The Latvian journey begins by guiding cyclists along the Baltic coast. As it nears Riga, the route turns inland, weaving through scenic farmlands. Continuing through the suburbs, it ensures a safe ride into Riga, a historic city with well-maintained cycling paths. The route then explores more rolling countryside and quiet backroads, progressing towards Lithuania.
Following a brief ferry journey across the Baltic Sea from Helsinki, riders will arrive in Estonia’s captivating medieval capital city. Once out of Tallinn, the route follows rolling countryside with cycling paths winding through hills, lakes, and forests. The days are long, and it never gets completely dark.
After traversing the least populated region in Europe, riders will arrive at Checkpoint 1 in Helsinki at kilometer 1753, having conquered a total elevation gain of 15,000 meters. The next phase of the adventure includes boarding the ferry to Estonia.
Finland’s landscape: endless trees, calm lakes, and beautiful views. What’s special about this part of the route? There are hardly any people around. As cyclists ride through the length of the country, it feels really quiet and peaceful. It’s as if the journey and solitude become companions.
“Bizarre to be able to take a photo of my shadow cycling at 3 a.m. I saw a reindeer and an Arctic fox. The roads were empty so we had our run of things. It was as if we were the only people in the world, cycling along this amazing coast.” Christopher Ross Bennett
At 46 km after the start, on the 307m high cliff where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Arctic Ocean, riders dive into the 6870m long undersea tunnel.
Have you ever ridden your bike under the sea? Have you ever ridden your bike 212m below sea level?
The tunnel, along with the Honningsvåg Tunnel, was built between 1993 and 1999 to connect the mainland of Norway with the town of Honningsvåg and the tourist attraction at the North Cape. King Harald V of Norway officially opened the tunnel on June 15, 1999. The maximum gradient is 10%
Photo left: The north portal of the tunnel. Photo middle: Irena Sosinska 2022 in the the tunnel. Photo right: Bernd Paul 2022 at the south portal of the tunnel.
Starting at 00:01 on June 20th, the NorthCape-Tarifa bicycle adventure begins on the shortest night of the year. The journey starts at the most northern point of the European mainland, crossing 15 countries before reaching the most southern point of the European mainland.
Most riders choose to travel by the organized bus from Alta to the starting point. After enjoying a dinner, which is included in the starting fee, and a short briefing, riders have some time to make final preparations, check their gear, or even take a nap.
We are thrilled that the registration list for this year’s adventure is already longer than that of previous years.
We would like to inform you that the registration fee will increase starting from November 1st. For those interested in registering for the next edition of the NCT, kindly follow the link below or simply visit our website.
NorthCape – Tarifa starts on June 20th, 2024, at 00:01. Remember, nowhere is too far!
We’re excited to let you know that registration for the NorthCape-Tarifa bike adventure 2024 will open on August 11th at 22:00!
Anyone who’s interested in riding the entire length of Europe, from the northernmost to the southernmost point, is welcome to join.
The adventure covers the same distance of 7400 kilometers and starts on the 20th of June 2024 at 00:01, which happens to be the shortest night of the year!
Categories: Single rider | Pair riders | Recumbent bikes