Tour Divide Day 3

Day 3:

Sofiane Sehili is still leading and has not yet slept 48 hours into the race.

(Pic Bill Love)

He flew past Holland Lake around 06:00, knocked off Richmond Peak for breakfast and was at Ovando MT by 12:00. He stopped for under 10 mins, grabbed something to eat, Gatorade and water, and then was off to climb Huckleberry Pass over to Lincoln.

(Pic Kathy Schroendoerfer)

Also riding through the night was bike messenger Nico Deportago-Cabrera on his single speed. He over took Alexandera Houchin to lead the SS category ... more on that tomorrow.

Josh Kato was moving aroung 03:00, and Steve, Josh Ibbett and Lael were off by 05:00 to get through the Swan Valley and over Richmond Peak to Ovando. Nate, Evan, and Kai were on their bikes soon afterwards. Swan Valley welcomes racers with a 590m warm up climb, and then Richmond Peak with it's 832m climb over 32km.

Whitefish resident Bill Love got these pics of the front riders going through Whitefish.

Sofiane Sehili:

Josh Ibbett:

Steve Halligan:

Lael Wilcox:

Josh Kato:

At Holland Lake Josh Ibbett and Nate went off-route to the Lodge for a brief resupply. Behind the chasing pack has been caught and passed by Kim Raeymakers who has overtaken 7 riders by Holland Lake and is riding strong on the hills moving into 14th.

Ovando is at mile 550 and is an institution of the Tour Divide. This tiny town supports all the riders, with Kathy Schoendoerfer one of the key people. She runs Blackfoot Angler shop, and has even started stocking bike spares for all the racers & tourers. They have even set up makeshift accommodation/shelter in a variety of places, including a teepee.

Kathy has a chat with the riders and below is her summary and some pictures:

Sofi: Tour Divide Race First placer Sofiane Sehili of France, made it into Ovando Montana before noon today; making the 550 miles in just under 52 hours. He has not slept yet. Sofiane went for the quick and easy nutricional fix: downing 2 hot dogs and a pastry at the BCC in gut wrenching timing and was out within minutes heading toward Helena which he hopes to make by midnight and get about 4 hours of sleep. Sofiane looked great and energized and just wants to win. Beating the record is not a top priority.

Josh Kato:2nd place Josh Kato of Washington returned to Ovando a bit over 3 hours behind Sofiane with SEVEN (7) hours of sleep under his helmet. In fact says he has been sleeping pretty darn good. Weather is perfect. Trails are great. A few storm clouds building over Richmond but nothing broke. Josh stopped at the BCC for a couple of hot dogs and an ice cream bar and picking up a few snacks. Stuck around for about 15 minutes. Said last year he was chasing Mike's record but was in major hurt due to the crash on Cottonwood that left him physically busted and purple. This year... He is in 2nd place and enjoying the hell out of it. And said he is hoping Sofiane knocks the heck out of this race; but hoping the lack of sleep doesn't undo him.

Josh Ibbett: Third Place Josh Ibbett of England made it into Ovando less than 2 hours after Josh Kato. First time TDR'er altho has done a lot of European races, he claimed he had about 4 hours of sleep over the last 3 days. Not sure where he was going to land up: Lincoln or keep pushing. Stopped at the BCC for an ice cream cone and other drinks. Josh asked if Huckleberry and Stemple were as hard as Richmond Ridge. I replied I didn't think so which appeared to give him a great sense of relief.

Steve:Fourth place Steve Halligan of New Zealand returned again to Ovando. Can't miss him with his neon orange tire marking. He too has had little sleep - 4 hours I believe he said!!. As with previous front runners ran into the Blackfoot Commercial Company for ice cream (the number 1 nutrient of the day it appears) and drinks. He is going to travel on until he can't no more.

Nate: Fifth place Nate Ginzton out of Boise Idaho arrived shortly after #4 Steve Left. First timer on the TDR and I think he is appreciating the beauty that is Canada and northern Montana altho he says there is some tough spot. He too partook in the ice cream nutrictional factor along with as much snacks as he could stuff into his bags. Off to see how far on only a few hours of sleep the last 2 days. And Nate I apologize up front for publishing a photo of you with your mouth full of ice cream bar. But I think I warned ya. :-)

Lael: * #6 all around. #1 female. #1 female breaking her own record. Was being chased by a thunder cell but she was winning until I believe Huckleberry Pass (after Ovando) where it probably caught her. Lael is doing great. She is happy with her ride so far. She is feeling strong and was going to see how far she could get until about midnight to get more sleep. Stocked up on snacks and hotdogs for later. One photo shows the bagged and mustarded meal being squished into a bag. Mmm Mmm delicious!*

Evan:*Last photographed rider for June 16 was Evan Deutsch of Oregon. He did not escape the thunder cell and was caught in the blowing gully washer. A tad wet. Starting to get a lot cold. And focused on getting food, he made a quick job of collecting and storing his purchases and getting back on his way. I do think he enjoyed the enthusiastic farewell given by a few Ovando folks and two previous female TDR rides from several years ago. *

Evan came into town in 45 mins behind Lael and Kai was an hour back and 8th resectively

The next three came in in quick succession of Chris Seistrup, Tony Lesueur and Peter Sandholt (his Spot is finally working properly). Only Tony left town with the others, and those trailing, stopping in Ovando for the night.

Chris Seistrup found the live stream camera .... words fail me ... simply watch and enjoy ...

https://www.facebook.com/blackfootangler.flyshop/videos/2244616172291291/

Tony: Tony Lesueur of New Zealand was a really good sport and showed up on the webcam. Had planned on spending the night in Ovando in the tipi but his legs were feeling good and the sunsets are long so he is continuing!

https://www.facebook.com/blackfootangler.flyshop/videos/2244556465630595/

Day 3 closed out with the following situation:

Sofi finally stopped in Helena at 23:00, around mile 650, after 63 hours without sleep.

Josh Kato rode through Lincoln and stopped trailside around midnight (seems about at the old mines on the second pass around mile 620).

__Lael __stopped around 02:00, after the first pass somewhere trailside around mile 610.

Nate Ginzton was very fast through Lincoln but stopped around 22:30 at mile 592 on the approach to Stemple Pass - there may be a storm on them given the number stopping in Lincoln.

Josh Ibbett was in Lincoln (mile 586) by 20:30 and chose to eat and sleep - probably and early start for him. Steve Halligan was an hour further back and did the same. Evan Deutsch arrived at 23:30 and Kai Edel at midnight, rounding out the Lincoln crew.

Tony Lesuer is trailside at the foot of Huckleberry Pass at mile 564 in 9th place.

The chasing lead bunch are in Ovando - Chris Seistrup, Peter Sandholt, Bear Stillwagon, Dylan Morton, Alexandera Houchin (regaining the Single Speed lead) and Peter Puenner. The only other rider south of Richmond Peak is Kim Raeymakers who stopped trailside at midnight when riding close to Peter and Alexandera.

After Ovando, there's the steepish Huckleberry Pass with a 578m climb to get over to Lincoln. (Famous as the town where the UniBomber hid out in for years). After Lincoln there's 100km to Helena with the double passes of 700m and 650m to knock off. Usually a few racers will miss the turn on the first pass and it's a question of how long they go up Stemple Pass until they spot the error.

On the NOBO race - Graham Suffield has stopped short of Cuba at the Torreon Gas Station is seems - hard to find camp spots out there on the Native American land. By Wednesday he'll be up on Brazos Ridge and we'll hopefully know a little more about the snowlevels. A week ago it was deep up there with some drifts waist deep - but still crossable. The big question for all is whether Indiana Pass in Colorado will be passable - at 3,630m it is the highest point of the trail.