Start: 04:38 on Friday, 26 July 2024, Samobor, Croatia
Elapsed time: 19:00:01
Moving time: 13:36:41
Distance: 337.65 km
Elevation: 1928 m
The day started off well, riding through Croatia. While the roads weren’t as good as Slovenia’s, they were decent enough. There were no climbs, and everything went smoothly.
The heat started creeping in as the day progressed, with high temperatures during the day but rather chilly conditions at night and in the mornings. After about six hours of riding, I reached the border crossing into Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Roughly 10 km into Bosnia, I had a longer stop to change clothes, apply sunscreen, and adjust a few things. My bike had been making an annoying clicking noise for a couple of days, and it was driving me crazy.
The traffic in Bosnia and Herzegovina was noticeably more “southern European”—lively, heavy, and a bit chaotic. Vehicles often passed dangerously close, with buses and trucks pulling in sharply after overtaking, forcing me into the gutter or making me brake. At times, it was genuinely uncomfortable.
My original plan was to reach Sarajevo, but progress was slow, and the heat didn’t make it any easier. In Prnjavor, I stopped at a bike shop to investigate the clicking noise, which had grown louder.
The mechanic there spoke perfect English and was incredibly helpful. He spent 30–45 minutes thoroughly checking the bike. Everything seemed fine, but the clicking noise persisted. Despite his efforts, he refused to accept any payment, and we ended up chatting about the race. (After I reached Istanbul, we stayed in touch—he had been following the race after I left!)
That night marked my first time sleeping outside. I found what looked like a quiet, covered shelter and settled in. In the morning, I realized it was actually a Muslim graveyard. But hey, I managed to get a few hours of solid sleep!
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