The Road From Istanbul

Day 1

Distance:
107.8 km

Starting point:
Istanbul (city centre)

Finishing point:
Çorlu

Elevation:
1,084m of climbing

Fun facts:

• We’ll be cycling out of one of the world’s most iconic cities
• The route will take us along the Sea of Marmara with some cracking coastal views
• A kebab stop in Silivri is 100% on the cards.

Challenges:

• We’re expecting heat and very little shade after breakfast
• The second half of the day has some long, steady climbs to grind through
• Getting out of Istanbul’s traffic will be… interesting. 

Day 2

Distance:
127.1 km​

Starting point:
Çorlu​

Finishing point:
Edirne​

Elevation:
1,146 m of climbing​

Fun facts:

• We’ll be pedaling through a blend of rural charm and historical significance
• The route includes several climbs, such as the “necatiyeden climb” (1.58 km at 4.9% gradient) and the “Yenibedir Benzinlik Tırmanış” (0.70 km at 4.4% gradient), offering both challenge and scenic views
• Edirne, our destination, is renowned for its rich Ottoman history and stunning architecture.​

Challenges:

• The cumulative elevation gain will test our endurance early on, especially with multiple climbs throughout the day
• Navigating through rural areas may present limited access to amenities, so we’ll need to plan our rest and refuelling stops carefully
• Weather conditions can be unpredictable; we’ll need to be prepared for varying temperatures and potential headwinds.​

Day 3

Distance:
Approximately 50 km​

Starting point:
Edirne, Turkey​

Finishing point:
Svilengrad, Bulgaria​

Elevation:
Modest elevation gain, making for a relatively gentle ride​

Fun facts:

• We’ll be crossing an international border by bike — Hello Bulgaria!
• The route takes us through scenic countryside with picturesque views. We’ll be in rural Bulgaria from the off
• Svilengrad is known for its historic bridge over the Maritsa River and its vibrant local culture.​

Challenges:

• Navigating border crossing procedures — passports at the ready!​
• Potential language barriers as we transition from Turkish to Bulgarian regions.
• Ensuring we stay hydrated and energised, even on a shorter ride
• Will Stuart be able to handle the local Bulgarian delicacies?

Day 4

Distance:
Roughly 113 km (or as we like to call it: a long, long way to lunch)

Starting point:
Svilengrad, Bulgaria

Finishing point:
Pazardzhik, Bulgaria

Elevation:
Around 1,200 m – not quite the Alps, but enough to make us question our life choices

Fun facts:

• We’ll be cycling deep into Bulgaria, where tractors outnumber cars and the scenery does all the talking
• This leg includes a fine mix of countryside meandering and “why are we still going uphill?”
• Plovdiv is one of the oldest cities in Europe, so we’ll roll in sweaty, tired, and historically humbled.

Challenges:

• 113 km is a big day, especially when your legs are already two countries old.
• Finding decent snacks en route might be a gamble – we’re packing emergency Haribo
• The weather could do anything. Sunburn, downpour, or both at once – Stuart’s practical jokes might be required to get us through the day.

Day 5

Distance:
Roughly 125 km (give or take a few detours for snacks)

Starting point:
Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Finishing point:
Sofia – the capital, baby!

Elevation:
~1,200 m – enough to make us question downhill physics

Fun facts:

• This ride connects two of Bulgaria’s biggest cities — basically the Tour de Bulgaria (but without the support car or champagne)
• We can expect forests, valleys, hills and at least one existential crisis before lunch
• Sofia has mountains and metro lines – we’ll be rolling in like dusty urban explorers.

Challenges:

• A long day in the saddle with plenty of rolling terrain
• Urban traffic on both ends – ideal for testing our brakes and patience
• Energy levels may dip mid-ride, so we’ll be running on fumes, adrenaline and roadside pastries.

This one’s a biggie — but the thought of reaching a real city (with hot food and even hotter showers) should keep morale intact. If not, there’s always muttering, moaning, and mutual pep talks. Sofia or bust.

Day 6

Distance:
Around 100 km (aka: one “easy day” that still wrecks your legs)

Starting point:
Sofia, waving goodbye to city comforts

Finishing point:
Pirot – The Bulgarian–Serbian border (time to charm the border guards with helmet hair)

Elevation:
Roughly 1,000 m – a polite way of saying “bring snacks, and your lowest gear”

Fun facts:

• We’ll be cycling west all day, chasing sunsets and probably a few stray dogs – or the stray dogs chasing us!
• There’s a real chance we’ll roll up to border control looking like we’ve just biked out of a survival film.

Challenges:

• Legs will be cooked from the previous rides – we’ll be entering “complaining as a sport” territory
• Border crossings can be unpredictable, so we’ll be on our best behaviour (maybe)
• Limited towns en route, so it’s a picnic-in-a-ditch kind of day.

One more country, one more checkpoint – and probably one more tube of chamois cream.

Day 7

Distance:
About 100 km – not the longest day, but definitely not a rest day either.

Starting point:
Pirot

Finishing point:
Aleksinac, Serbia – home of history, hot food, and hopefully hot showers.

Elevation:
A big downhill day. finally!

Fun facts:

• Our first full day in Serbia New country, new snacks, same sore legs
• This route includes scenic villages, rolling hills, and at least one moment where we pretend we’re in the Tour de France (but with worse kit and more snacking)

Challenges:

• Road signs might get creative – Cyrillic guessing games incoming
• Our saddle sores will now be eligible for citizenship.

Day 8

Distance:
Roughly 110 km – or, in more relatable terms, several hours of “are we nearly there yet?”

Starting point:
Aleksinac, Serbia

Finishing point:
Markovac, Serbia

Elevation:
Around 1,200 m – basically a leg day disguised as sightseeing

Fun facts:

• This route takes us through the proper belly of Serbia, with fields, forests, and the occasional tractor doing 7kph in front of us
• We’ll pass through towns you’ve never heard of, but will now associate with either amazing pastries or an emergency toilet stop
• Kraljevo literally means “King’s Town” – which feels appropriate, as we’ll be arriving like royalty: sweaty, confused and demanding carbs.

Challenges:

• Road quality could range from silky tarmac to “guess the pothole depth”
• Elevation is sneaky – nothing monstrous, just enough to wear us down like a passive-aggressive staircase
• Saddle discomfort has officially evolved from ‘mild irritation’ to ‘negotiating with our bikes like hostage takers.

Day 9

Distance:
Around 140 km – long enough to make us reconsider all our life choices… again

Starting point:
Markovac, Serbia

Finishing point:
Belgrade, Serbia

Elevation:
Roughly 1,500 m – imagine climbing a mountain, then another one, then doing it again because you took a wrong turn

Fun facts:

• This route might technically be in Serbia, but parts of it may spiritually feel like the Alps.
• We’ll be deep in rural territory, where the air is fresh and the hills are passive-aggressive.
• Užice is famous for being tucked into a gorge, which is scenic now and a massive pain tomorrow when we have to cycle out of it.

Challenges:

• Legs will be tired, morale will be tested, and snack rations may devolve into bartering.
• The climbs come thick and fast – there’s no “warm-up,” just “why are we going up already?”
• Strava might ask if we’re okay by the halfway point.

Day 10

Distance:
78.09 km – a “short” day, if you’re comparing it to a Tour de France stage.

Starting point:
Belgrade, Serbia

Finishing point:
Zrenjanin, Serbia

Elevation:
92 m of climbing – just enough to remind our legs they’re alive.

Fun facts:

• We’ll be cycling through the heart of Serbia, experiencing a blend of urban charm and rural tranquility.
• The route offers a mix of flat stretches and gentle inclines, providing both relaxation and scenic views.
• Zrenjanin, our destination, is renowned for its rich history and stunning architecture.Challenges:
• Navigating through urban areas may present traffic challenges, so we’ll need to stay alert.
• Weather conditions can be unpredictable; we’ll need to be prepared for varying temperatures and potential headwinds.
• Ensuring we don’t get too comfortable on this “easier” day and forget to pace ourselves for the journey ahead. 

This leg of the journey promises to be a delightful ride through diverse landscapes and historical sites.

Day 11

Distance:
118 km – just long enough to argue over directions exactly twice.

Starting point:
Zrenjanin, Serbia – bidding farewell to ćevapi (for now).

Finishing point:
Szeged, Hungary – where paprika is life and pronunciation is optional.

Elevation:
112 m – flatter than our jokes after ten days on the road.

Fun facts:

• Today we’ll casually cycle from Serbia to Hungary, so we’ll have passports ready and cheesy smiles for border selfies.
• Szeged is famous for two things: sunshine and salami—both critical for cycling recovery.
• We’ll be expecting smooth roads and rural charm—perfect scenery for pretending we’re in a cycling documentary.Challenges:
• Border crossings: practicing our best “innocent cyclists, please let us in” faces.
• Resisting the urge to sprint the flats like overly enthusiastic Tour de France wannabes.
• Deciding who ate the last emergency chocolate bar before we hit Hungary.

Day 12

Distance:
113 km – just enough time to regret not stretching in the morning.

Starting point:
Szeged – home of paprika, sunshine, and a dangerously good bakery we may “accidentally” loop back to.

Finishing point:
Lajosmizse – no idea how to pronounce it, but we’ll be thrilled when we get there.

Elevation:
118 m – basically a breadcrumb trail of gentle humps pretending to be hills.

Fun facts:

• Cows outnumber cars. Possibly cyclists too. Expect lots of curious stares from local livestock.
   

Potential hiccups:

• Wind. Crosswind, headwind, emotional wind — it’s all on the table.
• Long, straight roads = very few turns = existential conversations with ourselves.
• Hydration strategy may devolve into “stop at any shop that sells ice cream.” 

Think of this one as a moving meditation: miles of open road, minimal hills, and the soothing soundtrack of tyre hum and snack wrappers. We’ll roll into Lajosmizse feeling philosophical, slightly sunburnt, and extremely ready for dinner.

Day 13

Day 14

Day 15

Day 16

Day 17

Day 18

Day 19

Day 20

Day 21

Day 22

Day 23

Day 24

Day 25

Day 26

Day 27

Day 28

Day 29

Day 30

Distance:
85.9 km – the grand finale, just a casual spin to wrap things up.​

Starting point:
Market Drayton – where it all begins, again.​

Finishing point:
Liverpool – the land of The Beatles, football, and now, our triumphant finish line.​

Elevation:
449 m – a few bumps to keep things interesting, but nothing we can’t handle after all this time.​

Fun facts:

• This is the final leg of your epic journey – time to channel our inner scouse.
• We’ll pass through charming countryside and perhaps spot a few sheep cheering us on.Challenges:
• Resisting the urge to stop at every pub along the way for a celebratory pint.
• Navigating the final stretches without getting too emotional
• Remembering that “just one more hill” actually means “just one more hill.”​ 

We’ll be finding a good old scouse boozer to help us celebrate getting over that finish line!