The Official Finish, A Wrapup for a Mammoth TCR

3rd Pair in and The Final Parcours

The Pairs Race plus The Lanterne Rouge vs the Maglia Nera

Rushing for GC!

We Have Our Women’s Podium!

🥈 Cynthia Carson Set for Second

👑 Jana Kesenheimer Retains Her Crown: Back-to-Back TCR Women’s Champion

Jana Is On The Finish Parcours

Jana back in the lead with 250km to go

Cynthia vs Jana: The Battle Continues

Victor Bosoni

Martin Moritz

David Tschan

Rudaz Manuel

Christoph Strasser

Jocelyn Roth

Nicolas Chatelet

Jana Kesenheimer

Samuele Tonello

Christoph Pernsteiner

Cynthia Carson

Paul Niehoff

Steven Davis

Mark Kowalski

Danny Green

Nicholas Hulse

Markus Zimmermann

Riccardo Mosconi

Peter Kronberger

Justinas Leveika

Henning Fach

Lael Wilcox

Nico Schleippmann

Mike Fawcett

Jackson Long

Etienne Hamon

Joost van Roosmalen

Ulf Bannick

Ricard Sörman

Alexis Arthaud

Sebi Lehmann

Florian Kraschitzer

Riccardo Kuhar

Ahmet Karaoğlan

Jake Turner

Raymond Dulieu

Julian Klose

Thomas Ceyrowsky

David Mixell

Erik Price

Cristian Batista

Calum Harrington-Vogt

Jakob Schultz

Anna Richter

Oliver Schumann

Omar Martinello

Mathias Ulrich

Jaimi Wilson

Hallvard Kolltveit

Geert Bonnema

Christoph Tapken

Kristian Buljan

Valentin Godrie

Francis Marielle

Florian Moreau

Sarah Bosslet

Pierre-Yves Robert

David Sanchez

Matthew Spooner

Esther Lloyd

Michal Wolff

Juergen Eckmann

Laurent Garbolino

Sofie Mangertseder

Michael Ganz

Bernhard Kämmerer

Mark Courtier

Domas Dranginis

Andrew Brunton

Claude Binchet

Andrea De Gruttola

Guillaume Rouquette

Tarbo Fukazawa

Ekrem Ekicigil

Jonathan Good

Thomas Groenewegen

Jessica Wood

Dragomir Titei

Guillaume Raulhac

Allison Felley Jacquemont

Aleksei Konev

Mikke Luostarinen

Martin Zettel

Ingvild Ødegaard Tangen

Joel Struchen

Ella Brown

Lisa Nemetz

Sarah Cinquini

Ferdi Dorr

Naomi Mederlet

Bram van Engelen

Jill Hovekamp

John Pears

Yannick Hackebeil

Kazuhiro Eguchi

Thomas Manke

Christian Höra

Edward Pini

Remy Verheyen

Nils Gustafsson

Matthew Garthwaite

Oliver Hayward

Marguerite Muhlhaus

Rémi Mejean

Christian Dupraz

Dina Byland

Julien Gravaud

Simon Taulelle

Ben Wormald

Chris Hunt

Francis Codron

Mariana Pazos

Petro Albota

Ewa Krawiec

Peter Murphy

James Vernon

Raphael Karrer

Devin Solleveld

Jarco de Jong

Klaus Demeire

Lora Patteeuw

Claus Knorz

Katja Werner

Elisabeth Gardner

Manuel Dixken

Falk Döring

Marta Gryczko

Rafał Mianowski

Juan Pedro Moreno

Salvador Palomo

Barbara Willener

Roberto Rubio Montalvo

Oscar Arias

Mylene Vicente

Bastien Sentubery

Jur de Koning

Sladana Friedl

Cindy Hertach

G Towers

Tom Butcher

Lili Delannoy

Clémence Vandergheynst

Andries Van Leeuwen

Lawrence Cairns-Smith

Rob Dalby

Claire Sharpe

Emily Lamson

Bradley Lamson

Control Car 1

Control Car 3

Firstly, the final jersey has been awarded to Thomas Achtner who was the last general classification finisher of TCRNo11. This jersey was a fantastic choice as it was one to watch, constantly shifting between riders we would never have been able to guess why might get it. Since then, 3 riders have rolled in with plenty more to follow outside of GC.

So, we've been digging around and got a few things to share. 

[https://www.instagram.com/p/DMnV7J8NNPi/?hl=en&img_index=8
](https://www.instagram.com/p/DMnV7J8NNPi/?hl=en&img_index=8)

I'm sure another commentator has mentioned this but I'd love to touch back on Sarah Bosslet, who met Mohit her partner at the TCR. They were planning on riding as a pair at TCRNo11 but earlier this year Mohit was sadly killed by a car on his world record attempt in South America. Sarah continued on, riding the TCR as a solo in memory of Mohit for World Bicycle Relief. She finished in an awe-inspiring 56th place. A fantastic ride from Sarah and there's [still time to donate](https://worldbicyclereliefde.koalect.com/en-GB/project/ride-for-mohit?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadDoT4oNGevxUDLg_TTY__1kAf1pQ1vBGV2YMtMdtAAc7PVnGBzTlL-lIGaLg_aem_7FUxHI3wpOyKPJloe9Vh2w) as she finishes her three events - Race Across Spain, B-Hard and TCRNo11.

## The Lost Bibs

Esther Lloyd's Castelli bib shorts flew off her bike on the approach to Pyce. Any bikepacker will know that feeling, airing your just washed clothes on the back of your saddld bag, not a care in the world. Next thing you know, they're gone, you're down a key item of kit and kicking yourself for not listening closely enough at scouts how to tie a proper knot. But, the bikepacking fairies were out for Esther, whose bib shorts were later found by another rider who confirmed that they were Esther's! Esther and the other rider and reuniting the bibs with the owner after the race and we will hopefully see a dramatic return video shortly.

[https://www.instagram.com/p/DNVobzPxALF/?img_index=8
](https://www.instagram.com/p/DNVobzPxALF/?img_index=8)

## The Handcycle

Riccardo Del Re finished 24 hours and 40 minutes before the cut off, this rider was riding with a special mission - to raise funds to buy his friend a handcycle after being paralysed in a crash. In the Transcontinental social media, they explain how tired he was after pushing so hard arriving just before midnight. Speaking of, the TCR social media has been rather exceptional this year! A DotWatching gem.

## A Wrap-up

All in all, this has been an unmatched TCR year. With so many riders, so many stories, twists, turns and mishaps, there will always be things we can't share. But, isn't this part of the magic of ultra-cycling? Unlike any other sport in the world, you are doing the same race but each person has the most unique and life-changing experience. This can't be summed up in words, it can't even be communicated to another person, but you leave the TCR irrevocably changed with a small part of you left on the road but plenty of new parts to take home with you.

Chapeau to all the riders, an amazing event from Lost Dot and we look forward to the 12th Edition!

Christian Dupraz and 	Dina Byland	are the third pair in, finishing in 15 days and 19 hours. Christian is also a race vet of the snow TARNo2!

![Screenshot 2025-08-13 at 20.05.32](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1ZWkCj4qk4HAsKsR0bDwqi/747565a8982bccd42d4ade9f6d710dd3/Screenshot_2025-08-13_at_20.05.32.png)

As Parcours 5 shut at midnight on Monday, the final Finish Parcours is the only one left open. Any riders who are outside of the CP5 close are currently riding out of GC. The final cut off time is August 14th at 23:59 CEST. This means everyone out there has just over a day to get into the finish. Does this mean we'll see a race for the Maglia Nera??

Rider 357 gave us an insight of what the riding conditions are - 45'C at Parcours 5! It's hot out there and pretty relentless throughout the day with little shade.

![Screenshot 2025-08-13 at 20.09.54](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/54ZhG9esnX1FjnIo83j97F/f21d2c8c3813f69f1394684cdf724378/Screenshot_2025-08-13_at_20.09.54.png)

[Marcel Sketches](https://www.instagram.com/mrcl_sketches/) is back this year with some fantastic sketches, one of which is an ode to the punctures suffered by Nicolas Chatelet, here:

![Screenshot 2025-08-13 at 20.11.11](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1ANYAfittROvgZi1R7nNet/306d265247938ac04eb030eebdcb0e80/Screenshot_2025-08-13_at_20.11.11.png)

Nicolas spoke a little more about his race here, which we think is a thoughtful and kind insight into what it is like racing ultra-distance.

[https://www.instagram.com/p/DNQrhpSorme/](https://www.instagram.com/p/DNQrhpSorme/)


Oliver Hayward and Matthew Garthwaite	took the pairs first finish this year in a total time of 13 d 16 h 47 m on Sunday at 12:47. Coming in after them, Marguerite Muhlhaus and Rémi Mejean in second place. We have yet to have a podium full of pairs, but it looks like Julien Gravaud	and Simon Taulelle could be next! 

![MAGLIA NERA 3](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/23eak0Ne6ciT83cuGK42TR/8bff75beaf20a3b67e8df10c87690e3b/MAGLIA_NERA_3.jpg)

## The Maglia Nera

With Victor taking the win and the Maglia Arancia, it seems the most unguessable jersey this year with be the Maglia Nera, the last rider finishing within the cut off. I've been basing it off the last rider at the CP rather than on the ground as that is a more changeable metric. Currently it is Georg Molz as the last rider through CP5 before it closed. However, on the ground it looks like Steve Corcoran. Here's Georg refuelling at the ultracyclists buffet - McDonalds. Here in the UK, the Chicken Big Mac is back, ride fuel of the heavens.

![Screenshot 2025-08-12 at 10.58.34](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5iXxsqL5H7Mckw0W53DN40/91a6a8188e5e1f852470c2f425c054fd/Screenshot_2025-08-12_at_10.58.34.png)

However, there was a fierce battle last night for Tina Zarki. She was our Maglia Nera, racing for CP5, with the DotWatching groupchat abuzz about ehr chances for making the CP ferry. Sadly, missing it by just ten minutes, Tina was out of contention for the Maglia Nera.

## Lanterne Rouge

No one asked me to, but I've been keeping a keen eye on what I've decided is the Lanterne Rouge. The distinction, for me, is the LR is the rider at the very back regardless of the cut-off. I think the front runners finishing just tickling double digit days makes us forget they have ridden 5000km. This, for most people, is completely unfathomable. If you were riding at 250km/day, which is completely acceptable, it's going to take double Victor's time(ish). So, those riders strining across the continent are ranging from a competitive pace to a solid tour across Europe.

![Screenshot 2025-08-12 at 10.58.50](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4OkfWeR51s8pDPnkmPtsrx/c1b3c44bc951b65af090a2e3d71dce3c/Screenshot_2025-08-12_at_10.58.50.png)

Currently, the back rider is Helen Weatherall. Helen is at CP2 after just finishing the Tourmalet. Helen has had some issues with a mechanical after clipping her bike but sorted it. From the looks of her social media she has been having the adventure of a lifetime!

- Kitty


As we rounded up the women’s podium last night, our focus has shifted to Anna Richter and Jaimi Wilson whose dots have spent much of the race a whisker apart. Anna’s only result to date is a finish in 37th position at TCR two years ago so we can only assume they have spent much of the past two years honing their skills and focusing on this TCR. Anna is currently approaching the finish line to arrive as the fourth FLINTA rider with Jaimi a mere 4.5 hours behind.

Sarah Bosslet and Esther Lloyd’s dots are well acquainted with each other as they have woven their way across Europe with each other in sight. Whether they’re racing each other or not is yet to be seen but regardless theirs are stories which I would argue are more aspirational to the laywoman like me than the leading women. Sarah raced at last year’s TCR and finished in a time of 15D 8H 33M, she’s on track to finish in a similar time with at least an additional 450km of riding; not only has she raced faster this year, but for much further. Esther Lloyd’s finishes at Trans Pyrenees Race and All Points North have proven to be excellent preparation for her first TCR.

__The Last Ferry for GC__

Control Point 5 will close tomorrow evening at midnight, however, the only ferry crossing which will give riders enough time to reach the CP within the cut off is tonight’s midnight departure. Sergey Shulubin is our lanterne rouge having arrived at the fourth CP in Paterno at 22:10 last night before a long ride to the ferry after what appears to be a sleepless two nights. Unfortunately it appears he has left too much to do in the coming two hours so our attention and support turns to Tina Žarki who now has 2 hours to ride the remaining 56km to the ferry! Godspeed and tailwinds to Tina!


1st - Jana Kesenheimer | 12 days, 3 hours, 32 minutes | 8th overall

2nd - Cynthia Carson | 12 days, 7 hours, 33 minutes | 11th overall

3rd - Lael Wilcox | 13 days, 2 hours, 33 minutes | 22nd overall

I think this has to be the greatest women’s showdown ever. At different points, each rider looked like they might take the win. But it was Jana who came out on top, an awe-inspiring ride of efficiency, focus, and zero mechanicals.

Cynthia showed incredible resilience, dealing with every type of puncture imaginable and still pushing right to the line.

Lael embraced the journey, sharing mid-race about the pressures she felt and her realisation that self-love is what truly matters.

It’s been an honour to dotwatch this women’s podium. I’m truly in awe of what they’ve achieved. Three women in the top 25 out of a field of over 400. WOW!

And with about 200 riders still out on the road, there are still plenty more stories to come!

I'm Millie, and I've been bringing you updates from the Women's field. [@milliegibbons](https://www.instagram.com/milliegibbons/?hl=en)

Hot on Jana’s heels – both now and frequently throughout the race – is [Cynthia Carson](https://www.instagram.com/watt_wagon/).

A battle-hardened ultra racer with a preference for gravel, Cynthia’s longest race prior to this was the 1,350 km Atlas Mountain Race (which she won). Yet in her debut Transcontinental, she has come within just a couple of hours of the two-time winner.

Cynthia’s ride has been defined by consistency and resilience. The two women traded positions repeatedly through the Balkans, pushing each other to dig deeper with every climb and descent. It has been one of the most engaging head-to-head battles of this edition.

Her race was not without setbacks. She was dogged by mechanicals, most notably repeated tyre tears, a common risk for riders as rapid off-road as she is. Each time, she handled them with calm efficiency, making the fix she needed in the moment and planning ahead for a more permanent solution down the road.

Cynthia will cross the line as the second woman, but also with a high overall placing in a field stacked with ultra-racing talent. She’s shown not only strong legs but a quick mind. This is a ride she should be immensely proud of.

__Written by:__ [Conor McKenzie](https://www.instagram.com/conormckenzie/)

Riding in cap number 1, Jana Kesenheimer has proven why she’s now a back-to-back TCR women’s champion – and then some. Crossing the line as the first woman to finish TCRNo.11, she didn’t just win her category, she broke into the Top 10 overall, finishing in an impressive 8th place.

Jana's second consecutive Transcontinental victory wasn’t just about speed on the bike, it was about time management off it too.

Her idle time across the entire race was just 2 days, 2 hours, and 6 minutes – 16% of her total race time. That’s the lowest percentage stop time in the top 20, and more than 5 hours less than her closest rival for the top spot of the women’s podium.

This reflects exactly what we’ve seen from her on the road: ultra-minimal stopping, laser focus on efficiency, and the ability to get by on less sleep than almost anyone else in the race. It’s a valuable skill in ultra-distance events.

That finish embodies a race strategy built on ruthless efficiency, sharp pacing, and a deep understanding of how to manage body and mind over 12+ days of riding. It’s no coincidence she now joins a very short list of riders – men or women – to win the Transcontinental twice in a row.

---

## Three Women in the Top 20?
Could we see three women finishing inside the top 20 overall? That would it the first time more than two women have cracked the top 20 in the same year.

Whatever happens, this year's race – with is 100 Women campaign – has delivered one of the strongest women’s fields in TCR history.

__Written by:__ [Conor McKenzie](https://www.instagram.com/conormckenzie/)

Jana is on the finish parcours and has 90 km left to the finish! Her efficiency throughout impressing us DotWatchers, moving 20 hours out of 24 for 12 days straight!

90 mins behind, Cynthia is about to start the parcours. She’s had yet another flat, and has posted a video on instagram "bus station ted talk about all the flats you can get".

[https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNGI0lqMaxY/?igsh=N29xc3I2c2tpazlk](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNGI0lqMaxY/?igsh=N29xc3I2c2tpazlk "Bus station ted talk about all the flats you can get")

It looks like they’ll both be finishing today.
But at what time? and how many more flat tyres?

Jana seems to have gone further north - maybe that route’s faster?
Cynthia stopped at 7:30 pm for 3.5 hours, while Jana kept riding until 11:30 pm, then stopped for 1.5 hours.
They both started again at 1:00 am.

So Cynthia got an 2 extra hours of rest and is now about 45 km behind.
Her moving speed’s been quicker throughout, so with that added rest we can expect that gap to keep closing?

Cynthia needs to ride an average pf 3km/h faster to catch up. Doable, especially in the mixed terrain. 

With 250 km to go, anything could happen, especially as fatigue and pressure is building. They will be racing right up to the line.
Will we see them finish tonight? With a sprint finish?

Cynthia has been holding a consistent 20-minute lead on Jana today.
They’ve followed pretty much the same route. Theres been a fair amount of gravel, so it’s no surprise Cynthia has held her lead here.

I'm interested to see how much each of them sleep tonight...
Cynthia might need the rest, after her short sleep last night, but being in the lead could be all the motivation she needs to just keep pushing on.

Of the group of riders who got off the ferry, these women are ahead!
If this continues, we could have two women in the top 10!

Conor McKenzie

Millie Gibbons

Beccy Waters

Kitty Dennis

Amanda Wishart

Robin Gemperle

The eleventh edition of the race marks a new chapter in TCR history with five control points, an approximate 5,000km route and a new start location in Northern Spain. Lost Dot's 100 Women campaign has attracted a record 92 to the startline.

Transcontinental Race No11 2025 Tracking and Commentary

The eleventh edition of the race marks a new chapter in TCR history with five control points and parcours, a ~5,000km route and a new start location in North Spain. Lost Dot's 100Women campaign has attracted a record 79 to the startline.

Transcontinental Race No11 2025

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Transcontinental Race No11 2025

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Distance — Elevation

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Last Year's Female Winner

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