Tour Divide Day 11

Day 11:

The Fearless Four have established an unassailable break on the pack.

Chris Seistrup had a nice 6 hour stop in the lead and then rode through to Poncha Springs for a decent meal stop before tackling Marshall Pass. Marshall Pass is one of the last big passes - rising to 3,300m with a 1,137m clim from Salida. The first part is paved, then it goes off-road on a railway grade climb over the pass to Sargents and Tomichi Trading Post.

Josh Kato woke in 4th, took off from Silverthorne after a 12 hour recovery break (see Day 10 report) in the early morning around 02:30, and by 03:30 was on the edge of Breckenridge when Steve headed out a few miles ahead. Nate left Breck at the same time Josh passed through and the trio were only a few miles apart when they started to climb Bores Pass. The top 1/3rd is pretty open so the chasers would have had a view onto Steve's lights. It's a 750m climb followed by some fun single track on the Gold Dust Trail and then a gravel haul over South Park to Hartsel. Seems like no-one stopped at Hartsell, and Josh Kato was about 10 mins behind Steve the whole way to Salida, where Steve passed through to stop at Poncha Springs, and Josh stopped in Salida. Leaving Poncha Springs, Josh was just 1.4 miles behind Steve - after 1,800 miles of racing and with 1,000 miles to go. (i.e. if it were a mile race he'd be equivalent of under 3 feet behind).

Meanwhile, back at Brush Mountain Lodge, the racers faced the indignity and reality check of Reid Passmore, a tourer on his heavy touring bike, riding solo NOBO over the "impassable" trail from Steamboat to Brush Mountain Lodge. It seemed to be a wake-up call for some of the racers who were convincing themselves that the track was "not passable" - despite 4 riders having already passed it. That from a group of 11 racers, no-one would harden up, suck it up and start hiking with their bikes on their backs, was surprising to many veterans in the bikepacking community.

Sarah Hammond: *Yes they can {move forward}. They can walk. It just takes time and patience. Not all bike rides are riding, all the time. Australia is all about hiking through sand. It’s slow, but achievable. *

Jay Petervary: *Sure they can {move forward}. It's just slower and requires more patience. They would have been through it all if they kept going. *

Reid Passmore: Made it from Steamboat to the Lodge yesterday. There was pretty significant hike a bike for 3-4 hours but it was totally doable. Snow part is like 3-4 miles and it never got above my knees.

From Kim Raeymaekers post you can hear that they were relying on hearsay and someone doing a reconnaissance ride on Lael's film crew's electric bike: https://www.instagram.com/p/BzHZpX0FT4T/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Scene at Brush from Ryan Le Garrec: https://www.instagram.com/p/BzG0IZVF--D/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Finally, five headed out into the mud and snow at 04:00. The group was Stefano Roumaldi, Tony Lesueur, Peter Sandholt, Bear Stillwagon, and Lucas Ratliff. Word from some of the racers was that the balance had all decided to quit the day before in a classic case of group-think. However, this resolve to quit crumbled in the face of the reality that Reid had crossed on a touring set-up, and that the five early starters were making good progress. Who dares wins.

Ryan Le Garrec go this shot of Peter Sandholt: https://www.instagram.com/p/BzHrco1ILR7/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Peter Kraft was first of the bunch to follow, with Kai Edel and Josh Ibbett soon to start their chase too. Kim Raeymaekers and Evan Deutsch were next out, with Les Brown and Beau Troesch close behind (they both arrived Day 10 nightime). Next bunch were Alexandera Houchin, Ryan Simon (also single speed), Nico Deportago-Cabrera (single speed), David Langley, and Peter Peunner. Late arrival Robert Goldie was last to head out, not doubt rested, well fed and with clean kit by virtue of Kirsten Henricksen at Brush Mountain lodge.

Kim Raeymaekers: https://www.instagram.com/p/BzH0VWDlj6j/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Kim Raeymaekers: https://www.instagram.com/p/BzHJT4nFDmH/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Ryan Le Garrec: https://www.instagram.com/p/BzHp_JBoTiQ/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Alexandera has now moved into the Womens lead by virtue of her perserverence and grit. Nico, her long time "single speed adversary/partner in crime" seems to have stopped in Steamboat and word is that he is thinking about quitting. Lael Wilcox has also scratched after falling off her own record pace.

Lael once again departs the Tour Divide winless (in 2015 Beth Dunne was the winner of the Tour Divide Grand Depart as Beth followed the correct route to Mexico in her pink top, crushed it and won in 19:02:37 beating Eszter Horyani's former women's record and still has the fastest winning time for the Grand Depart.). Records get broken, wins are forever. There is a pretty sizeable gap to second placed woman Zoe Chauderlot who is 110 miles back and Alexandera is 150 miles ahead of the current Women's Single Speed record. Looking good for the dental student on her Chumba bike.

https://www.instagram.com/p/By-jKyrABh-/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

The leaders were quick over Marshall Pass, so no snow there, and with a quick stop at Tomichi Trading Post they were on their way. Chris was about 3.5 hours ahead of Steve, with Josh Kato a further 30 mins back. Nate is a further 3.5 hours behind Josh.

From Sargents they have Cochetopa Pass (3,050m, 600m ascent) and Canero Pass (3,100m, 600m ascent) to cross before the 40 mile drag into Del Norte.

The mid-pack are grinding on. Andy Phillips (ITT) posted this: Middle and last part of the road to Savery from wamsutter is pretty muddy I rode it yesterday and ended up taking the pasture in places because I couldn’t even push my bike through. Might be better by now just depends on the rain.

Hal Russell has passed the 1,000 mile mark is is camped up trailside on Ashton-Flagg Rd. Togwotee Pass for him tomorrow most likely.

Geof Blance posted this from the Basin: https://www.instagram.com/p/BzHekoQFm5o/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Ross Burrage is having Type 2 Fun over Union Pass into Pinedale: https://www.instagram.com/p/BzFJv8ygP1q/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet https://www.instagram.com/p/BzHmbwsgZPC/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

The NOBO leader Graham Suffield rode from Steamboat to Wamsutter with a short stop in Brush. He's nearly at the half way point and will be hoping for tailwinds accross the Basin. Behind him, Dan Thrush crossed Boreas Pass in some cold conditions:

Josh Ibbett, who is in the race for 5th, features in this little trailer from Ryan le Garrec for the upcoming video project Elephant on long distance cycling:

https://vimeo.com/340528398

Parts 2 and 3 of The Radavist articles on the TD are up:

https://theradavist.com/2019/06/2019-tour-divide-race-part-2/

https://theradavist.com/2019/06/2019-tour-divide-race-part-3/

Race Postitions at 03:00

Chris Seistrup: 1,960 stopped at Del Norte

Steve Halligan: 1,907 stopped trailside

Josh Kato: 1,904 stopped trailside

Nate Grinzton: 1,869 stopped trailsid

Next riders are at Silverthorne, mile 1,695 ... 174 miles behind 4th place.