The Accursed Race No1 // #TARNo1

We present to you, The Accursed: Lost Dot’s no-fly, fixed route, off-road race exploring the heartlands of the Transcontinental Race.In the works since 2017, The Accursed Race is the result of years of knowledge built up by Lost Dot in this breathtaking corner of Europe — exploring Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo. The Accursed Race will take riders on a journey along the roof of the Balkans, exploring arduous terrain but spectacular, constantly evolving landscapes that transform over every summit.Starting in the Albanian town of Shkoder, on the shores of Lake Skadar, the route leaves behind thriving fertile wetlands for the barren Dolomitic mountains of Theth National Park. Harsh, jarring bedrock becomes loose gravel, then metalled hairpins, transitioning to the Karstic plateaus of Montenegro and Bosnia. From here the route follows a disused Austro-Hungarian railway line north, before turning back through the sweeping gravel of the Sutjeska National Park and returning south into Durmitor — well known to scholars of the Transcontinental.As the route continues south, ancient shepherd’s roads in the Montenegrin highlands lead the way to the Kosovan border, passing through remote katun dwellings where shepherds would traditionally keep flocks over summer. Kosovo will offer a brief respite to weary riders, with a short stretch of flat tarmac before the route returns into the Albanian mountains. Once back in Albania, the home stretch will be neither short nor straight. With 600 km still to travel, riders will head south, with a saw-toothed route profile ensuring they’ve left everything in the mountains when they return to Shkoder.Find out more about the Race over on Instagram: instagram.com/theaccursedraceThe inaugural edition of The Accursed Race will start on 14 May 2024.