ZDF documentary Transcontinental Race: Jana Kesenheimer & Joschka Völkel race through Europe

"The craziest bike race in the world" is a film by Stephan Wieser for ZDF. In the documentary, he shows the highs and lows of Jana Kesenheimer and Joschka Völkel during the Transcontinental Race 2024. The documentary gives honest insights, a recommendation!

In 2024, the race, TCR for short, took place for the tenth time. This year, the participants had to cycle from Roubaix to Istanbul. The route, around 4,000 kilometres and 42,000 metres in altitude, had to be largely planned by the participants themselves. There were a number of checkpoints and compulsory courses. There was also a list of forbidden roads and more. Anyone using a forbidden road would be disqualified.

The rules of the Transcontinental Race are simple, the enforcement strict. No help from outside - and not from each other and a few more. This also makes it difficult to film such a race, as photographers and videographers are only allowed to be with the participants for a short time and have to keep their distance the rest of the time. Both protagonists apparently had a camera with them, or captured what was happening on their smartphones.

The protagonists

Jana Kesenheimer is not only a well-known figure in the world of ultracycling. The film Three Peaks and in between, also by Stephan Wieser, showed her at the Three Peaks Bike Race and inspired countless people to set off themselves. It is worth emphasising here how many women she encourages and inspires with her presence, her courage and her passion to take on a long distance.

You could say that Jana is an "old hand" in this field. She has a lot of racing experience and is fulfilling a dream by taking part in the TCR. Joschka had never taken part in any other ultracycling event before the Transcontinental Race. The TCR is therefore his debut. And certainly the fulfilment of a dream for him.

Deep and honest insights

The film offers deep and honest insights into the emotions of the two protagonists, but also shows other participants. "I'm not in the mood today," admits Jana Kesenheimer on day 3. Somehow reassuring that strong riders like Jana can feel the same way. Joschka reports knee pain and a broken air pump jeopardises his onward journey. We won't reveal any more at this point.

Be sure to watch!