Day 9

Day 9

Sofiane Sehili: *It's all right. I got lost at the top of the col in the middle of the night. Can't find the way in the snow. I had to turn around because the temperature fell under the-5 degrees and that I'm not equipped to face these temperatures. *

And with that the Tour Divide has a new leader. Quite a day up at the sharp end ....

Soifiane was pushing (literally) through the night, snow and mud over the Pass to Steamboat Springs after a quick stop at Brush Mountain Lodge (BML) when it all went wrong for him. Sofi lost the track in the snow and the dark. He spent 2 hours trying to rest at temps of -5C, and then made the decision at around 04:30 to turn back down the mountain and return to BML, which took him 3.5 hours to go 15 miles. On the way he passed Josh Kato who was likley sleeping, and Chris Seistrup who was just starting up for the day having wisely rested at BML through the night for a solid 8.5 hours.

Josh Kato was now in the lead (perhaps unknowingly) and headed off over the pass in the early morning. On arrviving at Steamboat Springs photographer Ryan Le Garrec got some pics and commented

@joshkatobike refuelling in Steamboat Springs. 4 sausages, large coffee, large iced coffee, one unidentified food pouch full of unidentified candies, chips and stuff. “I don’t wanna be first, I really am just sad @sofianeshl has had such a terrible night, was mad out there and cold, I crossed eyes with a cougar at some point, he looked at me, I looked at him then he left, was a long short moment you know...” good luck @joshkatobike coolest racer ever; “I don’t care to win anything here, am here for a good time, frankly I'd gladly not be first.”

He's bummed Sofiane had such a rough night, doesn’t really wanna be first in the race now or at any point, doesn’t care to race, just having a good time, almost had a fight with a cow in Atlantic city under the storm but lightning saved him, striking just between him and the charging cow, also crossed eyes with a cougar last night for a moment that felt way too long, used his iPhone only to call his wife and say : “hey babe, am still alive, see ya!” Bummed and checking the tracker for the first time since long, chilled and relaxed, it felt like crap to just leave him after two min conversation but gotta respect the flow of the race. Would have loved to hang and have beers, maybe one day!

All pics Ryan le Garrec (@Ryan_Le_Garrec)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzBtq9fi91s/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Chris Seistup passed Josh briefly in Steamboat, captured here by Ryan Le Garrec if you look closely:

Steve (starting in Savery) and Nate (starting a few miles bak) were moving from 05:00 and were quickly through BML and would have had a quikc chat with Sofi before continuing.

Between 09:30 and 13:30 Josh Ibbett, Lael Wilcox, Kai Edel and Evan Deutsch all arrived at BML, and have pretty much remained there for the day.

Josh Ibbett, who left BML with Lael, returned soon after and posted this: https://www.instagram.com/p/BzBe78QlMC-/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Between 20:30 and 22:30 these 5 were joined by the chase pack of Tony Lesueur, Peter Sandholt, Bear Stillwagon, Kim Raeymaekers, Luke Ratcliff, Peter Puenner and Stefano Roumaldi. Seems like on Sunday 23rd there's going to be a second Grand Depart from BML!

Sofi stated: * Stuck at Brush Mountain Lodge with Josh, Kai, Evan and Lael. Road is impassable due to mud.*

This is leading to quite a bit of surprise amonsgt ultra-racing veterans as Tour Divide racing nearly always involved some significant hike-a-bike. One of the legends of the sport and former TD record holder, Jay Petervary, commenting: "I'm confused why people at the pointy end are stopping and have turned around...forward, always forward. Are people not prepared? (Kind of sarcastic but not really)".

Clearly the conditions were tough, and Sofi most likely made the best decision in his cold and sleep deprived state for him at that moment as there was a legitimate safety concern. However, for the other racers facing a daylight hike over a few miles of mud followed by a few miles of snow ... with other racers around .... knowing that Josh Kato, Chris, Steve and Nate had all crossed successfully .... really?? This is where gear selection and experience is showing - e.g. down jackets suck in wet conditions, and Lael's earlier gear post shows she only has a down vest. Mike Hall's quote that many in the mid-pack are racing harder than those in the top 10 is ringing very true today.

From Kirsten Henricksen at BML: Crazy day at the Brush Mountain, y’all!!! Chris made an early exit, so i got pics of him last night..., in between, Nate and Steve came thru, but it was breakfast and i missed pics! And then Sofiane came back with a long night behind him! Lael was on her usual 15 minute pass thru, but she and Josh I were waylaid by the incredible mud, and came back too!! Then Evan and Kai rolled in, and the Tour Divide 2019 Armistice commenced!!! Everyone ate and showered and slept...(: until the truce is lifted, everyone is ‘holding’!(: ...stay tuned!! ❤️my job! https://www.instagram.com/p/BzCMQhNlh2a/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Up front though the race was full on. Chris passed Josh around 20:30 after Lynx Pass, and rode through to Radium. Josh camped trail side and Steve Halligan looks like he decided not to cross the high running cow creek late at night and backtracked a little to a flat trailside camp site around 22:30. Nate Gintzen stopped trailside around the same time back on Lynx Pass.

Further down the field, __Geof Blance __on his single speed was on Brooks Lake Rd ... https://www.instagram.com/p/BzCZVsQFgDJ/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Janie Hayes in Pinedale has decided to switch to touring mode, wearing a stranger's gold pants ... read more here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BzCGb-rFpsQ/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Race order at 02:45

Chris Seistrup - 1,623, stopped Radium

Josh Kato - 1,614, stopped trailside

Steve Halligan - 1,606 stopped trailside

Nate Gintzen - 1,588, stopped trailside

Sofi/Josh I/Lael/Kai/Evan/Kim/Peter P/Tony/Peter S/Stefano R/Lucas/Bear - 1,513 stopped at Brush Mountain Lodge.

In NOBO news, Graham Suffield stopped early after the climb north from Radium, and the Golden Spike occurred likely whilst he was sleeping when Chris went passed to descend to the Colorado River.

Some more rider pics from Ovando:

William Cairns:

Tim Glover:

Joseph Rafferty:

Sue and John O'Malley: