Trans Alba Race

🇩🇰 Peter Magill – Cap #37 🇩🇰

Our Danish superstar might be trying to forget that his national team didn’t make the World Cup, but every Scotland flag hanging from a window seemed determined to remind him!

Despite that, Peter embraced the whole Trans Alba experience and, as always, delivered a rock-solid ride around the country. With so many ultras and adventures under his belt, he’s become a familiar face and a true ambassador for this style of riding.

Peter rolls into the history books as our final Talbarian of 2026 and proudly claims the lantern rouge. A title worn with just as much honour as any other position on the leaderboard.

Congratulations Peter, and thank you for being part of another incredible Trans Alba. 👏

Our penultimate Talbarian of 2026, John Skoropada rolled into the finish on Father’s Day after another impressive addition to an already hefty palmarès of endurance events.

John’s ride was perhaps best summed up by one of our favourite finish-line quotes of the year:

“Some s**t happened!”

As concise race reports go, it’s hard to beat.

Despite whatever went down, John kept moving forward and arrived with the calm confidence of someone who knows exactly how to handle the highs, lows and everything in between that a route around Scotland can throw at you.

It was a pleasure to share a few miles with John at the end, riding over to the bridge at what can only be described as a pleasantly sensible pace. Along the way, he particularly enjoyed the hot drink stops with David and the time spent riding with Peter—proof that while the route is spectacular, it’s often the people you meet that make the journey memorable.

What a trip, John. Another huge ride, another Trans Alba finish, and another Talbarian story for the books

A proper Trans Alba veteran, David Fortis is one of only two riders to have completed the route in both directions, having raced in the very first edition before returning to tackle it the other way round this year.

The verdict? Harder… but a much-improved route!

Our favourite Geordie brought his trademark warmth, charm and good humour to the trail, making plenty of friends along the way. Whether it was sharing stories, lifting spirits, or firing up the stove to dish out a brew, David was never far from the action. His tea and coffee-making skills became almost as legendary as his riding.

Another successful lap of Scotland in the books and another chapter added to a remarkable Trans Alba story. Chapeau David! 👏☕🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Alice O’Hanlon | Cap 50 🏁

What a ride from Alice on her first ever ultra!

While some riders finish Trans Alba dreaming of more B&Bs and hotel stops next time around, Alice has gone completely the other way. The tent is getting ditched, the kit list is getting lighter, and the plan is to embrace the bivvy life. In her own words, she’s ready to go “full feral” and “stink like a beast”!

Along the way Alice earned an impressive cyclist’s tan and admitted she learned a huge amount because she managed to make “all” the mistakes. That’s all part of the adventure, and there’s no better way to learn than by getting stuck in.

A massive achievement, plenty of lessons learned, and memories that will last a lifetime. Chapeau Alice

After flirting with the idea of pushing right through the final night, Paul made the wise call to grab some rest before enjoying a glorious final ride home in the sunshine.
His journey around Scotland was a successful one from start to finish, with plenty of miles, memories, and the welcome sight of his wife appearing at various points along the route. Not only did she provide Paul with some much-needed moral support, but she also became a familiar face cheering on riders all across the race.
A steady, smart ride and a well-earned finish for both. 😉

Jelle Devlaminck (Cap 27) rolled into the finish just before 2am, focused on one thing: getting it done.
After days of riding the length and breadth of Scotland, the finish line was firmly in sight. But in true Jelle fashion, the final day still had time for a little distraction. Spotting a band playing outdoors, he pulled over to enjoy the music before suddenly remembering he was actually in a race and had a few miles left to ride!
With the tunes behind him and the finish line ahead, Jelle got back on the bike and ticked off those final miles to become a Trans Alba finisher.
Sometimes it’s not about the time on the clock—it’s about the determination to keep moving forward until the job is done. Chapeau, Jelle!

A huge congratulations to Mike Foy on completing the Trans Alba Race!
Mike delivered a gritty ride from start to finish, digging deep through the highs and lows that Scotland always seems determined to throw at riders. One of the standout moments came after a cold, wet descent off the Bealach na Bà, when salvation arrived in the form of a bacon roll or two in Applecross. Sometimes that’s all it takes to keep the wheels turning!
We’re still not entirely sure whose idea it was for Mike to enter Trans Alba in the first place. Mike reckons we should be pointing the finger at 10th-place finisher Chris Lockett, and we’re happy to go along with that version of events.
Whatever the truth, both riders were absolutely buzzing at the finish line, and rightly so. A fantastic ride, plenty of determination, and another Talbarian added to the list.
Chapeau, Mike