Ouch, looks like DD has 1500ft + penalty climb for missing the turn off hwy 149 or needs something in Lake City?

I am really biased, but I think Josh Kato is doing amazingly well!  

Dylan also said as much - Josh pulled away from Dylan and Ryan C on the practically walk-a-bike climbs before Helena today and then he sailed through Helena! He's riding strong!

Great Divide Cyclery​ in Helena shout out for 'great service' on the Tour Divide 2015 - Steve gave Dylan's bike a quick tune and a new chain (it was new less than 3 weeks ago but already at 75%). No wonder his knee caps are hurting. Fueled and fixed Dylan sounded excited to be on his way to Butte after some preventative maintenance done in a flash.

Dylan at the finish - 1:58pm on 4/11! 8 days 6 hrs 58 min by my calcs and then he ate an entire large pizza at the trailhead.

Sorry to hear about Norb - hope he feels better soon! Logistical question for folks who have been to the finish line - is there any basic cell/text service at the border? I'm in Phoenix and Dylan's pickup ride. Don't yet know if he'll push through or camp en route so I'm looking at all contingencies. He said his thermometer hit 16˚ last night so he's in for a toasty warm hike with a bike!

750 start pics - Jason Thorman/Dylan Taylor; Katherine Wallace/Spencer; Norb DeKerchove; and the start

Whew - looks like everyone (DT?) is finally down for some R&R. It's been an exhausting first day watching all those hill reps. Currently 22 miles separating #1 and #2  or ~5 hrs of night riding!

As I recall, there is a store (the only store) and laundromat about three miles west of town.  That probably explains it!

It was a nice place to hang out - chairs on the front patio and such.  I learned some things about how locals consider mexican grey wolves when I was there

Message from Dylan - he had 195 mile day with a nighttime start in Cuba. He picked it up around mile 150 to make it to The Top of the World Store and resupply before it closed. Just 4 minutes to spare...

Dylan looking less scary.

 
David - Obviously the Depot does wonders for the riders - thanks for the before and after como depot pics of Dylan! Of course he's my guy and I'm tracking him and all the racers this year from the Republic of Congo. He was infected with the divide when he breakfasted with a TD rider coming through Whitefish in 2009 and is on track to finish sub 20 this year. He rode BMX as a kid and his first bike tour ever was a trans-am ride right out of college. Last year his spring training was less than ideal for TD#1 as we moved to Vancouver Island from Bozeman via Virginia (Crozet). For TD#2 he put in an incredible amount of basement trainer hours as he worked a wolverine research field crew, but the island provided it's share of snow slogging, black bears, and new TD friends (Go Porcelain Rocket!).

Dylan's never been a cat1/2 level racer but he's found a happy groove and talent with this challenge and occupied himself off bike by finding news ways to strategically reduce kit weight - he cut out all his clothing tags and gleefully measured out the savings down to the gram. Then we extrapolated a study to show 2lbs translated into 30 min over the 2,700+ miles and concluded it was more mental than practical.

In addition to adding my shout out to all the riders, I'd like to give props to the Como Depot, Brush Mountain Lodge, Montana High Country Lodge, and all the other special support stops along the TD that take care of these racers, our friends and family members, at all hours, above and beyond a room or a meal.

A few more pics from Membres local Pete Crum of MM, John, LA, DT + 1 more that came through Sapillo Campground today  north of Silver City, and Kurt & Jefe from earlier in the week.  http://www.flickr.com/photos/soride/sets/72157626963747165/ 
Thanks Pete, go riders and go Dylan!