TransAtlantic Way official race photographers Rich Marshall and Adrian Crapciu have taken the time to pick out some of their favourite images from this year's race. In no particular order, here is a taste of the TransAtlantic Way 2018...

Rich Marshall

richmarshallphotography.com

"Mamore Gap is an incredibly long, brutal road. I waited perched high on a rock. Persistence paid off when a rider emphasised the difficulty by zig-zagging from side to side. The race has many photogenic view points of dramatic roads, but this one stretches out to the Atlantic on an unforgettable hill climb."

"I had been chatting to Chris Herbert before he went inside this restroom to freshen up, change some clothes and fill his water bottles. I knew I'd have a good composition in a shot once he reappeared. As a photographer, you are constantly seeking moments where a rider is actually off the bike to reveal other aspects of the race. Chris was swiftly reorganising his kit, knowing the clock never stops ticking. Some riders set alarms to time their stops."

"David Tomlinson arrived at the ferry crossing more visibly exhausted than anyone else I saw at any stage in the race. Capturing a rider's suffering reveals the extremes of endurance."

"Slea Head contains a stunning stretch of road that hugs the cliff edge. It was a calm, warm evening with a sunset approaching and the rider had a slight tail wind."

"Isobel Filor was climbing the Ballaghbeama Gap in the torrential rain of Storm Hector. She saw our car, stopped beside us and simply laughed. It was a great moment to see her defiance in what could have been demoralising conditions for any rider."

Adrian Crapciu

adriancrapciu.com

"What images can tell the story of an ultra-endurance self-supported bicycle race? The key is to find images that provide a glimpse into the rider's experience. In many ways riding is the easy part of the race - whereas finding food or shelter, fixing mechanical problems seems to be the hardest part, but such pivotal moments are unpredictable and hard to find. It is relatively easy to find an interesting section of road or a particularly steep climb, but much more difficult to be there when the rider is fixing his bike or takes a power nap."

As the last of the TransAtlantic Way Race riders edge closer to the finish line in Kinsale, we take a few minutes to look back at 11 days of racing that have provided an experience for riders and dotwatchers alike.

The race got underway on Thursday 7th June, with riders leaving in waves from the outskirts of Dublin to embark on the first leg of the race, a self-navigated stretch to checkpoint 1 in Derry.

It was Chris Herbert, a newbie to the ultra-racing scene but a very experienced audax rider, who was first to arrive, closely followed by 2017 winner Bjorn Lenhard, and 2016 winner Bernd Paul. Most of the field arrived in quick succession over the course of the evening and early hours, with most choosing to bivvy on the coast of Derry, and some hardened souls choosing to take advantage of the 48-hour slot free from stoppage quotas.

We got an update from race organiser Adrian O'Sullivan in the early hours of Monday morning, 24 hours after the finisher's party, with news of Australian siblings, Lochie and Josh Kavanagh.

Older brother Lochie is a veteran of the Indian Pacific Wheel Race in Australia, having ridden the race just 3 months after he started cycling, back in 2017. Fast forward 18 months, and younger brother Lochie followed suit by picking up a bike just a few weeks before the start of the TransAtlantic Way.

Lochie finished a few days ago, but with Josh's tracker showing him to be inactive for a number of days, it was assumed he'd scratched. What good news then, to read this news from Adrian:

"Midnight here, and the Kavanghs have arrived. We finally found Josh, who’s been flying under the radar for half the race, and dropped him out a new tracker - along with his brother Lochie. Lochie looked after his brother and rode the last 400km back with him. Brotherly love. Is it within the rules ? Probably not. Is it a good thing to do. You decide."

There was plenty to celebrate at the TransAtlantic Way Race finishers' party last night, including this gem pointed out by women's winner Karen Tostee and the Adventure Syndicate.

One of the riders in the TransAtlantic Way this year is a former world record holder - for being the fastest person to ride around the world (back in 2010).

For many people who take on these epic challenges, adapting to life after them can be a difficult experience, as Vin touches upon here, but it's great to see him in good spirits at the finish line in Kinsale, and getting back into his groove.