For the first time, the Transcontinental will feature a Control Point in Albania. Over previous editions, TCR riders have raced through this mysterious and often overlooked country, catching only glimpses of its rugged, unpredictable beauty. This year we offer the opportunity to delve deeper into its heart; deep into a land where forgotten, ancient trade routes criss-cross between foreboding peaks and expansive valleys.
Resupplying at the historic town of Burrel, riders will find sparse habitation as they snake through tiny villages and past wind-eroded cliffs before taking the ancient route through the mountains to Peshkopi. Polished pink granite rocks form the surface as riders climb away from the valley floor and into the remote uplands that separate the two towns. Here, careful and intelligent planning could spell the difference between success and failure.