Tour Divide 2015 - race discussion thread

[Erik_A]

Congrats NB, JK, & JP - thanks for the excitement!

[Slowly]

Kato is king! Get that boy a proper sponsor and book deal!
Congrats to all!

[spinningsooner]

WOW! Congratulations to Josh, Jay, and Neil. That is such an amazing feat for each of you!!

[mtbcast]

So proud of Josh and all three of them! JayP and Neil, outstanding!

[geekonabike]

Now That's Entertainment! Big congrats all three.

[mtbcast]

Episode June 26, 2015 – #TourDivide Winner and Day 15 True Ups!
Before we true up your calls we congratulate Josh Kato for his win and new record on the Tour Divide as well as Jay Petervary and Neil Beltchenko on rounding out the top three! We also hear from Joseph Boquiren on the Trans Am Bike Race!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/podcasts/

[AndyAmick]

Amazing rides to the finish. Congrats to all three for a great race and keeping us at the edge of our virtual seats.

[dwengs]

AWESOME!!  Doug is my husband and it was so nice to see pics of him and to hear that he is doing well!  Thank you!!

[lotomojo]

Wow! What a blast to follow and congratulations to Josh, JayP & Neil.

And just as important, here's to everyone who's still on the course riding closer to a pace that I can comprehend.
 

[Majcolo]

Sleep deprivation is really pretty bad for your body. Adding mandatory rest periods would completely change up the racing...better? Worse? Who knows. But I think it would definitely lead to the sustainability of people doing these races for multiple years instead of the usual one-and-done. Maybe then we could increase the chances of more of the big names lining up in a single year.

JayP seems to be the only one who's been able to stack big effort after big effort year after year.

Well said. Willingness to subject yourself to extreme sleep dep is the single most important factor in whether you have a chance to be competitive. (Jefe's CT record run still boggles my mind.)

Having been involved in the old threads I know and respect Matt's philosophy that it's about the rider against themselves and nothing else...and that's not racing; it's a vision quest, which is cool and awesome but not racing. Maybe that's why he stopped posting results on the TD website...we're all missing his point.

Rambling a bit but the point is I've wanted to do these events for awhile now, and now that I'm close to being able I find the motivation to race waning and I'm just planning to tour fast brevet-style. I know I don't want to do the sleep dep and risk that damage, and what's the point of racing if you're not trying to win?

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[SimonK]

R

Well said. Willingness to subject yourself to extreme sleep dep is the single most important factor in whether you have a chance to be competitive. (Jefe's CT record run still boggles my mind.)

Having been involved in the old threads I know and respect Matt's philosophy that it's about the rider against themselves and nothing else...and that's not racing; it's a vision quest, which is cool and awesome but not racing. Maybe that's why he stopped posting results on the TD website...we're all missing his point.

Rambling a bit but the point is I've wanted to do these events for awhile now, and now that I'm close to being able I find the motivation to race waning and I'm just planning to tour fast brevet-style. I know I don't want to do the sleep dep and risk that damage, and what's the point of racing if you're not trying to win?

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Racing for the experience and camaraderie, and a fast time (rather than a win) worked for me. The sleep deprivation isn't compulsory if you have good fitness and strategy and are simply aiming for, say, a 20-day time.   

[GunPilot]

I'm going to go out and kiss my Salsa.  Great job Josh, Jay and Neil.  Awesome, epic and mind blowing effort.  And there are more like them right behind!

[Majcolo]

Just saw Josh crushing it down the frontage road of i10. Then I headed west to the gas station and JP and Neil were reapplying. Josh is flying. He has a huge tailwind down 146. JP and Neil are a bit back and are getting hammered in a rain storm that Josh is ahead of.

These guys are racing.

Catching up after being in the car all day and away from TL. 150 posts to go and it's only getting more exciting!

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[kenji]

What an amazing race to watch this year! Congrats to Josh, Jay, and Neil!
π
I don't think I got any work done over the last two days watching these guys!
To all the riders still out there keep cranking!
The Blue Marker Dance!

[Majcolo]

That was Next Level, right there.

So true.

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[bikee]

This whole thing (not that it's over) is so cool. Thanks riders, Trackleaders and bikepacker.net!!!!

[BanffCrazyLarry]

Well, How are ya'ALL feel'n ??

THAT WASSSssZzzz one - hell - of - a race to watch - keep track of!!!

I was on the seat-of my chair for most of the entire race! (*Literally!)
AND I STILL AM!!!
THIS EPIC RIDE IS NOT OVER, YET!

Many people (*Avid Cyclist enthusiast) fail to realize that it took a TON Of effort for pretty much ALL - the - participants (Ultra Cyclist) whether Touring the route or *for some, racing it to get here to Banff, Alberta for the Grand Depart START.

THIS EPIC RIDE - Personal Challenge - for many, like you if you choose to participate next year, IS NOT OVER, YET!
 
The Annual Crazy Larry Grand Depart Group Picture > "Every year!" < WILL BE even better yet next year! ***2016

I've already reserved the World's Largest Pixel camera to take the picture at the YWCA meeting spot for START neutral peleton ROLL-out!

There were and STILL-ARE going to be, many late nights watching those AmaZzzing Girls doing this race. HUGE Kudos girls!!!! Love ya's! BIG Time!!!  
And watching the rest of you's finish.

Although some may say:
Someone came in 1st.
Someone came in 2nd.
Someone even came in 3rd.
We the lovers of biking - Especially, Ultra Cycling Routes, are ALL on the SAME Team!

You ARE ALL on A Team / Fraternity / The ONLY Club of its kind!
The Ultra Cyclist
- Epic riders of the Tour Divide Route! Toughest DARN race - in - the - World!

This route takes much courage, personal push {beyond-what-some-may believe} to finish.

BIG Shout out to Joe Polk of MTB Cast for the extended HARD HARD work of sorting listening to EACH & EVERY Call you's call in. Wow!
And for Scott Morris and Matthew Lee for TrackLeaders tracking you ALL. (AND, the many other races they do!)


Remembering ~
  
   "The fact, that you came to Banff - took the time to go through the mirage of logistics just to prepare - from relationship separation ...time away, to jobs, to financial means, to lonely days of training, to educating yourselves on the course doings/changes/deviations/Spot doings, to equipment choices - THIS ALL is a Testimony to the person you truly are! "
Bravo to you ALL!
Kudos to ALL your efforts!

I love you's ALL - to - bits!! *Honestly!

I'm get'n set for my go of it "Presently" planning *IF Blood tests come back GOOD - To try it possibly in August 2015

I'd love to interview, each one of you.
So Please, give me a dingle.
bigbearhi@gmail.com
I'll be fix'n to edit an (under construction website shortly) Should be an area for writing your stories SOON! ok!?

Wives, friends of riders *Please, pass this email around - ok!? I'd appreciate that a TON!  

Ok Back, to watching the rest of ya's "Make Your Hearts Sing! "  
Rock ON !  

[Hurtin Albertan]

Way back on Day 1...

[flyboy]

Mrs Flyboy here. Not sure if this is the right spot to ask this, but I have a question for the wives/partners of TD riders who have met, or have arranged to meet, their partners at the finish line in Antelope Wells. I'm heading over with our 2 children to meet Flyboy at the finish line. We'll be flying into LAX and will then fly to Phoenix or Tucson. More likely to be Tucson to shorten the drive to AW. Just looking for tips/advice on what to do, what not to do, where to stay, etc.

[Hurtin Albertan]

Pics of JayP, Neil B, Alex H on Day 1