#TPRNo4 | Lost Dot

#TPRNo4

About the Race

The Route

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Girona, Spain

Start/Finish

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Making a change from previous editions of TPR, the fourth edition of the Race will start near the Mediterranean coast, in Girona. The Catalan city boasts a lively cycling culture, alongside its rich historical and cultural heritage. Girona has earned a name as a cycling mecca, as a home to many professional cyclists and a popular destination for cyclists of all types, thanks to the varied terrain on offer here.

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A short parcours will lead riders out of the city and into the hills towards Canet d’Adri, a small village overlooked by the Rocacorba massif.

Espui, Spain (passive)

CP1

Sponsored by

Nestled near the head of a dead-end valley, surrounded by 3000 m peaks, the tiny village of Espui consists of a smattering of old stone houses and cobbled streets. The site of failed construction projects just after the millennium, the population of 70 is surrounded by skiing and industrial infrastructure that punctuates the landscape, telling the story of what could have been for the the surrounding area.

Col d'Aspin, France

CP2

Sponsored by

Nestled between the Col de Peyresourde and the infamous Col du Tourmalet, the Col d’Aspin is written into cycling history. Featuring in the inaugural mountain stage of the Tour de France, the summit has since been visited by the race over 70 times, and once more in 2023’s inaugural Tour de France Femmes. As a feature of the Raid Pyrénéen Parcours, the climb has been visited on every edition of the Trans Pyrenees Race, regularly being stated as a highlight by riders.

Torla-Ordesa, Spain

CP3

Sponsored by

CP3 sits in Torla-Ordesa, located just south of the border with France, under the watchful eye of Pico Mondarruego (meaning red mountain). The small town, characterised by its stone buildings and narrow winding streets, serves as a gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park. A chain of 2500m+ peaks in the National Park lay between Spain and France here, meaning the village can only be accessed by road from the south.

Zugarramurdi, Spain

CP4

Sponsored by

CP4 is situated in Zugarramurdi — a village typified by its traditionally Basque architecture, adorned with wooden facades and red-tiled roofs. The settlement gained notoriety as the site of the Zugarramurdi Witch Trials, where numerous locals were persecuted for practising witchcraft. The Cave of Zugarramurdi served as an alleged gathering place for witches and became a focal point of the trials.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Control Parcours?

The Control Parcours is a fixed length of route which riders must complete as part of their control visit. The control point will lie somewhere on this route, often at the start or finish. The Control Parcours often includes a traverse over especially scenic or demanding terrain or through an area of significance or interest. It can include, but is not limited to a climb, several climbs, an unpaved route or ridge line traverse. The control parcours is usually still mandatory after the control has closed and a rider’s tracker or other evidence can satisfy the requirement to show it has been ridden. Sometimes parts of parcours which are subject to limited permissions or which can be hazardous may be closed with the control. If a rider does not complete the full parcours a compensation penalty may be given. This is usually a time greater than that of the slowest recorded crossing.

For photographers and videographers the control points and parcours offer the opportunity to capture images of the racers in spectacular landscapes along a known route and to document stories of the racers with candid images at the control points. It is also a chance for the race reporters to capture some of their testimony and reaction and to observe their performance and condition over demanding terrain. Time recording allows us to measure the differences and time gaps between racers and share it to the followers of the race.

What is a Control?

A Control is a mandatory key location which racers must navigate to in order to validate their participation in the race. It is also where the race records their timings for race reporting. Controls are chosen for their dramatic terrain, natural beauty and often include icons of cycling or adventure. Their locations also shape the race as a whole and the terrain and route dilemmas which may occur in-between. A Control usually consists of ‘Control Point’ and ‘Control Parcours’

The Control Point is a fixed station, often a local business such as a hotel, where race staff validate the arrival of the racers by recording their arrival and time stamping their Brevet Card. The control point is often a place where food, accommodation and communications services are available. The control points are established by the production and media team who will arrive in one or more of the control vehicles. They are then manned by volunteers in shifts until the control closure time. Some controls provide a round the clock reception whilst others may temporarily close overnight and have an automated check in feature. Failure to report in at any of the control points will mean that the rider is no longer qualified for inclusion in the finishers classification. Control Points are open from the time of arrival of the first rider, to the date specified in the Rider Manual. After this time the control will be closed and no longer be manned. Riders who arrive after closure of the control are excluded from the General Classifications but remain within the race.

How do applications work?

Applications to race open with plenty of notice through our social media accounts, at dedicated times throughout the year for our three races. The application forms become available once the application window opens, and as soon as the applicant has registered and created a profile at lostdot.cc. Applications are open for 2 weeks for TCR and TPR to allow plenty of time for riders to get their application in without favouring any particular nationalities. Applications for TAR are on a first-come first-served basis. The application process consists of completing the registration stage, downloading and reading the Race Manual (available after registration and a few legal questions) and completing the application form - which will give us an idea of your knowledge regarding methods of route planning, an understanding of the the basic requirements of the race and an idea of your experience to date.

There are no qualification requirements however we expect applicants to have gained relevant, multi-day, long distance expedition experience either alone or as part of a small group.

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Other ways to take part

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Frequently asked questions

Gear

Trackers and licences