TRANSPYR GRAN RAID - South African Riders, Annie David & Mirodo Otto Make History in Spain.

Jun 19, 2018
4 min read

TRANSPYR GRAN RAID, is designed to offer a great personal challenge and provide one of the best mountain bike adventures available. The route will immerse riders in the scenery and cultures of the Pyrenees, from the southern slopes of the Pyrenees, crossing and merging Catalonia Pyrenees, Aragón, Navarra and Euskadi. An authentic Graduation in Mountain Biking to attempt at least once in your life. 2017 will mark the eighth edition of this event that is already consolidated in the international mountain bike stage races scene.

PHILOSOPHY AND VALUES

With around 800 km and nearly 20.000 meters of ascent over 7 Stages, it possesses a unique identity and after five editions emerges as one of the most attractive worldwide. Transpyr is a demanding challenge where ending as a FINISHER it is already a great success for the participants, being considered as GRADUATES IN MOUNTAIN BIKING.

Nature, cycling and Pyrenees lovers take part in the Transpyr Team. ANAYET SPORT MARKETING is behind the creation and organization of Transpyr and it has established partnerships and alliances with organizations and companies to ensure a high level of quality and execution of the event and is characterized by their way of working oriented to the participant.

Transpyr Coast to Coast is a unique mission in the world. Leaving the Mediterranean Sea it dives into unknown valleys and rises wild ridges, covering a staggering 800 kilometers and 20,000 meters of climbing. An invisible itinerary is followed by the GPS, taking us through all kinds of extraordinary landscapes. At the end of the daily adventure, in a space of comfort and rest, to start again the next day with new adventures, new discoveries and an extraordinary environment of international experienced cyclists.

The route is a balance between playful paths, technical stretches and fast tracks that leads to the objective, the mission of reaching the Atlantic Ocean. A cycling crusade for extraordinary heroes who like demanding challenges. Considered by National Geographic as one of the 10 best mtb events in the world.

Annie David & Mirodo Otto from South Africa decided to take on the Transpyr race in 2018. A grueling event for any mountain biker, these two fearless women would be the first ladies team in the world to participate and after 7 stages would see them as the only women's team to have completed the infamous Transpyr.

Take a look at their photo diary of each day and get inspired to push beyond your limits. Well done Annie & Mirodo, we salute you and thank you for showing us it can be done!

Stage 1 Roses to Camprodon.

A real tough one but absolutely spectacular scenery!!!

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Stage 2 - Camprodon to La Seu D’Urgell.

Really tough day today. Let’s say... we built character today 😳. Your singing 🎤 (Mirodo Otto) kept me going today.

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Stage 3 La Seu D’Urgell to El Pont De Suert.

A big meeting with the Pyrenees today 😳. Big mountains...views for days!!! Long day in the saddle looking forward to a slighter shorter day tomorrow

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Stage 4 El Pont De Suert to Ainsa.

Shorter day by no means easier, enjoyed the Pyrenees’ beauty and diverse landscape!

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Stage 5 Ainsa to Jaca.

A relief for an easier and faster day, muddy but highly entertaining with Miroda Otto sliding skills. Still alive. The past 3 days have all been more than 10 hour riding days. Definitely the toughest thing we’ve EVER done!! Loving our Gore-Tex pants!!!

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Stage 6 Jaca to Burguete.

The penultimate beast, long day in the saddle. Mixed emotions for the final day tomorrow

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Stage 7 Burguete to Hondarribia.

Final stage and we have made history; first every ladies team to participate in this race.

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**all images supplied

Mirodo had this to say about the adventure:

"Felt very grateful today to be able to finish this race! It was one of those events that we will never forget because we had to work really hard to finish every day. There were loads of moments where we had to dig very deep to carry on especially when you are out there riding in mud for more than 9 hours 3 days in a row. Both Annie and I have never cycled more than 12 hours in our lives before and it almost felt unreal when we rode 12:06 yesterday with 5 days of riding before that. Annie has been an absolutely amazing partner once again. She started riding being sick and I could see a few tears in her eyes once or twice where I’m sure all she really wanted to do was say she can’t continue any further. She is definitely one of the toughest ladies I have ever met who simply refuses to give up and we then kept on going from one water point to the next. You are one amazing super woman Annie David!!! Thanks to everyone who contributed to making the race such a success. Annie and I feel really privileged to be the First Ladies team since this event started 9 years ago to enter and complete the race and we hope that we can inspire some more women out there to also come and do The #Transpyr"

Annie added:

"What an absolute pleasure and privilege to have been part of the Transpyr Coast To Coast. Thank you Miroda Otto for the partnership once again. The moments of tears and joy and off course the laughter during this event together with you will never be forgotten. It was definitely the toughest one to date but for sure unforgettable!!! Cheers to another and looking forward to the next one!!!"

For more information on the Transpyr take a look at their website: https://transpyr.com/