THE TRANSCONTINENTAL RACE 2024

In the summer of 2024, Colombian ultra cyclist and LSRF ambassador Julian Manrique rode the the tenth edition of the TCR, known to be one of the toughest ultra cycling races of the world. This year's race started in Roubaix, France covering 4213 kilometers to Istanbul, Turkey, crossing more than ten countries. 

Julian Manrique
In 2011, Julian was one lucky man to win a big prize on the Colombian reality TV show A Minute to Win It. He bought his first camera with the prize money and got into filming. For more than ten years, he captured life and nature with his camera all over the world, but as off this spring 2025, he will start a new phase in his life, a new stage so to say. Being a cycling fanatic, he started enjoying ultra endurance races many years ago, but with his participation in Colombian gravel race Transcordilleras, he really got into the ultra cyclist lifestyle.

LSRF ambassador since 2022
Laurens met Julian in Colombia in 2022 during the ultra gravel race Transcordilleras. Together with the help of the filming company Julian worked for, Live Slow Ride Fast created the movie “Una Chimba’’, dedicated to the Colombian spirit of gravel. Julian’s efforts and his relentless good mood and happy smile were a reason for LSRF to begin sponsoring his endeavors on the bike. Now, in 2025, he is still part of the LSRF team crushing gravel everywhere in the world.

The Transcontinental Race - #10
The Transcontinental Race is an annual, self-supported, ultra-distance cycling race across Europe. It is one of the world's toughest ultra-endurance races. The route and distance varies for each edition between about 3,200 and 4,200 km. In the summer of 2024, the tenth edition of the TCR covered 4213 kilometers from Roubaix, France to Istanbul, Turkey and with a maximum of 16 days to reach the finish line, it was going to be a tough one. No support, just you, your bike and a map with four checkpoints to reach.

Julian was not only aiming to finish this race properly, but also to make a personal video diary. During the race, he kept filming with his mobile phone, the good and the bad times. Last month, his race recap premiered on Youtube, showing the intensity of this race. 

With the first few days being relatively flat, crossing Belgium, Luxemburg, France and Germany, the real climbing began after 1000 km when entering the Alps in Austria. After the big Alpes the Balkan countries welcomed the Colombian rider with open arms. In Bosnia, at day 5 and halfway the route, things got heavy. Knee pain was causing some serious discomfort and the sleep deprivation was starting to kick in. Power naps were good for small term challenges, but were not enough to get the desired and much needed sleep and rest for the body. Julian has started to crack and needed some diversion from cycling. A couple of strangers and their dart game got him smiling again.

About 3000 km into the race he arrived in Greece. The combination of a fierce wind and the heat of 40 degrees Celsius was too much . He experienced severe stomach issues and needed to stay in a hotel for more than 24 hours. He got back on his bike but needed to take stops more often and more hours of sleep. He changed his cycling rhythm to avoid the scorching sun of the afternoon, but his body was really making it hard for him to continue the race. With the help of 14 ice popsicles a day and the thought of the finish line (he would have scratched if he wasn’t this close) he reached Istanbul after 4213 km - in 14 days and 1 hour. An intense experience, that made him emotional on the top of the last climb, looking over the city of Istanbul. An amazing effort and something to look back on with great pride. Julian proofs once more his love for the bike and where it can bring you. Watch his video diary here.

Photo credits Instagram @julianmanrique