Boreas Pass is usually open by now, this year I have no idea, we have snow due Saturday night, probably be a lot more at higher elevations.

I have not met anyone who has come over the pass or gone up high so do not know if it is passable, you can walk around the gates, I assume it is worse on the Summit County side.

2 more seem to have missed the turn for the Gold Dust.

Looks like Lee is pulling out, went on by and is heading for Fairplay.

Looking at where she is now less than 3 hours lost.

Long story, she lost about 4 hours. All is good now, missed the Gold Dust last night.

I missed him as he came by here in the early hours, but there is enough out there now so it is common knowledge and can confirm it is Guy, when I last looked he had reached Hartsel, Salida for lunch?

Mike did mention that this might be his last TD, surprised how little luggage he had.

Como, beyond Breckenridge? Or moves to Como?

Anyway he is looking to get to Salida for breakfast.

Did mention who the mystery man is, inappropriate to divulge. The reason for the course diversions is that he is using the book, so 2004 route?

Nothing to stop those wanting to do this to have their own race within a race. They do it for gender and tandems.

[individual]

The people at the front seem to have certain common traits.

Ability to cycle for 20 hours a day.

To not need to carry very much, what they do have has been carefully thought out and meets their individual needs.

Ability to sleep with little protection in all temperatures where they happen to stop, seemingly at 1pm.

Strong constitution.

Good attitude

and of course good luck.

I had one gut come by whose GPS had stopped and was completely clueless as to what to do, waited for the next person to come by.

Map back up and knowing how to use it is highly recommended.

Certainly in Colorado we have had a mild winter, reasonable amount of snow but a lot has melted.

Now of course anything can happen between then and now but when the ground has a chance fresh show is less likely to stick.

I do not think I have come across anybody who started with too little, a lot who have discarded stuff as they headed south.

Mike Hall reached Como on Saturday Evening, I thought we have had another Saturday arrival?

JayP came through Sunday Lunchtime.

The latest a leader has come through was Monday lunchtime.

I am a cynical so and so.

So I looked at it with that perspective.

1. They are 'limiting' entries to 450 teams - $4,500,000

2. No mention of sponsors, which is very odd. Or media coverage, also odd.

3. Their Lawyers who I have heard of, I think I have had dealings with them, Wynne Kossuth at Eversheds (SA) goes on to say that: “As legal counsel to The Munga, we can confirm that $1 million has been guaranteed for the purposes of race prize money.”

Not the way you would do it, the guarantee would be from a Bank and would be on the lines of that the sum has been deposited into an ESCROW account solely for the payment of prize money.

There is reference to Terms and Conditions, but I could not find these.

My guess is that is they do not get a minimum number of entries to cover the prize money and their costs there is a cancellation provision. So the race will only happen if they have enough entries to pay the prize money.

I do not know how large their target audience is, sounds optimistic.

Sarah Caylor just left, I am Commercial but not open this year and she did not want to run any risk of breaching the rules. Next stop Hartsel.

She mentioned she did have a hyperthemic experience by the Canadian border, cold in Breck this morning but wind has died down and weather has warmed up nicely.

Jesse was hit by lightning!

Concerned at the time, and wondered if it had long lasting effect.

I will acknowledge that I broke the rules twice (that I recall!) during my three attempts. Once when a rider ran out of water and was dangerously dehydrated (he was wobbling while trying to ride). The second when a rider was bonking in the wilderness and I gave them an energy bar. In both instances I would rather have left them to their own devices, but felt it was dangerous as it was a very long way until they could self-supply. Personal safety trumps purism, even in my books.

There seems to be no rule preventing you providing sustenance, which is logical, if you accept then you are in breach.

Maybe it's time for a group of people dedicated to following the rules and spirit of the race all agree to do a NOBO start next year as a way of reducing the craziness? There are now so many people doing the Banff grand depart that this was inevitable. 119 this year? It's also maybe time to move this to it's own thread?

I do not think the 119 is an issue, or 200.

I did read the link to the rules, and then the post about having a SPOT sent on, that would seem to be a clear breach?

It made me think of how many people have strictly complied with those rules, for example I have had people contact me en route which would seem another breach.

The number of participants who think they are going to win or come close are a tiny percentage of those participating and I remember last year there were many optimists who had down a completed ride time similar to how long they took to get here.

This is the first year where there seems to be no competition up front, and the pace seems slower?

Certainly by the time they get to me most people are more focused on can I finish, not the technicalities of the odd kit kat.

I remember one lady who was a fast rider but did not like being alone at night so would slow down hoping someone would catch her up. There were another group that came in who had no intent of following each other, they just happened to be comfortable going at a pace, I do not think it was for physical advantage, more for psychological advantage. Others seem much more happy riding solo.

My impression is that most see it as a semi organised ride, a personal test, not a race.

The Como Hotel is not open this year, I have seen a few cyclists come by, one in the race.

Jefe came by about 3pm, I was here watching the Football, not an obvious time to stop.

A friend saw Jill and fed her, dawn on Sunday.

Boreas Pass is now officially open, as somebody said the road is fine, we have had no rain of consequence, but there is still a lot of snow melt coming down.

Boreas Pass is still officially closed, Maybe be open next weekend. Cyclists can of course get around the gates.

I have seen a few people heading north, but none going south. I doubt the Gold Dust Trail will be logical, has been a looong winter.