Scratch Update:

All three French riders have scratched together. Oh mon Dieu!
Fabien Frohlicher
Nicolas Senie
Jean-Louis Doridot

Also confirming the following:

Pete Lumsden will be starting his ITT tomorrow at 9am.

Ok,

So far these are all of the scratches I have recieved:

Jonathan Edwards
Bryan Singleton
Josh Ibbet
Steve Heading
Bert Platzer
Mark McPhillips
Darreb Kosliki
Amanda Brooks
Tom Gibbs
Alasdair McClean
Chris Alder
Giacomo Maltman
Ed Procter
Ashraf Kame
Kristan Rivers
Dave Barter
Steve Robbins
Andrew Hutchenson

Scratch Update:

Jonathan Edwards & Bryan Singleton have both scratched and are returning on the road together.

Scratch Update:

Bert Platzer - no reason given.
Bryan Singleton - Arm injury ... can't hold bars.
Mark McPhillips - can't walk or ride...

Official Scratch Update:

Josh Ibbet - broken suspension after leading for 3 days
Steve Heading - just not feeling it at all.
Darreb Kosliki - ill prepared
Amanda Brooks - GPS failure
Tom Gibbs - just not feeling it.
Alasdair McClean - two days in the redzone, food no longer works. Getting the train back and eating more.
Chris Alder -  scratch at Oykel Bridge .

I do feel like the grim reaper some days.

Overnight Scratch Update:

Giacomo Maltman has scratched at Oykel Bridge with an old Achilles injury kicking in.

Scratch Update:

Ed Procter with a calf injury - can't walk uphill :/ Off to a B&B in Lairg.

Overnight Scratch Update:

Ashraf Kamel - Broken derauiler before Fort Augustus.
Kristan Rivers - possible return of Lymes Disease....urk!

Thats it for now.

Official Scratch Update - sorry for the delay but I was riding back from the Lakes

OK, we had a DNS yesterday from Craig McGee who had and RTA in Glasgow before he got to the start, he's fine.

Todays scratches are:
1) Steve Robbins after a crash that may have caused a fracture in his hand/wrist.
2) Andrew Hutchenson is having some back issues and taking the smart route by stepping out.

Also, Pete Lumsden missed the start due to work and will be doing the route as an ITT in a few days! Good man

That's it until tomorrow.

Gary - it's like you are inside my brain.

I was working on a way I could do it, but I don't have rider images for everyone :/

Anyway, I'll be posting scratches each evening if I can (I'm off riding for the weekend) but I'll be keeping the twitter feed up to date whenever I hit signal https://twitter.com/HT_550

I had to Google Crazy Larry. Should I hire an american muscle car for Saturday? See you soon (I assume you'll be at Tyndrum Greg)

I think the appropriate Scotland vehicle would be a beat up old Vectra. Not sure if I'm going to make it up Gary, some other things on the boil that I need to address. Will be last minute if I can get up.

Well, I think you've just become the Crazy Larry of the HT550. I dub thee - Crazy Gary.

I think there were a few to finish signing up with TL. Should have it finalised in a day or two.

Trackleaders trail tracker is ready to roll: http://trackleaders.com/highland15

For those interested, this is the Twitter account that will be associated to the Highland Trail.

https://twitter.com/HT_550

I'll try to keep it up to date during the race with what riders are up to - but will mainly be using it to announce finishing times and scratches.

If you're racing, feel free to send a mention at the account and I'll take note of it.

No worries Nick, TBH I'll not know if I am until this weekend and the Cairngorms loop!

Nick - I'll be up the night before but not racing. Do you fancy doing the start - Fort Agustus, then bivi - then ride back via Ft.Bill the next day on the route?

Looks like I'll be along for the first day this year - not racing as I can't take the week off sadly - but looking forward to seeing you all off and riding with you for the first day at least. I'll take the bigger camera out and get some photos.

Re shoes - FWIW I'd avoid stiffer shoes for this based on my experience is '13. Sure you get better pedalling efficiency, but you will suffer on the hiking. I used a set of relatively flexy Spesh SPDs with the cleat set far, far, far back in them to avoid excess wear on my Achilles. Worked a treat. But, I did do lots of hike a bike with them prior to the HTR. Horses for courses though.

Also, it looks like I'll be your official scratch point again this year. I'm sure AlanG will pass on details.

Anyone know what's up with Mr. Cuttriss?  He hasn't moved today.

From what I've heard - Donnacha needed to get some physio, but took some forward assistance and has since been DQ'd.

Second hand info for me. So not confirmed