The DotWatchers' wrap up! (incl. Women's race round up)

Day 7: Part I Tony LeSueur clenches second 🥈

Day 6: Ollie Whalley wins! 🎉🥇

Day 4: Part II Steve Halligan's on the move again!

Day 3: What lies ahead?

Race Preview

As the riders make their way home, to rest, reflect and tend to their various wounds it's worth looking back at what they achieved.

Prior to the race participants, and pundits, were predicting that the fastest riders would finish the 1320km/22,800 vertical meter course in around five days, with the tail-enders taking up to two weeks. A drop out rate of 30-50% was expected.

As it panned out the first two riders finished in under 6 days. Ollie Whalley won in 5 days, 10 hours, 34 minutes, averaging 250km a day. He was off his bike for a total of 18.5 hours, equating to less than 3.5 hours per day. 
It was only on the final two days that Ollie’s win looked a safe bet. Until then the race at the front was a close call, with the lead changing a number of times between Martin Strelka and Ollie. Pushing hard in their tracks were Tony Lesueur, Steve Halligan and Hedley Wilton. Hedley rode a particularly consistent race, coming into his own as Strelka and Halligan fell off the pace with mechanical and gear problems, and finishing a well deserved third.

[https://www.instagram.com/p/CLp4FNhF_nt/?igshid=1sj935vgyc00n](https://www.instagram.com/p/CLp4FNhF_nt/?igshid=1sj935vgyc00n)

The race amongst the women also kept the dot watchers entertained. Georgia Whitla, riding her first bike packing event, led from go to whoa finishing in 6 days, 16 hours and 40 minutes, driven on by Kath Kelly who was always breathing down her neck. Dulkara Martig came in 9 days 12 hours and 12 minutes. Her last minute decision to race left her with a two week preparation period! Her finish was made all the more spectacular with her brilliant and humurous daily posts to Instagram. Here's one of our favourites but there are plenty more of some tongue-in-cheek commentary and some awesome high country landscape pics.

[https://www.instagram.com/p/CLZ1e9HAnlJ/](https://www.instagram.com/p/CLZ1e9HAnlJ/)

There were amazing feats of grit and determination all the way back through the field, with some excellent social media posts providing insights into the extremes that riders were putting themselves through.

The final 8 riders crossed the line at Slope Point on day 10. Only 5 riders (13.5% of starters) withdrew during the race. Interestingly all 7 women who started made it to Slope Point. Draw your own  conclusions from that!
Feedback has been unanimously positive from participants, and followers. People familiar with the terrain the race passed through can't believe that these guys took bikes through it. In a small country that already has a great range of bikepacking events, including the world’s most popular Tour Aotearoa, the TTW fills a gap at the extreme end of Kiwi riding options.

Organiser Brian Alder, who finished the race himself in just over 7 days,  is already talking about next year’s event, and has an expanding list of keen starters, which probably doesn't yet include any of this year’s participants.

A MASSIVE thank you to [Bruce Maunsell](https://www.instagram.com/brucemaunsell/) of the [Pedal on Podcast](https://www.spreaker.com/user/pedalonpodcast), [Cliff Clermont](https://www.instagram.com/cliff_clermont/) and Rob Brown for their contributions to dotwatching this event. We have loved the enthusiasm and story telling you've brought.

If you've enjoyed following along with this race then keep your calendars free for this weekend as we ramp up for the Tuatara 1000 and the Victoria Divide. Be sure to sign up to our [digest](https://dotwatcher.cc/digest) in order to hear about our pre-race features including interviews with race favourites and to have a gander at the many bikes lining up this weekend.

Enjoyed following along?!

Brian Alder designed a route which took inspiration from some of the most challenging off-road riding around the world. With enough perseverance to find and contact land owners, riders were treated to exploring the crevices of the Southern Island that are otherwise not open to the public. A course that Brian designed with the approach that "nothing is off the cards" has proven to challenge riders resolve and the mettle of their equipment.

The start list boasted 7 Tour Divide veterans and some of New Zealand's most well-respected racers. With Kiwis having taken many successes at the Tour Divide but not one having finished the Colorado Trail Race, Brian worked to provide a route that will excellently complement CTR and the likes of Arizona Trail or the Highland Trail.

Ollie Whalley made a victorious comeback to ultra-racing from winning the Tour Divide in 2012 and held the lead for the last 2 days of his race. Race favourites Steve Halligan and Martin Strelka were both at the pointy end of the race until mechanicals and failing equipment forced them to find repairs which stunted their winning attempts. Halligan's shoes "fell apart" which were due to the extreme hike-a-bike sections. This error is exactly the sort of equipment mal-choice that should be made at a home race before the endeavour of racing abroad. Both Halligan and Strelka were able to continue riding but did so in the knowledge that a win was out of their reach as Whalley and Tony LeSueur pulled away from the group to take first and second, respectively.

Third place finisher, Hadley Wilton (Pūpū Harakeke) attests much of his success and the relative ease at which he tackled the HAB sections to his all-round training; he spends much time tramping which he claims made the sections on foot much easier. He pulled away from his companions on the Dampier Range and was not to be seen again. His multi-sport athletic ability and his podium finish are a testament to the sheer physicality of the course.

Of 37 riders the race saw only 5 scratches. Caution: do not let these statistics fool you. This low scratch rate is not indicative of the severity of the course, but more the clear message Brian gave riders in the proceeding months on the demands of the route and re-adjusted their expectations. The race saw many withdraw pre-departure due to a multitude of reasons, including injury, work commitments, time conflicts and unpreparedness.

That's a wrap! 🎉

09:00 Kiwi time (NZDT/GMT+13)

Many riders converged after Lawrence on the final climb of the route having camped near each other in Beaumont which marked the end of the high country and the private land.

Lawrence symbolises the start of the final leg: 151km of riding left. The racers will be glad for no more hike-a-bike or 4x4 tracks, only 97km of gravel and 52km of tarmac remain. These are the remaining riders on the route and are set to finish before the sun sets tonight.

Day 10: Part I

13:30 Kiwi time (NZDT/GMT+13)

It's mid-day on the 9th day and we have a wave of riders approaching Slope Point.  Olly Manson, Matt Quirk, Brendan Pheasant, Pete Maindonald and Andrew Trevelyan should all finish well before nightfall.  Quite a big wave of soon to be TTW veterans!  Further back and about 150km from the end of the track at Slope Point are Mark Watson and Chris Byrch.  They two are poised to finish today if they so choose.  The remaining riders will certainly have one last night to dream of the sweat success that awaits them tomorrow.  Dulkara Martig is having a ball on trail and posting some really nice content on Instagram stories.  Got to admire her game! Check it out [here](https://www.instagram.com/dulkara.martig/).

[https://www.instagram.com/p/CLkenogAxXL/](https://www.instagram.com/p/CLkenogAxXL/)


Day 9: Part I

1430 Kiwi time (NZDT/GMT+13)

Brian Alder rolled down the "...track until there’s no more to do." at about 10:00 completing the inaugural TTW this morning.  What must he be feeling after all the work he has put in to see this event come to life?   Great ride mate!

Forty five minutes after Brian was Kath Kelly, the second female finisher, and then Steve Halligan just on mid-day to secure a place in the top 10.  Meanwhile the troop of single speed monkeys stayed close to one another on their 7+ day hunt for Slope Point arriving around 15:00.  Well done boys!

Day 8: Part IV

13:00 Kiwi time (NZDT/GMT+13)

Steve Halligan is on the move again, hooray! He's only 40km from the finish. We've scoured the internet to find a reason for his rest and we came across his wife's post here:

[https://www.facebook.com/maryjo.steve/posts/10158197983081680](https://www.facebook.com/maryjo.steve/posts/10158197983081680)

Brian Alder secures 7th place in his own race! Brian's created a stellar route that's challenged and rewarded in equal measure. We look forward to catching up with Brian once he's had some R&R.

Day 8: Part III Halligan's moving again!

04:00 Kiwi time (NZDT/GMT+13)

Brian Alder is set to be the seventh finisher and is cruising the 50km to Slope Point and the finish of the inaugural Tour Te Waipounamu.  What a fantastic ride.  Brian is poised to finish right on the seven days mark. Brian's overcome shifting issues to make it to the finish after his bike caught a serious case of Single Speed-itus. Heads up: the three monkeys are the three single speeders.

[https://www.instagram.com/p/CLc8K-5gq7E/](https://www.instagram.com/p/CLc8K-5gq7E/)

As we write this, former race leader, Steve Halligan, has been stationary in Clinton only 100km from the finish for 14 hours.

At the tail end of the race is Amanda Wells along with Chris and Rob who are still very much in it and have enjoyed a welcome refresh in Tekapo.  A coveted finish of the TTW is certainly within their grasp.


Day 8: Part II

02:00 Kiwi time (NZDT/GMT+13)

During the night Martin Strelka, Georgia Whitla and Patrick Higgins rolled into Slope Point at the same time having spent much of the past few days near each other and staying in the same huts. Arriving at 11pm means they've missed the view and they've turned back round to find accommodation for a real bed, a shower and some very well earned rest!

Further back we saw the experienced mountaineer Dulkara Martig deviate from the course at the top of Stag Saddle (770km) to head South East to the Braun-Elwert Peak adding 150m of climbing. What initially looked to be a routing error eventually turned out to be an optional additional summit to a peak that's named after the late father of her friend. Luckily, Dulkara brought her trail running shoes and said she couldn't resist this scramble. A very noble detour on top the highest point of the race and a beautiful mini-story within such a great race. Chapeau Dulkara!

Some great shots in her [stories](https://www.instagram.com/stories/dulkara.martig/2512843197756055358/), if you're quick!

Day 8: Part I the top 6 are decided!

05:00 Kiwi time (NZDT/GMT+13)

Tony LeSueur has taken second place and the final podium spot is looking to be filled by Pūpū Harakeke with Steve Halligan in fourth place. 

The race for fifth is very much on! Georgia Whitla, Patrick Higgins and Martin Strelka are within 15kms of each other with 250km to the finish. Strelka, former race leader, took half a day's physical rest when mending his tyre two days ago and could likely come past the others as he builds up speed with his fresher legs.

Over 500km behind them, the tail of the race has come together with a gaggle of riders. Jeff Lyall, Geof Blance, Dulkara Martig, Amanda Wells, Ken Scott, Rachel Berry, Hana Black and Mark Watson are all within shouting distance of one another as they order the "HAB over Stag Saddle" for brekkie.  They all seemed to have made some use of Royle Hut last night with some arriving and leaving earlier than others.  Let's hope they and their gear have one more big march in them as getting over Stag Saddle marks an end to the bigger hurdles of the TTW and an afternoon in Tekapo to recalibrate for the remaining kms certainly would be welcome.

The inaugural Tour Te Waipounamu is the brain child of Brian Alder, a veteran of the sport and a lifelong mountaineer. With experience from the Tour Divide, Highland Trail, Colorado Trail Race and Kyrgystan; Brian's event has been tipped as the hardest bikepacking race in New Zealand.

With a competitive domestic line up, including a Tour Divide winner and seven race veterans, a French Divide and Bohemia Divide winner, we are massively excited to kick off our 2021 race coverage with what will surely be a cracking race.

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