Bernd Paul in action at Italy Divide

TransAtalantic Way: Race Preview

TransAtlantic Way 2018: Race Preview

Registration Open!

Live scenes from registration and the pre-race briefing 

ICYMI: TransAtlantic Way Race Preview

Live from the start!

Live from CP1 at Peace Bridge, Derry

Through the night

Race Within a Race: The Mike Hall KOM Challenge

Bernd Paul, winner of the TransAtlantic Way in 2016 and 2nd place in 2017, talking at the start of the Italy Divide last week. After a strong start at the race, Bernd unfortunately navigated off-route, and as such was later disqualified. 

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"When I heard about ultra-distance cycling a few years ago, I realised how far ordinary people could push their bodies."

An excerpt from interview with Laurence Fryer-Taylor, whose first ultra-distance racing experience will be at the TransAtlantic Way this year. R

Read the full feature over on the [Wattbike website here.](https://wattbike.com/gb/blog/preparing-for-the-transatlantic-way-2018)

"Preparing for the TransAtlantic Way"

The startlist for the 2018 TransAtlantic Way race is now available to see on the race website. 

Entry is still open, but already there are some notable names in the mix. Notably, previous winner and 2nd place finisher, Bernd Paul, last year's winner, Bjorn Lenhard, former Transcontinental Race winner Josh Ibbett, Transcontinental Race podium finisher Karen Tostee, and former Aound-the-World Record holder, Vin Cox.

[View the full startlist here.](https://www.transatlanticway.com/racers/)

Startlist Published

__Fact File__

- Location: Ireland
- Length: 2,500km
- Riders: 163
- Last year's winner: Bjoern Lenhard (GER)
- Terrain: Road

The TransAtlantic Way is a 2,500km ultra-distance bike race, starting in Dublin, and finishing in Cork, via The Wild Atlantic Way on Ireland's west coast. 

'With the pounding swell of the Atlantic as your constant companion, you follow the blue zig-zag signposts through seven of Ireland’s westernmost counties,' reads the race website. 'You'll be treated to many of Ireland’s scenic showstoppers, welcoming towns and villages, heritage sites, and plenty of unexpected thrills.'

Starting in Dublin on 7th June at 10:30am, racers will have to navigate their own route to the first checkpoint at Derry, in the far north. From here, the route becomes designated, as it picks up the Wild Atlantic Way, and traces the western coastline - in many ways the arechtypal Irish backdrop - all the way south, to the finish at Kinsale. 

First organised in 2015, the TransAtlantic Way is one of many races that have sprung up in the wake of the success of the Transcotinental. Indeed, chief organiser of the TAW, Adrian O'Sullivan, rode both the Transcontinental and the TransAm Bike Race in the years preceding the inaugural 2015 edition, and it was his experiences in them that led him to starting a new event. 

The race has since developed a reputation as one of the fiercest challenges on the ultra-distance circuit. Despite its June start date, the weather conditions have been routinely testing over the years, with howling winds and piercing rain battering the riders on the long journey south. The relentless climbs, between jagged cliffs and isolated peninsulas, are another facet of this race that has helped develop its reputation. 

Barring a slight change in position of the finish line, [a rule that enforces high-visibility night riding, and a rule restricting riders to no more than 21 hours of riding per 24 hour period](https://www.transatlanticway.com/rules/), the race remains unchanged for 2018. 

On the startlist are 163 names, representing nationalities from around the world, that are due to start in Dublin on the 7th. Last year's winner, Bjoern Lenhard, is joined by last year's 2nd place, and fellow German, Bernd Paul, in a strong list of contenders that also includes 2015 Transcontinental Race winner Josh Ibbett, and 2nd female at the TCR last year, Karen Tostee. 

With just three days until the Grand Depart in Dublin, we will have to wait and see what other names come to the fore, and what stories will be told, once the action begins to unfold on this Emerald adventure. 

We'll be here for the duration, so keep the DotWatcher tab open. 



__Breifne Earley, part of the TransAtlantic Way media team, is already out recceing parts of the course. But while excited about the imminent start, he's also got some words of warning for any riders hoping to make it through the next couple of weeks without a run in with the weather. __

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'It's getting exciting now' 

Last year, there was a whole contingent of riders at the Transcontinental Race wearing the distinctive colours of Brixton Cycles, and it seems that the trend is continuing into 2018 here at the TAW. Aedewan and Danial are making the journey from South London to Dublin - and riding the 2,500km beyond it as a pair - in aid of the charity, Red Bubbles. Good luck to the pair of them. 

[[ instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BjnRklNBfUd/?tagged=taw2018" ]]

From South London with Love 

Sibling rider duo Lochie and Josh Kavanagh, fresh off the plane from Australia, aren't letting an impending 2,500km bike race get in the way of a bit of cultural immersion while they're in town, enjoying a tin of Guinness in the Dublin sunshine today.

[[ instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BjpHEKshFPa/?tagged=taw2018" ]]

Older brother Lochie started riding in November 2016, and completed the inaugural [Indian Pacific Wheel Race](https://www.indianpacificwheelrace.com/) three months later, when he was just 18 years old (watch the video below to hear about his experiences). Fast forward a year, and history is repeating itself in Ireland, with his younger brother Josh, who also started riding just a few weeks ago, joining Lochie on the startline for the 2018 TransAtlantic Way.  

They aren't riding as a pair, which means we can surely expect a bit of good old fashioned sibling rivalry as they make their way around Ireland. 

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Meet the Kavanaghs

The twinkling lights of GPS trackers easing themselves out of hibernation. Soon they'll be handed out to riders and set to work keeping dots on screens around the world.

![ezgif.com-video-to-gif](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5zLXCtAZhY4CWSIEUO0kSq/f012f95672d024bc82e3c3fa3959d530/ezgif.com-video-to-gif.gif)

Tracker Testing

It's a little before 10am on Wednesday the 6th, meaning we have just 24 hours until the start of the TransAtlantic Way Race tomorrow. 

Already riders are gathering at the race HQ at Trinity College in Dublin though. There is a social breakfast planned for those that have already arrived, which will provide an opportunity for riders to chat, trade preparation stories, and delight in what lays ahead. Some have organised group rides to spin the legs out during the day, and later on this afternoon is the official rider briefing. 

For these dots we now see beginning to appear, things are starting to get very real. 

![Screen Shot 2018-06-06 at 09.45.07](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/10EqHD4SX8QkKQciYk60Ei/b5daf742b2a22772399f0c103b104ac4/Screen_Shot_2018-06-06_at_09.45.07.png)

The day before the morning after

The TransAtlanticWay Race is a 2500 km one stage, self-supported road bike race between Dublin and Cork - via The Wild Atlantic Way. With the pounding swell of the Atlantic as your constant companion, you follow the blue zig-zag signposts through seven of Ireland’s westernmost counties.

DotWatcher.cc

TransAtlantic Way 2018

Total Racers

Distance — Elevation

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