Tour Divide Day 14

Day 14:

Chris Seistrup (Pic Pete Basinger)

Chris Seistrup had consolidated his lead over Polvadera Mesa and had a good night sleep in Cuba. Pulling into town at 22:30, he was off by 05:00 on the long, hot, paved section through Navajo Nation Resevation lands to Grants. It's about 120 miles with under 500m of climbing and a tailwind would be ideal. There's a gas station at Torrean a little way in, and then a full convenience store at Chaco Wash Laundry about 40 miles after Cuba.

Chris Seistrup in the NM sunrise https://www.instagram.com/p/BzNmda4lPnN/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

(If you're wondering why there is a laundry in the middle of this desolate stretch with a convenience store, have a look at this clip from CBS detailing the water shortage issue facing many in the Navajo Nation:) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk8Rm9EsET4

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Chris Seistrup: Holy heckin’ headwinds. I died under a tree for a bit, but made it to Grants, NM for an enchilada eating contest with myself. https://www.instagram.com/p/BzOm28VF__R/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Steven Halligan and Nate Ginzton are still riding solid, but Chris has put the hammer down and is slowly pulling out the gap. Back in the hunt for 4th, Tony Lesueur is going as fast as he can, but is being hunted down each day by Peter Sandholt who seems to gets 10 miles closer each evening to Tony. Today seems like Peter will finally catch him.

Between 11:15 and 15:00 the chasers cross into NM. Stefano Roumaldi has been out on his own for a few days, and is being hunted by an extremely talented trio with great road pedigree of Evan Deutsch, Kai Edel and Josh Ibbett. With some really long paved sections coming up, this groupetto could really fly up the order. Just 2 hours behind is another grupetto of Kim Raeymaekers, Bear Stillwagon and Lucas Ratliff. The race to get the bragging rights of a top 10 finish is going to be very close amongst this whole group -and with 680 miles to go there's plenty of time for a lot to happen.

Josh Kato has escaped the confines of his hospital bed and got a pic of Kim Raeymaekers in Del Norte in the evening and Beau Troesch in the morning:

Kim Raeymaekers:

Beau Troesch:

Alexandera Houchin is still hungry for miles and putting in long days at the head of the Women's race. She is 28 hours ahead of the current Women's Single Speed record leaving Del Norte, and barring mechanical or tyre sucking mud, she seems on track to acheive her goal of setting a new record in that category.

Josh Kato snapped this: Alexandera Houchin rolling towards Del Norte. When she finishes she will be the first ever back-to-back female winner of the TD. Get it!

After Grants, Chris put in the hard washerboard miles to Pie Town. On the way out there bikepacking legend Pete Basinger (and former co-organiser of the pre-curser race to the TD) caught a some snaps of Chris heading through El Mapais and on the gravel to Pie Town.

Steve crossed the paved section to Grants and called it a night there, whilst Nate stopped trailside about 46 miles short of Grants.

In Salida, Janet Blessington met Nic Brown: Caught up with Nic Brown on 120 by the Fairgrounds leaving Salida. He said the ride today was windy with some hail before dropping down in to Salida where it was 86 degrees! He was in search of some food!

Nick Brown: (pic Janet Blessington)

About thirty minutes later, Scott Robinson also zoomed into Salida. Still cheerful despite the day fighting the headwinds. Fun day meeting up with all the riders! Calling it a night and will pick up again tomorrow...... following the dots!

Scott Robinson: (pic Janet Blessington)

In Salida Brenda Wiard caught up with a couple of racers: Geof Blance (in Black) from New Zealand and Davy Patterson (in Red) from Ireland just rolled into Salida and made a quick stop at Absolute Bikes. I believe the nice folks there adjusted the drive train on Geof's bike and did some more extensive work on Davy's back wheel (which was a replacement wheel he got from a used bike way back in Canada). Both were looking pleased to have reached the bike shop before it closed, but weary after fighting nasty head winds all the way across South Park (shame on you Colorado for that!). Their plans involve heading out just a bit farther today, perhaps to Poncha Springs.

Geof Blance: (pic Brenda Wiard)

Davy Patterson: (pic Brenda Wiard)

Geof's update from Salida: https://www.instagram.com/p/BzO32jElGQE/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Janet Blessington: An energetic Dave Barter zoomed into Salida looking for food before heading out to Poncha Springs. He wanted to catch up with Geof and Davy. Bad headwinds seems to be the theme of the day. Still 86 degrees in Salida at 7:00PM.

Dave Barter: (Pic Janet Blessington)

Dylan Morton is into ColoRADo and will be over Boreas Pass and into South Park today: https://www.instagram.com/p/BzOGCohghC9/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Janie Hayes and Jimmy Bisese are into ColoRADo too: https://www.instagram.com/p/BzPRYP8lL5j/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

They're still welcoming them in, feeding them up and sending them off at Brush Mountain Lodge: https://www.instagram.com/p/BzOZ3QtlslQ/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzOZYoZl3Q2/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzOZnqZFOgQ/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Ross Burrage got a great camp site out in the Basin, Wyoming: https://www.instagram.com/p/BzOJHqQA98G/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzOI0RkAD5v/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Hal Russell arrived in Pinedale at 23:30 and was on the road by 07:30. He posted: A few pictures of my travels along the way. Slept one night just two feet over the state line In Wyoming. Yesterday got caught in a nice snow thunderstorm up on Lava Mountain. Met a nice lady as I was coming out of the Green River Valley on my way to Pinedale yesterday. She was cheering riders on as they passed through. Pretty awesome! 🙂

John Schilling is making good progress seems to be leapfroggin a bit with Hal: https://www.instagram.com/p/BzLvpzbl9OQ/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Sofiane Sehili was interviewed by the Bikes or Death Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/special-release-sofiane-sehili/id1441449809?i=1000442992315

At 03:00 the positions were:

Chris Seistrup: 2,427, stopped at Pie Town

Steve Halligan: 2,351, stopped at Grants

Nate Ginzton: 2,304 stopped trailside north of Grants

Tony Lesueur: 2,186, stopped trailside on Polvadera Mesa

Peter Sandholt: 2,181, stopped trailside on Polvadera Mesa

Stefano Roumaldi: 2,154, stopped at Abiquiu (Bodes General Store)

Evan Deutsch / Kai Edel / Josh Ibbet: 2,153, stopped at Abiquiu (camping behind Abiquiu Inn ... note: there's a power socket for the RV's that can be used to charge devices behind the Inn).

Lucas Ratliff / Bear Stillwagon: 2,135 - stopped trailside north of El Rito

Kim Raeymaekers: 2,120 - stopped at Post Office in Vallecitos

Peter Kraft : 2,066 - stopped trailside on Brazos Ridge

Others:

Ryan Simon (leading Single Speed): 2,101, Platoro

Alexandera Houchin(leading woman, leading single speed woman): 1,981 still riding up Indiana Pass

Geof Blance: 1,810 Poncha Springs

Dylan Morton: 1,805, Salida

Zoe Chauderlot: 1,758, Hartsell

Ross Burrage: 1,513, Brush Mountain Lodge

John Schilling: 1,338, trailside south of Atlantic City

Hal Russell: 1,333, Atlantic City

NOBO leder Daniel Thrush is camped at mile 1,530 south on Union Pass, with Maxwell Southam about 100 miles back in the Basin north of Atlantic City.