Josh Ibbett’s Divide Recap #10

Lewis Ciddor Reaches The Border

Josh Ibbett’s Divide Recap #8

Josh Ibbett’s Divide Recap #7

Josh Ibbett’s Divide Recap #6

Josh Ibbett's Divide Recap #5

Josh Ibbett’s Divide Recap #4

Josh Ibbett's Divide Recap #3

Josh Ibbett's Divide Recap #2

Josh Ibbett's Tour Divide Recap #1

__Josh Ibbett, winner of the 2015 Transcontinental Race, will be bringing his racing knowledge to bear on the Tour Divide with daily recaps on DotWatcher.__

 The top 3 have now all finished the 2018 Tour Divide. Following on from Lewis Ciddor's victory - the 6th fastest ride in Divide history - single speeder Bailey Newbury came home in second place, followed by Greg Gleason. 
 
 ![image001](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2De0LzGjTGcAYcWyi0O0YA/38d088a3999e5774e9ce2902585b3314/image001.png)
 
Bailey finished in a time of 15, days, 18 hours and 27 minutes - some 16 hours behind Lewis. He finished in the early hours of the morning, after one last tough day battling the heat and strong head winds of the desert. It was a fight to the last, and one which earned a special mention from Lewis in his post-finish Instagram post:

[[ instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BkaYzvChs07/?taken-by=xshippx" ]]


Just over 8 hours later, our third rider on the route, Greg Gleason, made it to the Mexican border. Greg's time was just over the 16 day mark (16 days, 2 hours and 53 minutes), and his ride completed what has been a fascinating few days of racing for our podium riders. 8 hours is a small time gap on the great Divide, so Greg really was pushing Bailey towards the end. Lewis Cidor has commented since finishing that he felt the pressure from Bailey constantly over the last days of the race. Although the Divide can be a very isolated affair when you are in a racing mindset and another rider is relatively close, there is a certain amount of pressure to keep riding and keep stops short. This trio have all done a remarkable ride given the conditions at this year's race: In a drier year we could have certainly expected three sub-16 day times and, possibly a sub 15-day too.

Keep tuned in to the DotWatcher coverage over the next week as we keep an eye on the finishers and stories from further down the field.

__Ask Josh Ibbett your Tour Divide questions: [Twitter](https://twitter.com/j_ibbett?lang=en), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/joshibbett/?hl=en)__
 

Congratulations to Lewis Ciddor, the 28-year-old Australian who has just reached the Mexican border and won the 2018 Tour Divide. Lewis has been leading for the past week, building an advantage in the snowy northern climbs snd consolidating his lead when the terrain and weather became flatter and hotter.

Bailey Newbrey, the next rider in the southbound race, is passing through the last stretches of the Gila Forest, about 20 miles north of Silver City. 

__The North American Cycling Adventure food diary__

"A full record of one person's food intake whilst cycling down North America. *Formerly TourDivide Food Diary." 

The beers are becoming an increasingly regular feature on the menu as this anonymous rider's Instagram food diary.

![Screen Shot 2018-06-22 at 15.44.36](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1P07QHFrM8W6UkoGS0A6Yu/2b25e022b77fd8364070c986dbe41410/Screen_Shot_2018-06-22_at_15.44.36.png)

[instagram.com/nacafooddiary](https://www.instagram.com/nacafooddiary/)

NACA Food Diary 

__Josh Ibbett, winner of the 2015 Transcontinental Race, will be bringing his racing knowledge to bear on the Tour Divide with daily recaps on DotWatcher. __

The Divide keeps on going from one extreme to the other. The mountains have given predominantly rain and cold conditions, however as our leader Lewis Cidor rides into New Mexico forest fires have begun to affect his ride. The fires have mean a road diversion from Abiqui to the town of Cuba. Despite being a slightly flatter alternative it does add distance to the route and unfortunately means missing out on an incredibly scenic section.
 
However, we can’t battle mother nature, as much as we may try, so the riders will need to take this diversion for their own safety. Lewis is now on the home run with less than 400 miles to go and only 100 to Pie Town. Will the Pie Town pie fuel him up enough to make a non-stop dash to the finish? Only time will tell. Currently Lewis is running around 200 miles behind Mike Halls 13 day, 22 hour and 51 second course record set in 2016. It’s hard to see how Mike’s record can be beaten, it will certainly take and exceptional athlete and good conditions to get anywhere near.

[[ instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BkTJ_VwhKhD/?hl=en&taken-by=xshippx" ]]

A sub 15-day ride could be on the cards for Lewis though especially if he gives it a good push in the final few hundred miles.
 
While the men’s leader battles high desert temperatures, Alexandra Houchin, our female leader, is enjoying snowy mountain passes further up the Divide. She has now covered over 1500 miles on her journey south as she makes her way into Colorado.

[[ instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BkPrOsyhEeQ/?hl=en&taken-by=chumbausa" ]]

Although it’s easy to get wrapped up in the battle at the front of a bikepacking race, you have to remember that it’s only a race for the first few riders. Not everyone is strong enough or even motivated enough to race these events. In fact, for most (probably most of the leaders too) it’s all about the adventure and seeing the world. It’s actually harder for the riders further down the field. It takes longer to get between service towns for resupply and as a result they need to carry more which add more weight to the bike and requires more effort to move it. Plus a longer ride means more nights in a dirty chamois, more nights without a shower and more nights bivying in the wild. So, as we watch the leaders making the last charge for the line just remember the real hero’s still battling away out there.

__Ask Josh Ibbett your Tour Divide questions: [Twitter](https://twitter.com/j_ibbett?lang=en), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/joshibbett/?hl=en)__

__Josh Ibbett, winner of the 2015 Transcontinental Race, will be bringing his racing knowledge to bear on the Tour Divide with daily recaps on DotWatcher. __

Its brutal out there. The 2018 Tour Divide is turning out to be an incredibly tough edition of what is a tough ride in the best of conditions. Kevin Kinton sums things up quite nicely in his latest Instagram post. Hiding from the rain in a public toilet eating cold breakfast leftovers he lets us know how unpleasant it is out there. Rain adds to the physical toll with extra levels of discomfort. You are never dry, your stuff gets wet, your sleeping kit gets wet, you get cold quicker, and sweat quicker in rain jackets. Kudos to all to those riders out there who are trucking on through the worst of it.

[[ instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BkMAEgqhJHQ/" ]]
 
The elements are affecting riders further up the field too. Australian singlespeeder Gareth Pellas who was mixing it up in the lead early on has started to succumb to the effort and elements. Wet weather plays havoc with tendons and ligaments and constant hike a bike sections through snow drifts will not help avoiding symptoms of tendonitis. For Gareth tight muscles and tight tendons mean tendonitis has set in. It reaches a point where it’s foolish to fight, and Gareth has made the smart choice of resting up for a day to allow his body to heal so he can complete the route. The main challenge of the Divide is to survive and complete the route, racing comes second.

[[ instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BkMUZ6Xhddi/" ]]

Out race leader Lewis Cidor maintains his 100-mile advantage as he ticks off the high passes of Colorado. As I type Lewis is taking on the highest pass of the Tour Divide route, the 11,910ft Indiana pass. It could be argued that Lewis will have broken the back of the Divide despite the 750miles remaining. Once over Indiana there are a few passes remaining but the altitudes are lower before the drop down into New Mexico where other challenges await, such as heat and few resupply points await.

__Ask Josh Ibbett your Tour Divide questions: [Twitter](https://twitter.com/j_ibbett?lang=en), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/joshibbett/?hl=en)__

__Josh Ibbett, winner of the 2015 Transcontinental Race, will be bringing his racing knowledge to bear on the Tour Divide with daily recaps on DotWatcher. Today he's rounding up the situation for race leader Lewis Ciddor, who's well on his way to the New Mexico stateline.__

Ten days in, a 100 mile lead, 1000 miles and 10,000ft left to ride. That’s a brief summary of Lewis Ciddor’s life right now as he really takes ownership of this Divide.
 
Lewis’s main challenge now is with the course as his nearest competitor, single speeder Bailey Newbury, has fallen 100 miles behind. His next challenge is the 10,800ft Marshal’s Pass from Mears Junction to Sargents. This should round out his eleventh day on the trail, potentially with a warm bed as Sargents has a full complement of facilities – including a motel and a supermarket, the holy grail of Divide stopovers. The past few days have not been without their difficulties though as the 1700 miles of riding have begun to take their toll.

[[ instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BkLKLAaBsr2/" ]]

The comments on Lewis’s latest Instagram post warm the heart as Bailey Newbury drops him a message. This bond with another competitor is unlike any other bond life can create. It’s a feeling of brothers in arms united to take on such an incredible challenge. It’s a bond that cannot be wholly appreciated until you have experienced it for yourself.
 
At this point in a long distance ride, emotions can swing like a pendulum. It’s easy to go from the depths of despair to incredible highs in the space of a few minutes. Monitoring the social media posts of riders throughout the field is showing this in abundance. The terrible conditions that most of the riders have endured over the past few days must have been especially hard on their emotions. However, the first rays on sunshine have blossomed into a range of fantastic images posted.

[[ instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BkIg0aaBgZd/" ]]

__Ask Josh Ibbett your Tour Divide questions: [Twitter](https://twitter.com/j_ibbett?lang=en), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/joshibbett/?hl=en)__


__Josh Ibbett, winner of the 2015 Transcontinental Race, will be bringing his racing knowledge to bear on the Tour Divide with daily recaps on DotWatcher. This weekend, the northbound and southbound riders crossed paths, and a then some of them crossed paths with a bear.__

Day 8 on the Divide was Crossing Day! Our northbound leader, Dom Irvine, crossed paths with Lewis Ciddor, Bailey Newbury, and Gareth Pellas in the Great Divide Basin, no doubt exchanging pleasantries and trail information with each other. This will be a huge boost for Dom Irvine who has not had the luxury of company from other Divide riders for the first week of his journey. He should now cross riders most days as he travels north, and as he has now left Colorado, the highest climbs will be behind him. Our southbound riders still have Colorado to come. Lewis Ciddor has established himself as a clear leader now, edging out his advantage by a few miles each day to a solid 60 mile lead as he heads towards Breckenridge. This is where the climbs ramp up again with the Boreas Pass reaching the dizzying height of 11,482ft.
 
Our chasing singlespeeders, Bailey Newbrey and Gareth Pellas, have now joined forced and are riding together – for the time being, at least. The weather has broken and heavy rain is making life uncomfortable for them, not to mention stumbling across a sleeping bear during the night!

[[ instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BkHa1_oBHn_/" ]]

The riders are no doubt the stars of the Tour Divide, however we can’t forget those people who support them along the way. Whether its local businesses, lodge owners or even just dot watchers who find the riders out on the trail to offer words of encouragement, these people undoubtedly add to the Divide experience.
 
Montana High Lodge is one such establishment, which has become a key stop off point for the majority of the Divide Riders.

[[ instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BkEwG1ihjpN/" ]]

The facilities offered by Mountain Lodges offer luxuries that a bivy bag just can’t offer. A warm shower and a real bed to sleep in, not to mention a proper sit down meal, are enough to revive even the most fatigued of riders. However, the trick is to not get too comfortable and to make sure you get back on the trail.
 
Further down the trail in Ovando, the Blackfoot Anger Fly Shop have been fantastic in keeping an eye out for the racers. They even sang Happy Birthday to Canadian Rider Geoff Meredith when he passed by. They have kept family and loved ones upto date with photos when riders travel through, and even if they miss them in person they normally show up on the shop CCTV! Big thanks to all those people out on the trail who make the Divide experience what it is.


__Ask Josh Ibbett your Tour Divide questions: [Twitter](https://twitter.com/j_ibbett?lang=en), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/joshibbett/?hl=en)__

__Josh Ibbett, winner of the 2015 Transcontinental Race, will be bringing his racing knowledge to bear on the Tour Divide with daily recaps on DotWatcher. Today he reflects on the outcomes of an intense first week of racing.__

Lewis Ciddor has taken control of this Tour Divide after a week of intense racing. He was the only rider to push up and over the 9660 ft Togwotee pass and the 9212 ft Union before sleeping last night, and as a result stretched out his advantage to over 40 miles before stopping in Pinedale. The rest was certainly earned as Lewis pushed over the highest passes so far in the early hours of the morning. Snow on the trail has made progress particularly slow at the highest altitudes, wasting precious energy and speed over the past few days. Lewis checked into a hotel in Pinedale for a proper rest and reset before Divide week 2 begins in earnest. I bet it felt great to finally have a shower! 

[[ instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BkDDT6nhciL/" ]]

Gareth Pelas and Bailey Newbury, both chasing Lewis on singlespeeds, would have certainly found the ascent challenging with a single gear, and their pace has certainly dropped. Lewis Ciddor cannot let up the pace though, if he does the duo will be back on his tail.
 
One of the joys of following the Divide is seeing how the ‘dots’ develop into real life characters as the race goes on. Take the female race leader Alexandra Houchin. She called into Mtbcast today with an update, it turns out that she is riding the Tour Divide route from memory after she forgot to pack her maps! You can find the episode here.
 
Alexandra is riding the Divide for more than just a bike ride. She is from a First Nation community and her journey through the American Wilderness is more of a spiritual connection with her culture and ancestors. 
 
You can read more about Alexandra and her Divide [on her blog](https://alexandherrastro.wordpress.com/2018/06/06/niiwin/).
 
Our Divide leaders are set for a slightly gentler few days of riding now as they head across Wyoming. The route consists of more smaller climbs rather than the 10,000ft high altitude monsters they had to endure yesterday. However we are a week in so its still going to be anything but easy as their bodies begin to accumulate fatigue and burn through energy stores. The half way marker and Colarado is looming and then there will be no hiding from the climbs with a succession of mountain passes in excess of 10,000ft. Keep watching!

__Ask Josh Ibbett your Tour Divide questions: [Twitter](https://twitter.com/j_ibbett?lang=en), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/joshibbett/?hl=en)__

__Josh Ibbett, winner of the 2015 Transcontinental Race, will be bringing his racing knowledge to bear on the Tour Divide with daily recaps on DotWatcher. Today he talks singlespeed racing and tight gaps at the head of the race.__

It all changed again on Day 6 of the Tour Divide as a new leader appeared on the southbound route. Bailey Newbury, riding singlespeed, had been closing in on the lead with a strong and consistent ride over the past few days. It finally paid off with him taking the lead of the southbound riders. Not only that, the easier terrain meant that he made huge inroads into the total mileage of Dom Irvine, who is riding northbound. At the end of Day 6, Bailey made his way into Idaho, having covered 1046 miles.

You can find our more about Bailey and his story with the Divide [here](https://salsacycles.com/culture/bailey_newbrey_return_to_the_tour_divide).

[[ instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bj_wrP4hOsH/" ]]

Behind Bailey there are two pairs chasing. Former leader Lewis Criddor and Gareth Pellas stopped for the night in Warm River, 11 miles down the road from Bailey's bivy spot, and both were still very much still in contention. An 11 mile gap is nothing on the Divide, one bad storm up in the high mountains or a long sleep could easily erase this, adding to the excitement for us Dotwatchers.
 
Richard Dunnet, who knows all too well about how quickly time can be lost after his crash, stopped for the night in Macks Inn, with Greg Gleasona 35 miles behind. They stopped at mile 999, enjoying the psychological boost of completing the first 1000 in the very early hours of Day 7.
 
The first dot to begin moving this morning was Lewis Criddor. He set off just before 4am after a short sleep. Gareth Bailey set off at 6am whilst Bailey Newbury enjoyed an extra long sleep until 7am. As a result of his early start Lewis has now once more regained the lead. It will be interesting to see how the riders' sleep patterns develop over the next few days. Bailey seems to favour a later sleep time, whilst Lewis and Gareth stop earlier but also start early.
 
A few high passes await the riders over the next few days so it will be interesting to see how this affects sleep times. So far there is no descisive gap, but could a forced late night push over a pass create a bigger gap? Or will an alliance form if they keep meeting each other out on the trail? Keep watching to find out!
__
Ask Josh Ibbett your Tour Divide questions: [Twitter](https://twitter.com/j_ibbett?lang=en), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/joshibbett/?hl=en)

Sign, sleep, and get moving. 

[[ instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bj_CdFhBlXv/ ]]

Not your average visitor book!

For many people, the Tour Divide is the original bikepacking race. It's an event that has inspired many riders, and laid the foundations for an entire calender of ultra-distance bike races to thrive. Following the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, the Tour Divide stretches 4418km from Banff, Canada, to Antelope Wells on the USA-Mexico border. Off-road; self-supported; as fast as possible!

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