Race Across The World 2026

[LindorDoubleChoc]

Hooray!

This is back for another series, starting Thursday.

I just googled very quickly and they set off from Sicily and end the race in northern Mongolia - sounds interesting.

I don't know anything else about it at this point, but thought that we should have a thread ready and waiting.

Is that not because it was the military junta who renamed it Myanmar? That lady may have fled from them. I'm sure I read somewhere that there's a sound ethical case for continuing to call it Burma.

No, I think PP is right, Türkiye is Turkish for the country formerly known as Turkey.

It might not be the same for all the previous examples. There's not a blanket rule or reason for a name change for international recognition.

Beijing for example used to be romanised as Peking (apparently based on an older pronunciation of Mandarin and romanised by French Jesuit missionaries). Beijing is how it is romanised in pinyin which is now used in mainland China. The name itself has never changed, just the romanisation. (The Pei in Taipei is pronounced exactly the same in Chinese as the Bei in Beijing; they are the same character, meaning North. And while I'm on a waffle, the j is Beijing is like the j in jam, not the j in je m'appelle.)

Head hurts now! 🤯 I'm probably wrong! 😆

I'm going back to thinking about those wonderful balloons!

Looking forward to the next episode.

To remind everyone this journey is along the old silk road.

Can't wait to go to Sicily in two weeks time. Our journey starts in Rome.

Yes! I think that might be the case. I can’t remember the full details and certainly to an extent to relay them on here. But I think that’s correct

Those boys... they're a bit naive and they're really going to come unstuck with only 50% of the dosh left. Such a silly mistake. Also, why did they only ask to take the taxi from Mersin to Gaziantep, when the destination was Halfeti? The voice over noted that all groups needed to go through Gaziantep, but I didn't realise they had to stop there?

Whilst the next countries will be cheaper to travel through, they also won't earn as much when working.

I really like the father daughter combo. Their reaction to still being in the race at the end of the episode made me teary. They were so happy and proud of themselves. Good on them, and she did it with a dicky tummy.

Sad to see the cousins relegated. That Covid story was heartbreaking.

Harrison has been very funny (haha) throughout. Though he clearly has a sad backstory or an OCD of sorts. I like their team.

Margo and Mark are a bit random. Probably the couple I am least interested in.

I expect so.....although a big part of me hopes that he entered the show just because it is a free holiday!

that would make sense

Signing in

Thats their lead shredded

Mark looks like ABBA Bjorn - the way Bjorn looks now.

Evening all

Evening. I’m just back from holiday and watching is making me want to go again. Darn work and lack of lottery win

So funny you are a minger 🤣

Awww! I’m a little bit in love with this chap who let the lads stay with him & his family

When we went to Turkey (admittedly a long time ago) people were really helpful and friendly. It was a cheapo package holiday but we hired a car at one point and spent a few days just driving about, sorting out home stays as we went. So many amazing ancient temple ruins, and often we were the only people there. Just us and the tortoises 🐢

I love turkey halsall. We have been twice. To Istanbul. People are great. And the food. 😧

Molly and her dad remind me/ have the same dynamic as me and my dad

Omg the cats ♥️♥️

Yes, it’s great. I'll never forget just pulling off the road into little village places and having whatever was on the menu that day. Often meat from a whole lamb they were just roasting on a spit outside in the garden.

Mark and Margo are winning this leg. Good for them.

Margo is great!

Margo having a great time

I’m so glad they’ve all been close and not days apart finishing legs.

There’s nowt for them free range birds to eat apart from bird food. They are not out in fields or anything