The day starts by crossing the Sierpe River via ferry, ahead one of the most ‘runnable’ days with an abundance of gravel road interspersed with technical trails.

It’s an iconic stage where a boat crossing is required in the final 5km’s transporting runners from one land section to another before the run in towards the iconic Drake Bay.

A delayed start due to problems with the ferry meant the runner’s started 1-hour late. Sometimes, situations happen and there is nothing to do than say, Pura Vida and carry on.

Once underway, the race split at the front with Pierre Meslet deciding no matter how bad the ankle, let’s give it a go. Cristofer Clemente Mora followed and then Cody Lind and Jean Francois Cauchon.

It was only a matter of time before Cody and Jean-Francois took control of the race and the duo finished together in 4:28 (time tbc due to a delay at the boat crossing).

Cristofer finished 3rd.

For the women, Katie Young well and truly sealed the 2024 TCC with an outstanding performance in 5:55. All day, she smile, ran fast and smooth and dare I say, made it look easy! This TCC is a breakthrough performance for Katie, especially coming after a top-10 at MDS in 2023.

Lina El Kott Helander finished 2nd in 6:14. Lina could very easily have pulled out of the race early in the week after damaging her right arm. She has fought on and impressively so, chapeaux!

Marline Côté finished just ahead of Sanna El Kott Helander, 6:33 and 6:41 respectively. But it was Janina Beck from Germany who finished 3rd in 6:31.

The racing is now done! Stage 6 tomorrow and it would take an absolute disaster to change the ranking, so, expect a victory loop. And let’s face it, a fun loop is well deserved, despite the fact not many would call 35.9km an easy loop…

Pura Vida.

• Jean-Francois Cauchon 4:28:17 (tbc)
• Cody Lind 4:28:17 (tbc)
• Cristofer Clemente Mora 4:30:28 (tbc)

• Katie Young 5:55:07
• Lina El Kott Helander 6:14:56
• Janina Beck 6:31:24

Overall:

• Cody Lind 22:41:18
• Jean-Francois Cauchon 23:02:46
• Cristofer Clementa Mora 23:45:14

• Katie Young (7th overall) 30:46:07
• Lina El Kott Helander 31:53:57
• Sanna El Kott Helander 32:56:52