Meet the TPRNo5 Bursary Riders: Sebastina & Gundie
October 3, 2025
Words by Stuart Downie
Photos by Alex Duffill and Tomás Montes
Meet the TPRNo5 Bursary Riders: Sebastina & Gundi
As we said in the pre-race report, a race is nothing without the riders. Those who take to the start line have to commit themselves to a not insignificant undertaking just to be there, training their bodies and their minds with it to meet the task that is riding somewhere in the region of 1900km with 40,000m of elevation gain – read that again. It is a serious task.
But there’s also the financial outlay that comes with recognising the call to competition at an event like this. Lost Dot believes that the difference in adventure racing should be a rider’s aptitude, athleticism and attitude – not their budget. To that end, they have introduced the Mike Hall Bursary, providing recipients financial aid for race-related costs, cycling kit and equipment from Lost Dot’s Race partners, and support from an experienced mentor and coach in the run up to the race.
This year’s bursary riders are Gundega (Gundie) Busenberga (139) and Sebastina Brüggmann (138) – we caught up with both at registration.
“ I'm feeling quite excited about tomorrow,” says Gundega, brightly, before quickly adding: “A bit nervous as well. It's been since the beginning of the year that I knew I'm doing TPR. So it's been in the distance. Now it's tomorrow.”
The better part of a year might seem like a long time, but as we said above, this race is not a small undertaking. So how has preparation gone in that time?
“I had a lot of support, a lot of advice, a lot of tips. I've spoken to some of the riders that did the race before, so I had enough time and advice to tweak the things that I'm bringing along, or my training. I've been training with Robbie (Britton, Lost Dot bursary coach) since March, he's been absolutely amazing. He's definitely the one that grounds me because I'm a really anxious person. We had some really nice workshops and I've just been trying to be on my bike six days a week, rain or shine. I think that's just kind of like seasoned me for this, although I think we're getting quite good weather, so…”
The sky is blue above, the warm sun beating down on the concrete steps outside Real Sociedad stadium where rider registration is still going on. Later, nearly 140 riders will amass for the rider briefing, where they will collect the brevet cards that will accompany them on a trip from west to east and back to west, across the beautiful Pyrenees. There are of course plenty of races out there, so what made Gundega choose Trans Pyrenees?
“I only started ultras last year. I did Kromvojoj (a race in Catalonia that takes in the Pyrenees in the east) and I really liked the mountains. I thought this would be an amazing adventure and a great way to become more familiar with the region. It always seemed like a really long and daunting race, but after I tested myself last year, I thought, okay, maybe it's the time to try this one now.”
Race Director David Ayre will later boldly say: this is the most beautiful race in the world. But it is also hard. But Gundega has made it to the start, along with a host of other riders, where she belongs.
“It's nice to see everyone. Training can be a bit isolating. Sometimes you ride with friends, but then due to your schedule you can't, maybe because you have intervals, so it's nice to see people arriving here today. It's like: yes, these are my people. We're all here. We're doing this. It's like a big family reunion. Even though I don't know most of the people, it just seems like, you're riding through and you see someone else with a bike with bags and everything. You're like: Hey, you're going the same way. We're together.”
Gundega is joined by Sebastina Bruggman, also admiring the early afternoon sunshine and positive vibes at registration, having come from home by train to compete on the Green Leaderboard.
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“ I came from Hamburg. I try to ride every day, but it’s a lot of flat riding there. I'm not really a training person, I like to be outside, I like to enjoy riding. This keeps me going, not the real performance. I also like to be on community rides in Hamburg, this keeps me going also, that I can enjoy time with others. This is my first time in the Pyrenees, the first time I'm doing such a big, big thing.”
Coming from the flat northern plains of Germany, what was it that drew Sebastina’s eye to this race?
“I've applied for the TCR and Andrew and Hannah got in touch with me and they said, maybe they have a spot for the TPR. Normally climbing is not really my thing, but we’ll see. So, thanks a lot for the opportunity to Lost Dot, otherwise I wouldn't be able to take the challenge here.”
Later, 142 riders gather in the stands of Real Sociedad’s grounds for the briefing. Race Coordinator Andrew Phillips gives a recap of the rules; the foundation of all Lost Dot races. But this is not a lecture, it is an emphatic and empathetic envoy for the spirit of the race speaking to the nature of competition in all of us. Riders have come as peers to compete, Gundega and Sebastina among them. Without rules, competition loses meaning. They’re the framework that gives shape to it all, the standard we set and hold ourselves to, and not just individually. As Gundega said: hey, you're going the same way. We’re together.