Rule #1 of TourDivide - question

[sthig]

On Tourdivide.org it says:

"Any determined cyclist may challenge the GDMBR at any time, in either direction to qualify for the Tour Divide (TD) General Classification (GC)."

I'm a little confused by this - does that mean you have to qualify to ride the divide? When I emailed the directors I understood you "just show up"

[ron]

Perhaps a less ambiguous word choice there would be to earn or be awarded the recognition as a finisher, but no, it's definitely not meaning to suggest that you have to ride the whole thing to qualify to race the whole thing.

In re barriers to entry, I think you'd just submit your "letter of intent" in the relevant thread and then show up ready to suffer..

[sthig]

15 months and counting.  Will have my LOI about this time next year!  I'm ready to suffer - hopefully with an endurance coach and a lot of mileage put in on these legs I'll suffer .000000005% less

[sthig]

so it's still "just show up" on June 2 (or 4th whatever it is), right?

[DaNM]

I think the open start time may confuse you. You can start in the middle of winter or one hour ahead of the peloton or whenever, just get`er done.

[sthig]

ah, that's what I was looking for.  I'd rather start with the peloton