TARNo2 // May 21st: When The Bass Drops
May 22, 2025
Words by Andrew Phillips
Photos by Matt Grayson, Sam Dugon, and Tom Gibbs
After a late night Swiss parachute drop in the form of Daniel Perotti (15), this morning was a slow one, and we consumed our pilaf and omlet rations with the usual somehow stronger-than-espresso espresso, whilst pondering a plan. We would head up to the Qafe Qela road above Shkodër to wait for Martin Hilgers (28) as he exited the Kaftalle wilderness area and had the chance to resupply. We waited with baited breath outside the only cafe on the route, and watched as he inevitably rode straight past without stopping.
Two clear giveaways on the state of his progress were his rear wheel, which had attained roughly the shape of a Pringle, and the large but cheap looking track pump protruding from his aeropack. Passing him on the road and continuing to the next possible resupply, I got a coffee and waited to see if he’d also stop for a power-up. He spotted me as he rode past, and the closest I got to an interview was a bellowed “THIS IS SO HARD”.
Unbeknownst to Martin, photographer Matt had snapped him further up the road, managing to find a rare vantage spot with road and reservoir, but without pylons. This landscape is shaped and changed by the series of enormous hydroelectric dams creating strange new turquoise lakes in the deep valleys, and generating ‘clean’ electricity (mostly sold abroad) and at the expense of the precious ecosystems that they have destroyed. I don’t know at what stage (if ever) these manmade lakes might reach an equilibrium with nature in which they add to the ecosystem rather than detract, but we are certainly not there yet. The Balkans currently has a further 3,000 hydro projects planned for development.
Heading back to Shkodër, the first arrival of the new day (post 00:53 CEST) was Florian Büchele (03) at 16:50. Grinning from ear-to-ear, an invigorated Florian told us that after last year’s DNF he was really happy to secure a seventh place finish — his highest ever on a race. He has gone away and worked on everything, his bike, his fitness, and his off-road skills. The transformation has been impressive, and well deserved. Chapeau, Florian!
Next to finish was Martin Hilgers, staggering over the line less than two hours later, his Pringly wheel held together with Tailfin straps and hope. He was exhausted and emotional, but proud to finish under such conditions. Sitting down and taking a few minutes before he felt able to speak, he told me about his motivations for riding, the demons he chased down the trails, and the sense of emotional progress he felt having finally got over the line.
Back at CP2, more riders were trickling in ahead of this evening’s 23:59 cut-off. Andrew Hatton (04) was the first of the day, another DNF from last year showing huge improvement for TARNo2. He’d had a difficult time in the Lurë-Dejë Mountain National Park, but had stuck at it and been rewarded by making another time-cut. Another rider to make CP2 today was Markku Leppälä (26), who was reaping the benefits of not only a caffeine detox on his performance, but also a musical detox. He told race reporter Tom, over a plate of bean stew, that having been running clean for a while now, it really hits him hard when the bass drops.
The effect of the beat must have been limited however, as having planned to go straight to Hellenic Mountain Race afterwards, he’s decided one is enough for right now — prioritising appreciating the world around him on TAR rather than rushing and spreading himself too thinly.
Just behind Markku, James van der Hoorn (22) had continued spreading his possessions fairly thickly around the entire region. Having already lost glasses, a sit mat, and a VW badge, he had managed to lose and then re-find an additional spoon and a lock since Tom had last caught up with him.
Also into CP2 today, and therefore making the time-cut was Francois Bruyere (18), who was discovering a new side to himself on the race. He sat at the CP chatting to a father/daughter touring duo, reflecting “I’m an introverted person but I’ve realised that sharing with people is really nice, you cannot keep it to yourself”.
Right at the back of the pack, Thorsten Brönner (35) was working hard to make the 23:59 cutoff, and with just under two hours to go, looks like he should make it to the Hotel Piazza in Peshkopi just in time. Meanwhile Michael Fiddora (29) had been working hard since making the CP1 time-cut by just 3 hours, and had been looking good up until disaster struck on the rough doubletrack of Lurë-Dejë. Messaging Rider Comms Manager Jon Endres, he reported that he was having issues with his aeropack, and wasn’t sure how he could continue. As it stands, he has entered a tracking blackspot, but looks unlikely to make it to CP2 in time.
In Shkodër tonight, the hostel sits awake, waiting for one last rider to arrive for the day: Martin Novak (27) last pinged with less than 30km remaining, but with less than 1% battery on his tracker. No longer able to follow his progress, we sit and wait out of a kind of faith as the rain falls in waves and the thunder claps like an ominous herald.
Update: at 23:30 Martin Novak arrived, soggy and gritty, but grateful to be home. He had few words (“it was like the gates of hell out there in the storm”), before going straight off to find himself a hot shower and a bed.
Scratch Report:
No scratches.