Not much of a Facebook or Instagram guy myself (still in my 30s but an old soul I guess), and just wanted to mention I've appreciated those who continue to post updates here, as well as those who have phoned into MTB Cast. Still my preferred ways, along with some good ol' fashioned Trackleaders creeping, to keep tabs on the race each year. Doubt I'll ever race it but I still hope to at least tour it sometime in the next 5-10 years. Props to any and all who even made it as far as the start line this year. Massive commitment, even for the ones getting swept up by the 'broom wagon.' And hoping of course our top Canadian Theo Kelsey will be able to continue on past Del Norte.

Josh, it's been great getting your perspective on the race. Love the way you support the sport and your fellow althletes. Congratulations on another epic run.

This +1

Can you give the percentage of starters vs sub 20 day averages? That way it takes into account a weighted average of the starting wolf pack.

I know that this year, compared to 2015, it took me 2 hours longer to reach Elkford - and I'm in a bit better shape than 2015, although slower than the average GD racer (I'm 66, give an old man a break).

Considering my single-day PB is 74 miles of mostly flatland gravel grinding, you have my utmost respect just for showing up at the start line of a race like this.

Now I'm not a professional statistician, and I did not take the time to verify the status of every single rider listed, but if you'll accept a small margin of error then this will give you a general idea of percentages of sub-20 day finishers relative to all Grand Depart starters since 2011. (#s are meant to include SOBO, NOBO, individuals and tandems, but not ITTs)

2017 - 11/170 - 6.47%
2016 - 16/161 - 9.94%
2015 - 26/143 - 18.18%
2014 - 6/119 - 5.04%
2013 - 12/130 - 9.23%
2012 - 9/101 - 8.91%
2011 - 10/56 - 17.86%

Small sample size I know, but a couple more numbers to give some perspective on this year's conditions: Current projections are for 9 Grand Depart riders to finish sub-20 days. That's the lowest # since 2014 and tied for second lowest since 2011. Include the more successful of the ITTs, and the average per year is about 13 riders finishing in 20d or less.

EDIT: Average per since 2011, I should say ... obviously those numbers were smaller in the earliest days of the race.

Probably explains why I've been missing deadline at work the last couple of weeks, but appears then that counting solo riders only (either direction) from the Grand Depart, Josh is about to become the sixth ever with multiple podium finishes in the 10 years of the Tour Divide as we know it today.

The others (assuming I haven't been suckered in by any ITT's that weren't listed as such online) would appear to be Matthew Lee (2008, 2009, 2010); Chris Plesko (2009, 2016); Jefe Branham (2011, 2014); Kurt Refsnider (2009, 2011); Mike Hall (2013, 2016).

Brian, as Neil pointed out on his site, is the first rookie to win since 2012, and only sixth rider ever to break the 15-day mark. Pretty incredible accomplishments for both, especially with the explosion in popularity of the event over the past several years.

Quick Q from a relative newbie follower of the race: I've seen a few places where people are calling Ollie Whaley winner of the 2012 TD but Trackleaders shows him 10+ hours behind JayP. What's the story there?

EDIT: Whalley, sorry. (whoops)

Not 100% sure on my math but looks like Maertens made up most of his ground on the US Border to Lincoln stretch -- about 11-12 hours faster than anyone else.

Pretty amazing following his dot while replaying the map from the start. I wonder if putting him behind so many is pushing him harder. A position he is probably not very comfortable in nor use to being in.

I'd wondered too if it also eases the mental grind / loneliness to some extent, knowing that he's going to see at least a couple other riders basically every hour (and someone different each time too) he's out there.

And riding without your chin straps locked is like riding without a helmet. Not good imo.

Gear down there, Big Rig. Was he riding like that the whole way? Who knows? Get hit by a car at a certain speed and it ain't going to matter anyway.

Loving the updates from Ovando, as always, Angler. The remorseful "Oh CRUD..." is up there with the firsthand account of Kato's 20-nugget meal in New Mexico from 2015 as one of my all-time favourite posts in the past few years following the race. Looking forward to hopefully meeting you guys on a much more casually-paced tour in the next 2-3 years.

Apologies if this is a little off-topic as most of you seem to be talking racing, but for a wannabe GDMBR tourer someday (targeting 2019 once the littles are a bit older), what percentage of the route would you consider unrideable on 700Cx35 tires? Believe my existing forks can accommodate up to 42-45mm width somewhere in there.

Basically, I'm a flatlander, and haven't any issues on the local singletrack or gravel climbs, but again I'm out in the bald-ass prairie so needs are a little different here. I'd prefer not to have to drop too much $$$ on any expensive upgrades to make the route rideable, but at the same time would hate to get out there on my current setup and end up walking half the distance because I wasn't prepared.

If you race your heart out and abide by the few rules of the race no matter how fast or slow you are you have accomplished something amazing.  We often place a lot of emphasis on speed and records.  Those that have toured the Great Divide are just as awesome as those that have raced the Tour Divide.

This. All of this.

Hey everyone. First-time dot-watcher here, just checking in from rural Saskatchewan, near Regina (unfortunately on the WRONG side from the Qu'Appelle Valley). About as close to "raw rookie" in the bikepacking world as you can get. Did the Mickelson Trail end-to-end in 3 days in 2013 & the NorPac Trail + Trail of the Coeur D'Alenes in 3 days in 2014, with plans to tackle Maah Daah Hey in two days later this month. Currently riding a 2013 model Giant Roam 3, which comes with some obvious limitations, though in my defence I had no idea at the time of purchase how much I was going to enjoy even short-distance bikepacking. Original plan wasn't for much more than general fitness. Anyway, cool site, cool forums, & looking forward to chatting with some fellow n00bs who also have some greater ambitions.

I was just glad to discover I wasn't the only one dogging it at work for most of the last two weeks (and especially today)!

Obviously Josh ordered the 20 nugget meal while the others only had 10. #mcpedalpower