Steve H reported yesterday 30kms from town (Pie Town??) that he had trouble with his knee locking up. Probably the reason for the extended break last night. Looks like he's toughing it out to the finish.

If they can get to the CDT (last spike on elev profile) the single track mud can be way more ridable than the roads.

Yip, for sure. I think once you get past Beaverhead the road gets more stony/rocky and my guess is mud is less of an issue. I know Billy Rice spent forever in there years ago

Looks like there's a bit of thunderstorm action in the Gila today, and judging by Steve's speed he might have been caught in it. That Bursum Rd is pretty nasty if it gets wet...

That is impressive.  A little surgery and he could do it as a woman too.

Geof has been known to be in for a bit of cross dressing, surgery might be a bit far!

For those interested in Divide nerdery, Geof Blance's run is interesting. He finished geared in 2014, tandem with his wife in 2017 and this year is riding single speed. Potentially a first to complete a TD via 3 different categories?

Wouldn’t surprise me if Lael returns early fall for another go at the overall record.

Lael is off to Kyrgyzstan for the Silk Rd after this, race is late August.

I'm sure 'Sofi' has his fair share of sponsors.

Sof is a bike messenger in Paris. He rode the last TD on a $1000 cross bike. He has more support now - I think he gets bags from Apidura and maybe a few other things but that's about it. Until now he's not been "known", although his achievements are impressive. No doubt that winning the TD and giving Mike's record a nudge would have changed all that. Maybe next time.

In my books giving Mike's recored a nudge, on a longer course, is something I didn't think we'd see (for some time at least). The boldness of his strategy in riding non-stop to Helena is mind boggling. In the future any contenders will look at that as the new model as to how to ride the course fast.

Re Sofiane's bail from the pass, there was some info on FB that his gps had stopped working and he was navigating off his phone, and it wasn't accurate enough to get a fix on the track. Remember it was blizzarding.

So glad that he is safe. Was good to know that there were good people just down the road that would have been looking out for him. I rode this section with Sofiane in 2016, so it's been an emotional rollercoaster these last 24 hrs.

I'm a fairly new dot watcher, and don't remember much talk of snow the last two years - I know we have more snow than usual but how much snow is common to expect on the route

Once you're out of Montana, snow (from the sky) has been pretty rare (unheard of?). Combined with the snow on the ground thru CO, this is going to slow things down significantly. IMO CO is the "easiest" state in a normal year

Do you think Josh is staying 25-40 miles behind the leader on purpose, rather than catching him up? If so, it seems like a pretty good strategy.

I doubt it. Sofiane is on a really good schedule, hitting resupply etc at good times. Getting to Pinedale for a motel last night set him up for a night run through the Basin. Conversely JK slept at 10k ft in the snow(?)...I know who's saddle I'd rather be on right now 

Sofiane is set up well for a night run across the Basin.... next stop Brush Mtn?

I'm also wondering how much sleeping up on Union Pass will affect JK. Must have been bloody cold up there.

I'll just say this, I think JK is right where he wants to be at this point. Gonna be good!

yip agree, with his Josh's experience on the course. I think the current top 4 are all in the game at the moment, with Chris S making the big moves in the last day or so.

Looks like Sofiane is walking up on Fish Lake Mtn.

Code:

where do we see how much sleep time they are getting? I know I used to be able to find it, but I have forgotten what button to click in the tracker! Hope your foot is healing up well.

If you go to each riders individual page it shows up in the data box on the right. It's an approximation as it shows Josh K has had 2.5 hrs, which is clearly not the case from following the race. Worth noting that Steve's moving speed is 11.5 mph, way faster than the other leaders.

The foot is giving me a great excuse to be a full-time stalker!! That and the cricket!

What exactly is “the media crew” that keeps being referred to?

You missed all the fun! 

In 2016 Sofiane rode until he fell off (literally). We found him asleep on the track in the Basin at 10am, lying next to his bike....He's gained a heap of experience since then, so I'd say he's got a plan.

Mike Hall slept very little at the start in 16, then had a good kip at High Country lodge on night 4, maybe Sof has that in mind?

Super impressed with Steve H's ride/ strategy so far. Heaps of sleep, fastest moving speed of the front runners. Will he catch Josh Ibbett today?

So by 3am 6 riders have made it the 200 mi to Butts Cabin, Steve H first in and Kai Edel about 1.5 hrs later... Josh Kato might be in there too. Looks like Sofiane is pushing for an all nighter??

Wondering if it would be possible to have the media crew showing up on trackleaders like happens on other races like TCR and SRMR?? Interested to see how they piece it all together

Thanks for pics. Follow Steve H and Sofiane, plus Geof B on SS. Looks like they are on about same pace as last year...

What has happened with Andrew Kulmatiski?  Spot hasn't moved in >10 hrs?  Going too fast for the satellites?

You all probably caught up on the news, but Andrew "After 2 days of nursing a worsening pulled quad, i have pulled out of the tour divide. Very disappointing."

Looks like Gareth might have have an issue and is walking?? His uphill speeds are <2mph. And Greg Gleason seems to have taken an extended rest. Brush Mtn IG feed has a wee video of him returning to the lodge....

A good bet is that the GD will be delayed.

I hope the GD isn't delayed. I've got international flights booked based on the stated GD date. I've a few days wiggle room, but that's it.

That's the thing about GD's. It is what it is and you get what you get.