd75b184/Ultratigger_Mechanical.jpg)

__#76 Maja Naumczyks__ pedal decided to go his own way and departed from her crank. It is unknown if she could fix it properly, but her dot is on the move and she seems to be in great mood!
![Pedal](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3FKd0OxojM8aK0TZ1AGIrM/b8e32e48e2ae3a4da550eaa12a0bfa85/Pedal.jpg)

Also today, some of our riders had to say farewell to the race. And oh, what a big suprise! 

__#1 Claudia Decker__ and __#2 Martin Haubold__ both scratched! Martin suffered from bad roads, lack of supplies, too much muddy gravel (he’s on rim brake bikes) and general exhaustion, so he decided to scratch. Claudia didnt’t feel to good, from the very beginning. But the good thing is, they both decided to take it easy, just go on a unplanned vacation and rejoin the riders at the finish line for the party.

__#18 Clemens Groß__ scratched and said: „Just didn't feel like it anymore, couldn't fulfil the expectations I had set myself“ He blamed his route-planning skills and vowed to do better next time. Clemens will take it easy now, enjoy his time and wants to be back for the finisher party. 

After his race partner Thomas scratched sooner today, also __#224b Christian Jung__ left the race earlier than he had hoped for. They are now on the way to Zakopane.

__#14 Stefan Kiełbasiewicz__ suffered from saddle sore and unfortunately couldn't continue the race anymore. 

__#62 Maciej Mazurczak__ also scratched. He said it was too much for him for the moment. He loved the experience though. I guess we will see him on the starting line again!

Now, with the sun going down once more, the riders are heading into the second night. 

Good night and safe riding!

Photos: [bite.of.me](https://www.instagram.com/bite.of.me/), [Tadek Ciechanowski](https://www.instagram.com/tadekciechanowski/)
and [Adrian Crapciu](https://www.instagram.com/adriancrapciu/) 

Text: [Bastian Schneider](https://www.instagram.com/tsunamibasti/)


__Good morning everyone!__

The first night is over and as the new day begins, some of the fog on the map is lifting. A lot of things happened during the night while we normal people slept, but not everyone did.
![Night with dog](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6RBK18XcmXCFMkJc278fAb/24527f8a6263719906147540e604b33a/Night_with_dog.JPG)
It was a busy night at CP1 with lots of riders coming in to get their Brevet Cards stamped, stocking up on drinks and eating pizza. Getting some rest and swapping stories of what they had experienced over the past few hours was a top priority for many. The owners of the Pizza Place at the CP worked extra shifts throughout the night to fill all the empty and hungry stomachs with warm, delicious food and make sure everyone was happy.
![CP1](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/423mbgcQOnfUBuk4GEM4UW/0198938f2e31d1ca1e36815118dfa75f/CP1.JPG)

Many people also took the opportunity to rest in more or less comfortable places, but at least in a warm one and with sockets to charge batteries and devices. People have been seen sleeping on benches, sitting on chairs, under the pool table and even on the bathroom floor. How cosy! 
![Sleeping 1](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/lxWKyLx6yE5fPRQx2Qhk9/39ad94097f247b240c1c1d3109551d4a/Sleeping_1.JPG)
![Sleeping 2](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/46G1kjDdIg9UelgDWMvuON/e0bf6c112d5cff3f836a3daa993bfe07/Sleeping_2.jpg)Others preferred quieter sleeping options. Finn __#59 Stefan Sirkiä__ found a bus stop that looks suspiciously like a Finnish wooden sauna, no wonder he was attracted to it! 
![Stefan Sirkiäs sauna style busstop](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6OSEmsO2wpTQ5tbfR0n347/dec6244885689db88b92e57aeb889e06/Stefan_Sirki_s_sauna_style_busstop.jpg)

In the women's race, __#3 Joanna Rumińska-Pietrzyktook__ was the first to reach CP1 after 17h40min. On the way she took a gravel shortcut which was so bumpy that she lost her water bottles and one of her rear lights. This is why we always carry a spare light, just in case. Let's hope she found a replacement bottle, she'll need it in the heat of the next few days! She was closely followed by __#1 Claudia Decker__ who reached CP1 just 12 minutes later! The current women's top 3 was completed by __#8 Viktorija Tomaseviciene__. The gaps are really tight, so nothing is decided yet!
![ADR04030](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/RtvjJ1ipmUBJWoXp8a1Sy/ff8afe77940afcab6cc84e584c78c132/ADR04030.jpg)

During the night we also saw a shift in the pairs category. The first pair to reach the CP were __#220a Bolesław Kowalski__ and __#220b Maciej Żabski__ at around midnight, but __#226a Simon Epperlein__ and __#226b Nicolas Regel__ were not far behind.

The majority of riders have already reached CP1, which closes at 10pm tonight. There is still time to get your stamp! One of those still awaited at CP1 is our current Lantern Rouge, Irishman __#70 Paddy Dunne__. He also had a tough night.  Paddy was so tired that he literally fell asleep standing up last night. He decided to walk a bit but is really enjoying the course, calling it: "Stunning, absolutely stunning. Beautiful and brutal 💚". We feel you, Paddy!
![Uwaga Bears](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5tZIsIehiFQcQvSpZnK9bq/623329ee303e36621a1980002477f1d6/Uwaga_Bears.jpg)

Many riders are already well on their way to CP2 on Kékes, the highest mountain in Hungary. Depending on the route, the distance between the CPs is around 470km. __#43 Benjamin Koch__ and __#85 Krystian Jakubek__ were able to break away from the lead group overnight and are currently leading the race. They both rode across the Hungarian Plain through the night without a stop and are already about to reach the start of the next parcours. 
In the chasing group behind them, some riders have taken short power naps to recharge their batteries for the upcoming sections. For example, __#6 Philipp Hanneck__ had a resting break at night and is already catching up again. 
It's always a fine line between losing time but recovering a little and riding non-stop, which means sacrificing strength and concentration. Even the best and toughest riders, who can cope with sleep deprivation well, need to take at least short sleep breaks during the race. That's what I think, but of course I could be proved wrong.
![Smooth riding](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5I3W9SVjoLAGn0tvRCdKm3/23b6b7ba1324719689261a8f199cd01f/Smooth_riding.jpg)

We all love those little stories, adventures, encounters and surprises along the way that are simply a part of ultracycling. And oh dear, there will be many, many special moments for each rider to share at the end of the race. Let's hear some of them:

Remember the guys who got stuck in the motorsports rally? Rider __#18 Clemens Groß__ reported they were stuck at a top of a pass for 3 hours due to the closed road. While looking for an alternative, they hiked down a small trail but once they came close to the road, they realized that the road wasn’t accessible either. So they had to push the bikes all they way up again. Oh, and as a cherry on the top, Clemens got 2 flats, a broken valve and extended his stint from 370 to 440 kilometers. 💩

__#68 Katarzyna Kozłowska__ unfortunately fell into the water while crossing a river at night. As it was a cold night with a clear sky, she was so freezing that she could not ride downhill and had to walk a fair bit. She was very happy when she came across a trekking shelter where some people were sleeping in hammocks and had a small, almost dying campfire. Katarzyna didn't hesitate and went to the nearby dark forest to collect some firewood to keep the fire ablaze. She managed to warm herself and even dried her clothes by hanging them next to the fire. This got her through the night, she made it to CP1, enjoyed the warming sun for a bit more and set off for CP2.
![Yummi. clothes](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5lS50WoIiFobb0tGfE18ER/5f38be78defa66b53c35bdac061eecf4/Yummi._clothes.jpg)

__#45 Marcin Kabała‘s__ rim broke on the way to CP1. The nearest bike shop is a long way away and will not open until Monday. What to do now? Marcin decided to give it a try and is carefully riding towards civilisation to hopefully get his bike fixed! Fingers crossed!
![rim](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6eFnm4Ngjjv2RtYoyp5Hds/bc2bd3bb0813a61d4851520087857ff3/rim.jpg)

__#7 Jędrzej Gąsiorowski‘s__ route planning led him across a river. When he was on the spot, the crossing appeared a bit suspicious to him, so he decided to try it on foot before riding through the trough with his bike. When the water was up to his belly button, he decided it was a good idea to take another route. Smart decision Jędrek!
![Jedrek](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3xASThmaZHKzMpT3VGROXG/213589585b08da3655265bbe2aa7e74e/Jedrek.jpg)

__#33 Patrycja Drzewiecka__ seems to be a hobby biologist while cycling. On her way to CP1 she spotted a lynx in a field and a salamander crawling across the road. It is always well worth keeping your eyes open to the left and right of the route. There is so much wildlife to see!![salamander](//videos.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1D7craRkTGyxoboIWaDCgz/6a11db78ccee43c37242d2ff0890d787/salamander.mp4)

__Unfortunately, we had to report a few more DNFs during the night:__

__#75 Henry Compson__ scratched after a really good start. He is fine and well but nevertheless decided to call it a day.

__#65 Witold Kanias__ Garmin device failed and he had no second navigation device with him. However, he seems to have memorised his route very well, as he purposefully navigated up to CP4 to have a final beer on the race before heading back to the start. Cheers mate! More beer waiting for you in Zakopane!

__#37 Matias Görlitz__ had to scratch, because an older injury forced him to stop. Of course, he is very disappointed right now, but he assures to be back next year. Heads up Matias, see you in 2025!

__#224a Thomas Horre__ had to scatch as well. His Partner __#224b Christian Jung__ seems to continue on his own.

__#49 Sylwia Kuropatwa__ didnt feel well after finishing the Race Around the Netherlands just 3 weeks ago and decided to hand over her tracker.

__#30 Piotr Baranowski__ decided to scratch beacuse of pain and lack of power. Also a speedy recovery to you!

Photos: [bite.of.me](https://www.instagram.com/bite.of.me/) and [Adrian Crapciu](https://www.instagram.com/adriancrapciu/) 

Text: [Bastian Schneider](https://www.instagram.com/tsunamibasti/)

15 hours into the race and with the sun setting over the Bieszczady Mountains, the race unfolds step by step.
![ADR03496](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6pXcdcpdNUekliuv4p4sG9/5d55b447bcd25ee17ccc2b5936e9732e/ADR03496.jpg)

The first day is slowly coming to an end and without a doubt it was day full of emotions, impressions, and challenges for all riders. The weather god was kind, and spread a pleaseant sunny weather over southern Poland throughout the day. Good weather at the beginning of a race is always a great boost and helped the riders to cover the route to CP1 in great speed. 
![Lunch Break](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/72SazHBX5TWVnWqibGLCaw/1980b2fe1d710cb944a1154eccf569a9/Lunch_Break.JPG)

During the day, a pack of 7 riders rode out in front almost in unison and reached the first checkpoint within just 40 minutes. First rider to arrive was __#6 Philipp Hanneck__ who almost outpaced the media car, closely followed by __#5 Paweł Pieczka__ and __#2 Martin "Mort" Haubold__. 
![Philip at CP1](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/7hdUHIQWTX1p4ZCQ8EgRGW/68d6fbae6f0688cdccfd5b91ef30bcf3/Philip_at_CP1.jpg)
Soon after them __#53 Benjamin Koch__  showed up. The German rider, winner of Dead Ends & Cake 2023 and runner-up at Badlands 2022, feels very comfortable on mixed terrain, certainly an advantage when it comes to finding the quickest shortcuts when planning routes. They were accomapniend at the CP by __#84 Paweł Miłkowski__  and __#55 Tobias Stark__. While some ordered a well-deserverd Pizza, __#85 Krystian Jakubek__ was the last of the front pack to get his brevet card stamped, but instead of joining for a Pizza, he quickly said hello, went back on his bike, and off he was into the dusk. Someone is taking racing really serious here!
![Pizza Party](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3xiUotduZVsE0KhuZKnkzZ/67fb2a1295956eed304a7f0651140f06/Pizza_Party.jpg)

Seems like Pizza was the food of the day, I have rarely seen so many Pizzas popping up in my feed 🤌🍕
![Pizza3](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/7CuzSmSqMBnrY1gGUZBQiW/1ae291e95303323e71473e553c426723/Pizza3.jpg)

In the meantime, many riders are populating the parcours on the way to CP1. It's always amazing to me that riders with completely different route choices, which are many, many kilometres apart, can still find themselves right next to each other later on. For some riders, who were cycling on their own the full day, a quick chat on the parcours with  a fellow rider can give a great motivation boost for the upcoming first night.
![Smooth riding](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/NfOtwERHnaFTAUJkDgJLb/a3620ef8b71866741f0c14be9b58a25e/Smooth_riding.JPG)
Finding the best possible routes is always a challenge, especially with the ban on major roads. Some riders had to learn the hard way today and found themselves in some more or less funny situations.

__#25 Maciej Cegiełła__ had a hard time to navigate around a lake or was he just really really hungry and wanted to enjoy lunch on a splendid lake side resort?
![Navigation](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2VnrrZHj6bZBx6aPzqR5z8/618eec357cc848950ba50128fd736a4a/Navigation.png)

__#48 Justyna Jarczok__ ended up on a grassy path but was greeted by a friendly herd of goats to cheer her up.
![Goats](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2ZfxFKFlAREIZ3ilcMAJBY/b60b918c3a89d6dd693fa67003662bd1/e1ce37b9-ee4f-480c-8b7e-3b2f593cdc64.jpg)
Photo by [Justyna Jarczok ](https://www.instagram.com/justine_bike/)

A lot of riders were spotted crossing rivers today, some on the bike, some walking the bikes through the waters. With today's warm temperatures, this was surely  a welcome way to cool down a bit.![River Crossing](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2HWAduhkeps0JYnr3V1tP6/a3ab5a45c3d1fcad12eeb817b2f87f1d/River_Crossing.JPG)

__#5 Paweł Pieczkas__ dot isn't moving for the moment as he apparaently slipped while crossing a river and got a cut on his arm. No worries, he is fine and got stitched back together before hopping back on his bike and chasing the others. Though guy!![f90b983d-03f5-4d2f-a4ee-0648637c0c7a](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/31TJmiJGZLWPlgdiJQyMft/ac31c4712746c49b451f20ac0341b662/f90b983d-03f5-4d2f-a4ee-0648637c0c7a.jpg)

Unfortunately we have our first DNF. __#58 Krzysztof Nowak__ had to abandon the race due to a knee injury. Have a speedy recovery, Krzysztof!

The first day is coming to an end, the moon is rising and darkness is covering the mountains. For some it‘s no question to ride through the first night, some will get a cosy hotel room and a shower, while others will want to ride as long as possible, before looking for a comfortable bus stop or a quiet graveyard to get some short rest late at night. Nothing is certain and the next morning will reveal changes in classification, night time stories and more adventures to tell.
Good night everyone, have a safe ride!

Photos: [bite.of.me](https://www.instagram.com/bite.of.me/) and [Adrian Crapciu](https://www.instagram.com/adriancrapciu/) 

Text: [Bastian Schneider](https://www.instagram.com/tsunamibasti/)


![ADR02586](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/mJb6W3oh4FgkKoDtHXqn8/8f731fbf2279fb26c676414ab399cb16/ADR02586.jpg)

This morning, just in time at 5am, the riders set off and the dots began to move! Accompanied by glorious sunshine, they hit the track in high spirits and with the team and friends cheering them on. The great weather and the marvellous landscape of the High Tatras provided a truly worthy setting.
![DSC 8956](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/0zhJADG7RCvL67jUz3hVu/1c3fec35942123a61d38e8a9079fd111/DSC_8956.JPG)
First of all, the starting parcours with 52km and 1300 altitude metres had to be conquered, then it was up to the riders to switch to their self-planned route towards CP 1.
![ADR02904](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3vozMnSoSbaVdJIi4KPaZg/b96adeb7f638f5f8d715a684e69fdca8/ADR02904.jpg)

Three main routes are currently emerging here.
Two northern variants through Poland via Nowy Sącz, which could be a little longer but a little flatter, and a southern variant through Slovakia, which seems to be a little shorter but hillier. In total, the riders have to cover around 200 kilometres to get to the parcours of the first checkpoint.
![Varianten](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5iM6jMI53ESN9IBWQ54J5b/0c388b52ff2ca33637ec9a7b7359062d/Varianten.png)

The first checkpoint is located in the far south-east of Poland, close to the Poland-Ukraine-Slovakia border triangle in the Bieszczady Mountains. The region is sparsely populated and the associated national park is the largest mountain national park in Poland. Riders must therefore plan well to have enough fuel in the form of food and drinks with them. They will certainly be needing it, since the riders still have to ride 100 km and climb 1800 metres in altitude to reach CP1 after the beginning of the parcours. The first riders will probably arrive at the CP this late afternoon. Crazy!
![DSC 9158](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2xxOvnVMs45fQEf5BIMSxx/44ae2c71d625b4e39cd71273961c70b6/DSC_9158.JPG)

Our race favourites haven't missed a beat so far and let the others know straight away that they're not just here for fun. In addition to the riders already mentioned, for example __#31 Piotr Gdowski, #55 Tobias Stark, #38 Tomas Rongen and #24 Samuele Tonello__ have also been very strong so far. I am absolutely convinced that we will see some surprises and extremely strong newcomers here!

Pair __#226a Simon Epperlein & #226b Nicolas Regel__ could be such strong newcomers. It's their first ultracycling race, but there's no doubt that they have strong legs. Right now they are leading the pairs category.

In the women's race, __#1 Claudia Decker__ is ahead in the northern variant, but __#3 Joanna Rumińska-Pietrzyk__ is hot on her heels. __#46 Fleur Cornelissen__ has opted for the southern variant and has put in a great performance so far.
![ADR03295](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/n9TFhj6KVzUvuvqfKpPK0/b8d82d0000bbe7fa3b4a0980e0b422db/ADR03295.jpg)

## Meanwhile on the roads:
Riders __#18 Clemens Groß__, __#70 Richard Brent__ and __#66 Marcin Wiktorowicz__ are currently stranded on a closed road due to a motorsport rally. They are taking it with humour, but I hope they are car enthusiasts. Let's rather stick to cycling, right?
![Stuck in a Motorsport Rally](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1o15Ndgthd1G2YBZZsILr1/fdd760cab123c18e6fa4d466bf0dc040/Stuck_in_a_Motorsport_Rally.png)

__#67 Tomas Kovacs__ has opted for an exciting route. He rides all the way south and thus a fourth variant. He also seems to like mountains a lot and is not averse to gravel, as his route takes him directly along a gravel road over a small mountain range! I'm very curious to see where his route will take him!
![Tomas loves Mountains!](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/53hVHTjwRwegz7BzN8kuIh/911548e4466f1eda70c4f0483aebe534/Tomas_loves_Mountains_.png)

__#58 Krzysztof Nowak__ and __#74 Radek Wierzbinski__ also seem to be mountain lovers, or did they just want to ride the infamous climb to CP2 from RTPL#4 again? Either way, they opted for the direct route over the mountain and not along the Dunajec valley like the majority of the field. In any case, it didn't do them any harm!
![Radek loves Mountains!](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3a8ieXJNQuNniuwm8tTpm1/37d2fda6bebc1edbe69614750684e78f/Radek_loves_Mountains_.png)

Let's stay tuned to see what more today will hold!
For more content, visit the [Race Through Poland Instagram account](https://www.instagram.com/racethroughpoland/)! 

Photos: [bite.of.me](https://www.instagram.com/bite.of.me/) and [Adrian Crapciu](https://www.instagram.com/adriancrapciu/) 

Text: [Bastian Schneider](https://www.instagram.com/tsunamibasti/)

## Ladies and gentlemen, the heat is almost on!

Tomorrow morning, at around 04am, some slightly tipsy partygoers in Zakopane will notice a strange scene on their way home from the party. The partygoers will be quite surprised by a strange-looking gathering in the city centre. 
About 100 people in colourful cycling gear and with red caps on their heads will gather with their bikes in a circle around a tall man, also with a red cap in a park. The tall man will tell them a few things, strange things that the party people won't really understand, but the riders will listen carefully. Shortly afterwards, the riders will get on their bikes and, with ringing bells and excited shouts, will quickly disappear up a steep road into the Polish mountains towards sunrise. And for a short time, silence will return to Zakopane and the drunken party-goers on their way home will be alone again, wondering what the f*** just happened.
![Partypeople](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2EqulrH9tJ8j3uuA14lvlj/413d197d9601b405c79ab125b40455d3/Partypeople.jpg)

But lets start from the beginning, it's not that time yet!

Registration is currently in full swing and the ever-helpful organisation team is busy with getting the riders ready to race. Birds of a feather flock together: The riders are gathering in Zakopane one after another and some old friends who haven't seen each other for far too long happily greet each other.
![Friends](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/u2a8gE4dvTcAoM9S5U5A2/77fe1e6608de0b5e30f326d1dabb5cd9/Friends.JPG)

At registration, the riders get their distinctive red caps with their start numbers and their brevet cards, which they have to stamp at the checkpoints. The GPS trackers are handed out, which will show us dotwatchers the exact position of our loved ones and friends on the map. The dots on our map to the left will pop up and start moving very soon!
The mandatory technical bike check includes checking saftey features such as lights and brakes and, of course, whether the riders looks stylish enough! (They do!)
![Registration](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4iUT6DMMdeRKBXXOmbGGif/d127f2a6edce788f038935b6e5000ed2/Registration.jpg)
![Bike Check](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5ZizpwsAaWDKxZj35eepqE/576265e541f48584e86b2713829618a8/Bike_Check.jpg)
![Tracker and Cap](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/67sca67kit5WJpHXyni2sx/5cc1494cd68175e74e5842f73bd7e8cf/DSC_7990.JPG)

Speaking of bikes: In [Bikes of Race Through Poland #6](https://dotwatcher.cc/feature/bikes-of-race-through-poland-no6), some of the riders show off their bikes and equipment they'll be riding with over the next few days. Check them out – there are some pretty cool bikes in there!
[![Bikes of RTPL](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/7FOEwagrN3VOlIyvANhiGY/8d5cf9e94c525eb8b06e695a981a210a/Bikes_of_RTPL.png)](https://dotwatcher.cc/feature/bikes-of-race-through-poland-no6)

The final briefing for the riders is held right after registration. This is where the riders get reminded of the most important rules of the race. Here's a quick summary of those rules:

1. Stay self-supported. Travel using only your own muscle power
2. The parcours must be completed in full and within a specified time
3. No support from outside. Any problems or challenges must be solved by the riders themselves
4. No drafting
5. Always follow local traffic laws, no riding on banned roads
6. Be a nice guy and have fun!

![Briefing](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4b2CX7MAtoyKwvALyF3RCS/cbe56a957f49fcceb2aa9f00c20ad4df/DSC_8282.JPG)

Now it's time to properly recharge your batteries one last time. Spend one last night in a warm and cosy bed and enjoy your clean and nice-smelling clothes, because tomorrow morning it's finally time to go for you and to watch your dots for us!
Good night and see you tomorrow on the road!
![Zakopane](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/7AnaqnyN65bRPShNWH30lr/d76baa584be30900fa3bfb72d9f94119/Zakopane.jpg)

Photos: [bite.of.me](https://www.instagram.com/bite.of.me/) and [Adrian Crapciu](https://www.instagram.com/adriancrapciu/) 

Text: [Bastian Schneider](https://www.instagram.com/tsunamibasti/)


Bastian Schneider

Race Through Poland 2024 Tracking and Commentary: The sixth edition of Race Through Poland returns to crossing borders once again with the start and finish in Poland and the 4 checkpoints and parcours in Slovakia, Poland and Czech Republic.

Race Through Poland 2024 Tracking

Get ready for the sixth edition of Race Through Poland! This free-route event will kick off in the bustling city of Zakopane, the tourist capital of the High Tatras. On this thrilling race, riders will have to tick off four checkpoints and challenging parcours in Poland, Slovakia, and for the first time in the race’s history, in Hungary. Once again, the riders will embark on an exciting 1,500-kilometre loop through the wild east of Europe, including some remote national parks with astonishing nature and wildlife.

Race Through Poland 2024

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