One of the things that the top 2 had in common was the willingness to go so long without sleep. Ulrich didn't sleep until the 4th night! I don't know how they could function like that.

Agree - JayP said something to the effect; "Once you stop for an extended time, it really catches up to you" So I guess, they just keep going?

Congratulations on an amazing finish Justinas Leveika!

Bonnie-

I'm amazed at what these athletes have accomplished. I'm a bit perplexed as to the first 5 finishers are not American. I don't really care that they raced so well, just curious if you think its a bit odd as well.

There were a handful of  American professional gravel racers in the field. I guess they just had bad luck? AK got sick, twice, Ted King got sick, Alex Howes broke a wheel. Its just the nature of the divide???

Meant to put this in the Tour Divide 2023 - Race Prep Discussion thread.

Some intel on the early passes would be great. Specially, Whitefish Divide and Red Meadow.

Have a great ride. 

For early starters:

Looking for advice:
Per the Unofficial Starters list, George Whalen is starting South bound tomorrow, 5/12.

I am planning the first leg of my Yo-Yo attempt starting 5/20 North bound.

If I don't receive any word from Matthew Lee or Scott Morris prior to my planned start, what GPX should I use?

Thanks, Tom

Best of luck on your start. Please report back when possible on conditions on the passes as you navigate.

Hahaha, mine too. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW6v2kpDw6g

I totally see your side of it briansong! In as much as those youtube videos and movies inspire people to get out and try it themselves I think that's a Very Good Thing. I mean, I've watched most all of them myself. Twice! However, the one point I'd make there is that by far and away most of what you'll find online are a) tourists self documenting their tours on the GDMBR or b) racers self documenting their TD race. All of those are inspiring and I don't see any issue with self documenting things if you're racing (nothing matters but having fun if you're touring). Its the outside film/media crews that blur that self supported/solo line. Again, just my opinion. Keep in mind that my perspective of this is of a guy who started racing bicycles in the mid-80's as a junior and has seen a lot of change and not all of it good, so admittedly I get a bit curmudgeonly about things. When the rules of the race are blurred or simply open to anyone's interpretation its not a bike race anymore its a free for all. Man, I guess maybe I'm still carrying some baggage from racing against a bunch of dopers BITD. And that's totally on me lol!

Everyone has their own interpretation of self supported. I did the GD in 2014 and an ITT in 2021, August start. The GD I saw things that made me raise my eyebrows some. Some I believe was not in the "spirit" of the rules and some were outright illegal in my opinion.

The film crew thing, Man tough subject. I think some programs were given special dispensation for other reasons than the rules. While others get called out for the same behavior. I see different folks, being held to different standards and I don't really understand why.

I tend to just do my own thing and carry on. I'm not gonna ever win anyway.

Back to the Professionals, Spend some time watching the "Life Time Grand Prix" series on YouTube. It covers all 6 races and it is very entertaining. Thats the series Alex Howes does.

It takes way more than protour watts to win something like the TD. I wish him well in his endeavor and am looking forward to seeing what he can do. I think the "risk" of having more pros/sponsored riders participating is likely along the lines of a continued slow degradation of the original solo spirit of the race. We've seen riders (and their sponsors) place a desire for exposure above the "do it completely solo" ethos that makes events like this so special. Its my opinion that film/media crews consisting of familiar faces following along, regardless of how well intentioned or "policed", provide an unfair advantage. That's my opinion and no one is going to change it, so I'm not interested in a debate. I guess in the end it all depends on the style in which they wish to participate. In this age of the 'gram and "look at me look at me" mindsets I'm not super optimistic.

Too bad. I think this could be good for the sport. Conversely, the underground nature of the sport has been changing anyway. There's full movies, countless YouTube video's. I could see there becoming a different event fro Professionals. You are free, as always to go out there whenever you want and be completely by yourself, if you so choose.

I imagine it might be similar to the state of gravel races at the moment. I'm not sure being the only professional means you're a guaranteed winner. I guess we'll see what happens!

Agree completely. There's so much that can happen out there. My entire point is, its gonna bring a new perspective to dot watching.

I saw a post on one of the FB TD groups that Alex Howes was gonna start. If that's true, what does having Professionals in the event do? Will more follow? will others sponsors demand participation? Interesting point for discussion at any rate.

discuss....

Sounds like excellent training, and even more important - you know your body. Giving it another go next June?

Bon -

Nope. My mind just isn't cut out for this. I pulled the plug in Montana...again. This time I was physically fine. I just couldn't wrap my head around all the miles, time in front of me. I have never DNF'd a race, ever and I'm 0-2 with this.

I'm focusing on my road bike and might even do some crit racing.

I sold my bike and all the gear when I got home. I didn't wan't to be tempted. 

If you're heat acclimated, you're a step ahead of a lot of us mild temp dwellers. I'd tackle a NOBO if I could, but I usually need 2500 miles to heat acclimate.

In my run-up during training for my ITT last year, I was riding 6-8 hours on the road. All of June, July and August. I remember getting home and it being 116-118 at times. I was solid in the heat. Its not terrible if you take proper care of your body. "They" say, drink a 20oz bottle every hour. I was drinking a 32oz magnum, every half hour. No different I guess than reading about the Ididarod folks at those insane cold temps.

I "think" several folks who were doing GDMBR, leaving close to your time ran into serious mud in New Mexico. Going northbound, leaving in early June seems to work well as long as you don't blow yourself out of the running on the first couple of days ( it was 100 degrees at Lake Roberts in '21 and then it got hot ).

Guess tradition is the reason for the 2nd week. Kinda wondering what Parks Canada is going to be saying regarding next year after having a bunch of folks getting evacuated this year.

Mike -

I really think a NB start at the June GD is wise. Getting out of the desert early enough not to have heat problems id key. However, me being from Phoenix, I'd rather ride in 100 deg than 42 and rain.

Do the FKT'ers just ride lots of long slow distance (LSD), whether 48 minutes or 48 hours non-stop, at the same pace and style?
or do some do all types of bike racing such as , 25 mile/40 km road time trials, mtn bike racing (1.5 to 2 hour XCO, Enduro, Marathon), criteriums (road or dirt), observed trials, bmx etc.?
How many work on increasing their strength and power, or improving their single track skills?

For those that do interval training or hill climb repeats to be a faster bikepack racer - what types, intensities, durations?

That's a great topic for discussion. I had started the TD twice, 2014 and an ITT August of 21'. I failed on both of them.My issue wasn't strength or FTP (power) It is mental and my ability to not continuously look for the end.

Anyway. I had a professional cycling coach, who is very good. However, I don't think I trained the correct way. I spent far to much time getting my FTP (functional threshold power) as high as was possible. I don't think I spent long enough time doing big mountain routes, fully loaded. Intervals or a high FTP, while important, won't get you to the end.

All that said, I am a real believer in training with a power meter. I don't think anyone who has ever used one would go backwards or disagree.

Hi Bonnie -

I'm not riding but did an August depart last year 8/20/21. Dp and I chose that date based on potential best weather window, course wide. Neither one of us made the distance but our weather strategy was solid. We had some light showers (not cold) first day and a half. But the rest of our ride, the weather was perfect.

To my point;

Why do you think there is such hesitancy for  a larger and later group depart? I started with the GD in 2014 as well, that was also a terrible snow year. I can't understand so many risking an adventure this monumental in scope on bad weather, as 2022 was. What year did the race leaders get stuck at Brush Mountain? The weather track for a depart anywhere in the middle of August just makes so much sense.

I know the June date is because of daylight hours. Me, I'd rather ride a couple hours in the dark than a couple hours in snow or worse yet, freezing rain. Dp here and I even started a August depart FB page, little to no interest.
Think of the time invested in training, money invested in gear, time away from work, time away from family. Based on all that, why risk bad weather, that seems more likely, than not.

Discuss...

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E-Trex 30. 50.00

Updated 9/2/21

As to Leal Wilcox's ITT. Why is she on the old TD route? (Prior Koko)

I think it's fair to point out that filming has had a place in divide racing, historically.

I believe John had misgivings about the film crew and its effect on him and the solo nature of the ride.  So it's also fair to say the relationship has always been uneasy, too.

Agree.

I believe everyone gets or is looking for something different out of these things. Some, see it for simply the challenge of it, that's my impetus. Others, seem to want to share it on social media as more of a shared experience. I attempted the TD in 2014 and pulled out in Seely lake. I simply want to finish it and am ITTing in August.. I took about 3 pictures the entire way in 2014.

The filming aspect perhaps should be even another dot? Looked at differently. They can do as they can do as they choose, associate with who they want and take as long as necessary. BUT...they cannot be given a course record either. A category record perhaps but not like Mike Hall's record, if they were to break it. Or simply a "film crew" asterisk.

In any case too much controversy is divisive and our sport doesn't need it.

I also find it "somewhat interesting" that films are/were being made by quite a few. This one by John, the early one by JP and others. Some, there were DQ's, other there are/were not. I realize this one about Stamstad is different. It was early on and before the "rules" as it were.

The enforcement seems arbitrary and random at best.

 
Were the finishers in the original movie, "Ride the divide" subject to these rules?

Great watch, thanks for posting. The delta between his speed/time then, as opposed to the records now, including greater distances is really amazing.