The Route

The Riders

The Bikes

Day 1

Day 9 - A Change of Plan

Day 9 - The end is in sight

Day 9 - And the winner is…

We've taken a good look at the route for this inaugural race which divides Great Britian on a somewhat nontraditional dissection of our little island. Wanting to offer an alternative to the Land's End to John O'Groats routes, organiser Kevin Francis put together a mixed terrain course starting in his hometown near Canterbury and meandering up to Applecross in Scotland via some of Great Britain's most iconic locations and ways. It's both a tour of the most beautiful and most forgettable parts of the UK (I can say that as I live in one!) which ticks off some of Kevin's childhood haunts.

<iframe src="https://ridewithgps.com/embeds?type=route&id=36620105&metricUnits=true&sampleGraph=true" style="width: 1px; min-width: 100%; height: 700px; border: none;" scrolling="no"></iframe>

Starting in the South East of the country and heading west for 500km has sown together some of the South's most well known off-road routes, including the South Downs Way, the New Forest, Salisbury Plain and it touches the Ridgeway which is a small part of the newly released and very popular [King Alfred's Way](https://www.cyclinguk.org/route/king-alfreds-way-gpx-route). All this good stuff comes even before the riders reach Wales!

The route has been designed to ensure as many riders as possible reach the second checkpoint at the Old Station Hub in Talybont-on-Usk (621km) which is where the fun really starts! The climb along the old Brinore tram road from Talybont will guide riders away from the tarmac which they will very little of until they leave Wales around Oswestry (880km).

![Talybont tram road](//images.contentful.com/6hyijb95boju/2LRYlLx9eOOJFiLuuKlqXw/ee1875268ba8b524d19fcd802b2d2ee7/Talybont_tram_road.jpg)

The first epic section riders tackle is The Gap; a favourite amongst mountain bikers in the Brecon Beacons and one of the few stretches the Great British Divide shares with GDBURO. The route then heads into the Cambrian Mountains via the Tirabad military range and along the ancient route of Strata Florida. This stretch of Wales is known for its sweeping gravel roads and forests, often referred to as the Green Desert of Wales. Once into Machynlleth, the HQ of the recent Grinduro in Wales, riders head out of Wales via Oswestry and back into England.

The succeeding 300km to Hebden Bridge is relatively flat, mostly paved and offers plenty of opportunities to scratch for those who found the Welsh leg too challenging. Heading North in Great Britain always somewhat cruel as the daunting prospect of riding the Scottish leg looms over riders as they move through England and Wales.

At Hebden Bridge (1,126km), the route joins the Pennine Bridleway which will be one of the toughest and most technical stretches. Those with wider tyres and suspension will be very glad for these as they take on the 200km of the Pennine Way which arguably goes all the way to Kielder (source: OS Maps). Riders will cross the England-Scotland border and into their final country. The end of the Pennine Way will likely mark the start of the midgies, which have been reported be in full swing this year due to the cold winter we had.

The Scottish leg is full of exciting and potentially defining characteristics; the path from Inversnaid to Inveranen will contain approx. 8km of hike-a-bike and the West Highland Way which takes riders UP the Devil's Staircase (the opposite to the Highland Trail 550). Once in Fort William (1,850km), there's a predominance of tarmac for the remaining 275km and the organiser has said anyone who makes it here, can make it to the finish.

Potentially, the most exciting part of the entire route is the combination of the ferry crossings to and from Skye and Glen Sligechaen. There was no alternative to the Malaig-Skye crossing. Once off the ferry and onto the 105km loop of the Isle of Skye (1,930km), riders will have one final off-road section: Glen Sligechaen. Here's a screenshot from Google Maps of the trail riders will follow along the 16km off-road section in the Glen. It has been recommended to complete this section in daylight. It looks like it would be right at home on the Highland Trail 550!

![Glen Slichaen Google Maps screenshot](//images.contentful.com/6hyijb95boju/34PCtQQKJTFLDpVwIVLjnY/01d43ed21a67e65009872c270b4faff9/Glen_Slichaen_Google_Maps_screenshot.jpg)

__The rest of the route is all smooth tarmac, but it's not necessarily smooth sailing!__

The ferry crossing to take riders off the Isle of Skye could turn out to be very defining; it only operates from 8am-5pm (leaving 15 hours out of operation). If riders arrive out of hours or find the tiny turntable ferry is not running due to poor conditions, the alternative is to ride the road from Ashaig (2,023km) all the way to the ferry port on the other side at Glenelg. This requires riding along the A87 over the bridge to take them off the island, meeting the course at Auchtertyre, riding the course in reverse for 35km to Glenelg, only to turn around and retrace their steps back to Auchtertyre. This detour will add an ascent of Mount Ratagan (320m of ascent) and will add approximately 34km to total distance. It'll also do very little for riders' morale! They will be very much hoping they arrive in opening hours and that ferry is running.

Out of Glenelg the riders have only 90km to finish. It's all smooth tarmac but with an ascent of Bealach na Bà (600m of elevation) to the finish at the Applecross Inn.

Ahead of the race starting this weekend, we've pulled a few names out of the 43-strong rider list who we think are in contention for the win.

- [Josh Ibbett](https://dotwatcher.cc/profile/Josh%20Ibbett) needs no introduction. He's our race favourite given his years of off-road racing and his win at GBDURO last year. He's already proven himself on an off-road race the length of Great Britain, but this time round there's the lure of being able to stop for a cheeky takeaway. Although, we very much doubt this will hamper his race-winning efforts for a sub-8 day time.

- [Donnacha Cassidy](https://dotwatcher.cc/profile/Donnacha%20Cassidy) comes straight off the back of a third place at this year's TransAtlantic Way and has a background in off-road touring. He's unproven at an off-road ultra but has all the ingredients.

-  Carolyn Chambers is a TCR vet, has qualified for next year's RAAM and took third place at the 24hr Virtual World TT Champs. She spends much of her time off-road, but, like Donnacha, has no result in ultra racing off road and this year has little racing experience off the turbo. We don't think that's too much of a disadvantage; 24 hours on a turbo is a sure sign of some mental toughness!

-  [Niel Copeland](https://dotwatcher.cc/profile/Niel%20Copeland) is a rider who appears to excel in the longer events, which will suit this race nicely. The bulk of his experience is on tarmac, but he's not new to racing off the smooth stuff.


Packing for a race nobody has ever completed before is certainly a challenge. Fortunately, most of the riders will be well aware of the challenges our little island and its unpredictable weather have to offer. Considering these and their own limits and preferred comfort level, riders have dialled in their chosen bikes with the equipment they believe will take them all the way from Canterbury in the South East of England to Applecross Inn in the Scottish Highlands.

Head to our [Bikes of Great British Divide](https://dotwatcher.cc/feature/bikes-of-great-british-divide-2021) feature to learn more about their kit choices.

Warning: this feature contains some offensive wallpaper.

And they're off! All 46 riders headed out from [The Independent Pedaler](https://www.theindependentpedaler.co.uk/) yesterday morning.

The first mechanical we've heard is from race favourite, Josh Ibbett. He suffered a ripped sidewall within the first 4 hours of racing, but it doesn't appear to have cost him any more than 45 minutes. He was able to quickly re-route to RM Cycles near Tenterden adding only 4 miles to his journey and is now sitting in 3rd place. He's been confidently making his way through the pack along the South Downs Way, which is to be expected as he held the double record for 4.5 years on the SDW and will both know the route and know how to take it quickly.

![josh ibbett new tyre](//images.contentful.com/6hyijb95boju/7BJ89xgPiXuMIX9oRJ6S0v/40170590735236fee5b70b847efcd5da/josh_ibbett_new_tyre.jpg)

📸 Neil Lauder

Donnacha Cassidy has taken an early lead but is closely followed by Chris Hinds who is approximately 30 minutes behind and by Josh who is another 30 behind Chris. Donnacha will likely be the first rider into CP1 at the bike shop/cafe [The Woods Cyclery](https://www.thewoodscyclery.co.uk/) in 35km time, will he stop for food or will the Chris and Josh's chase force him to get moving promptly?

Here's Donaccha, snapped by the organiser yesterday.

![Donnacha Cassidy day 1](//images.contentful.com/6hyijb95boju/7Dj8A5NeyG5EpEFsxtIIvm/a526fca8dd1a124f67e5822375bd2a70/Donnacha_Cassidy_day_1.jpg)

All of the top 5 (Donnacha, Chris, Josh, Rob Gardiner and Shawn Duffy) appear to have taken at least 4 hours rest.

After only 300km of riding, riders' current positions indicate very little and are certain to change over the succeeding 1,800km. It's worth noting that the southern England stretch of the course is fast and borderline gravel riding. The fun and the rough stuff start once riders hit CP2 in Talybont on Usk in 320km time. After this point is where the lead will start to be contested.

Elsewhere in the race, we're seeing a good number of riders enjoying an evening beer, which is what we like to see!

Although Day 1 was the day that the riders saw an awesome sunset of the South Downs, the group have now spread out in clusters and are dotted acress several counties.Rest strategies will most certainly be at play and may seem some changes in positions.
The day might have started out grey and dry, but it didn't remain like that. Heavy, and sometimes persistent rain showers were almost certain to have our riders cursing Kevin at every opportunity. I suspect they've all had the odd drenching.
The route also includes some single track, which when the route was being test ridden would have been clear, but now they are overgrown with weeds & nettles.

9 rider are through CheckPoint 2, and more still are there or very close.

Chris and Donnacha are neck and neck right now, just outside Bath and it looks like they are making a mad dash to reach the Severn Bridge and the Welsh section of the route.
Josh is still trying to chase them down as he passes Trowbidge.
Sarah Searle is our Lantern Rouge, and is a little off course in Uckfield.  Shes still in the race, so maybe she's found somewhere to get her head down.

I hope the weather is kinder to the riders tomorrow, and that a rain fre time with help those riders looking to wild camp again tonight.

I shall be out on the route tomorrow, and hopefully with have more news to share.


Day 2 - A Curse Kevin kind of day

![Donnacha heading for Wales](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1A3yPVBCXQK6FSYAyZCZVP/831d99a29d3488b1ab3ed49a3a7c83ee/Donnacha_Bridge.jpg)

![Chris Heading for Wales](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5nUkzm8yuaLEeQUWPFEAuo/dfb4f2984085a2d229c16f62bf8a39ff/Chris_heads_for_Wales.jpg)

I don't know how they've done it, but Chris & Donnacha crossed the border into Wales earlier this morning, and Josh followed shortly after and seems to hit Chepstow for some breakfast. These guys are surviving on very little sleep and seem determined to hit CP2 by lunchtime.

CP1 is now seeing a steady stream of riders through it's doors as many riders stopped overnight around Winchester before pressing on this morning.

Riders that were through yesterday afternoon, have been riding into the early hours through Wiltshire, and are all hoping to make it into Wales this morning. Based on current predictions, the top 8 riders could make CP2 before midnight. 

There is a lot of moistness about, which is sure to dampen a few spirits, the trails are already very muddy, and I suspect that The Woods Cyclery in Lyndhurst  will be keeping busy sorting out riders brakes & gears ready for the next leg.

Further down the field, there are still groups of riders in the South Downs who may arrive at CP1 in the early hours of tomorrow depending on their sleep decisions.

With so many heavy rain showers around this morning this could be a very interesting day for dotwatching.


Day 3 - No Sleep until Wales

Niel has managed to take a few pictures on Day 1 in the South Downs as he was playing cat and mouse with Rob & Shawn.

![Niel Copeland photos Day 1](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1CPO8kxxLQvWeNr6wSdLQP/726c3383fbb202211cfec1225366c79a/228155278_10159345265241341_1704129426327327527_n.jpg)

![Niel Copeland photos Day 1](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3UUNe9BPMzsSadR1VfdPtz/6a354578db9afa4df454d80b9524fe8d/226354699_10159345265261341_8759851145026032739_n.jpg)

![Niel Copeland photos Day 1](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/77h4HgiamXvSbh7NIS25IL/6c07aad5e5b5282d8f21767a0af18654/225444191_10159345265201341_7647147371034459140_n.jpg)

![Niel Copeland photos Day 1](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2uALLNdDEXX1NREXWMXmG7/f1f97d2720c6f6b20e219331090796c1/224994247_10159345265211341_6733554493813077625_n.jpg)

More Day 1 photos

I'm going to keep this post brief, because it's a call to arms.

Earlier today, Rob Gardiner had his bike stolen from outside a shop in Usk. With some swift detective work, kind locals, and a periodically active spot tracker, he managed to track it to Newport.  He even found the car it had been put in, but in the end lost track of it and all his expensive kit.

But, Rob isn't deterred from continuing this race.

He has gone home to gather his thoughts, and thanks to the loan of a bike from a friend has vowed to continue in the next 24 hours.

But, he needs kit. He has lost everything that he needs for the race, so if you are local to the Swindon area, and can loan him some kit (ie bivy etc), then please get in touch with him.

If you are on Instagram, then you can see him explain the whole tale in some detail on Instagram TV.


Day 3 - Urgent, can you help out Rob??

Despite the much of the route still being in the relative comfort of the south with it's regular towns and local facilities, it wasn't a day without drama for some.
The weather for the most part hasn't been too troublesome but there have been some particularly heavy showers for some. The impact of heavy rain over the last week or two is still taking it's toll on some of the bikes on the off road sections.

## Bike issues
Carolyn had issues requiring a new drive chain and jockey wheels, , which has put her behind where she wanted to be. 
Punctures have featured for others, but as mid pack riders head for Wales, will their bikes still be in good shape for the Brecon Beacons?
But the biggest disaster was the theft of Rob Gardiners bike from Usk, and his relentless search to try to get it back (see previous post).  He's not going to let them end his race though and hopes to get back on route at some point tomorrow after gathering up spare kit & borrowing a bike. I really wish him all the best.

## Chasing down dots
I went out dot chasing today and caught up with some riders at the back and middle of the pack. It was lovely to see them smiling, and still enjoying the ride. I caught up with 5 riders at QE Country park who told me of their sleeping arrangements so far.  Saturday had been a camping night, but on Sunday night they picked the Bunkhouse at Houghton, and rated it as 5* luxury. They even ordered in an Indian Takeaway complete with beer. They are all aiming to get to, or as close as possible to CP1 tonight, camping somewhere in the New Forest.
Further up the route, I got the chance to cheer on riders climbing the road section out of The Woodfords. Pubs seem to be favourites for lunchtime stops in this area. Calories being stored up ready for the push into Wales.

## Superhumans
At the pointy end of the race, Chris is making amazing progress through Wales, just a superhuman effort, and yet he still finds time to post photos...he seems to be in his element today. He's left Donnacha and Josh for dust. But surely he has to sleep some time.

There's a steady stream of riders now crossing the border, I hope to see more having arrived at CP2 by morning.
Events have taken their toll on some riders with mud and knee issues being blamed for most of the 5 scratchers today.
Lets see what tomorrow brings as most of the remaining riders start to experience what Wales has to offer.


Day 3 - Storm clouds gather

Good morning, it seems that most riders decided to get their heads down last night, ready for a fresh start this morning.

## Sleep spots

Whilst some riders have managed some hotel nights, others have made camp in hay barns, forests and even a golf course.  One thing is for sure though, they will need all their energy when they get deep into Wales, as advance photos from Chris show....or maybe he's just trying to physch out the opposition.
![Golf Course Bivy](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3h7w5YtYD6NhnDyuE2gFZ6/ea639e092fce6e4307fb7863d09b2463/Golf_course_Bivy.jpeg)

## Rob is back

The best news of the day is that Rob Gardiner is now all kitted out and heading back to Usk to rejoin the race. With such a quick turn around, he'll be at Checkpoint 2 before you know it, and still very much in this race.  Thanks go out to everyone who has contacted him and got him back on the road.

Stay tuned for more live action and photos from yesterday.


Day 4 - A New Dawn

The inaugural edition of the Great British Divide is set to be wildly exciting; big names, high passes, rough terrain, unreliable ferries and undoubtedly a good sprinkling of the notorious British weather.

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