Video: Sven & Anka Martin Explore 5 Islands of the Azores

Sven and Anka recce the 2020 Trans Atlantis race route. Entries open March 1st at www.transatlantisrace.com




If Legends were true

A brief reading of Plato's story about Atlantis tells us, if you travel west beyond the "Pillars of Hercules" (Strait of Gibraltar), you would find an island larger than Libya and Asia Minor protected by the sea god Poseidon and ruled by his son King Atlas.

In reality, if you draw an almost straight line from the Strait of Gibraltar to the west in the Atlantic Ocean, you will come across an island, or more accurately a group of islands, The Azores. Accessible with short direct flights from both North America and Europe.

We also grow up with legends and theories surrounding the birth of the islands and many of them linking us somehow to the legend of Atlantis. To honour that heritage we named it Trans Atlantis: A Journey Across the Azores.


The Journey

100 racers will start their journey on the island of São Miguel and then adventure on 4 more islands, each with their unique character and trails, before returning, on the final day, back to São Miguel. The journey will take place from 9 to 14 of September 2020. Over the six days, competitors will race four to six stages a day, varying from 500m to 7km in length. There will be a mixture of tracks, from flowy purpose-built tracks, lush jungle single track to technical rocky trails along ancient trade routes.

Racers can look forward to riding around 250km over the week with about 60km of that being on timed stages with roughly 1300 meters of elevation gain per day.



Sleep and Eat

While you are out riding the mobile camp will be set up each day, and your bags and tent will be moved for you. Each rider will have a large three-man tent, a big air mattress and pillow for the duration of the race. Multiple service tents, offering massage, bike and mechanics service area and chill zones will make up the village.

Because we believe a good meal is always very important, breakfast, lunches and dinners will be prepared by chefs of local restaurants and catering companies, cooking traditional Azorean cuisine. There will be strategically placed refuel stations on the route too.


"In order to win, you have to first finish"

Safety is our first priority but it's still an enduro race, so we will be prepared with a professional medical team on camp and a rescue team with 4x4 following the route as well as medical riders on course. Stages and liaisons will be marked with visible signs and tape to show you the way. A system of danger signs will also be used for course marking which will all be explained in the racebook when signing in.


Be fit like a gladiator! Well, or almost.

Although the event is based on islands we do have mountains and volcanoes so the trails and route shouldn't be taken lightly, a good amount of fitness is required to pedal for hours each day and still race the stages safely. To help you achieve the necessary fitness, riders who enter will receive a cross-fit plan to ensure you enjoy the week and finish strong.



Honoring the gods

You will not need to make animal sacrifices or other to enter the race, just simply head to www.transatlantisrace.com and hit the register button at March 1st at 00:00 AZOT.

Although no ritual sacrifices are needed, we do have a limit on entries and for how long they'll be open, so best not to waste any time.




Equal effort, Equal reward

At the end of the journey the 3 fastest riders in both men’s and women’s categories will receive equal rewards from our, generous sponsors and we will have a finish celebration that would make Baco blush. But ultimately, the reward will be the smiles at the end of each day.



Follow us at @transatlantis_

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