Tour Divide 2015 - race discussion thread

[Nellie]

What a race! Amazing.

Greg Locke seems to be stalled in Clarke, anyone know what's happening there? He was going pretty well up until that point.

[BudgieBoy]

JP drove the pace most of the race......gotta be tricky being off the front for so long being the hunted. Shame Seb hit some bad luck and didn't get a chance to make it a four way dig but kudos to Josh & Neil for taking it up to JP when most of us probably thought it couldn't be done. How good is Ultra Racing at the moment.....PS special shout out to Aussie Jesse Carlsson (2013 TD Second Place) for winning the Trans Am.


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[Donald]

I wonder if we'll ever know why JP and NB spent the last part of the race riding together.  A single pace might have suited one of them, couldn't have suited both of them and might have suited neither. Plus, it gave JK a single quarry to pursue.  If he took down one, he took down both. Which is what he did. Extraordinary race.

[jmh]

Wow.  What a finish.  It was impressive to watch happen first hand.  I lost cell coverage just after the 60 mile to go mark so here is how I saw it develop.  Long drive back last night and I really needed a couple hours of sleep.  What a bunch of gifted athletes and humble people. I'm sure when the time is right each will tell their own story, but this is my perspective from going from watching the dots for the last couple of weeks to actually going to the race site and finish line.  

I was in the car from El Paso from the time all three of them were are McDonald's in Silver City and my plan was to be at the gas station at I-10 when they got there.  I didn't count on Josh putting the hammer down like he did and he beating me to I-10, so I got off at the 146 exit and headed west on the frontage road where I saw him up ahead.  He was killing it head down in the aero bars.  I continued west on the frontage road and saw JayP and Neil's bikes outside the gas station.  JayP flew out of the store and tore off in chase of Josh with Neil a few seconds shaking his head in disbelief on how fast the race was getting that afternoon.  I meet a fellow spectator by the name of DJ, apparently a 2011 TD vet, in his green van and we spoke on and off as we leapfrogged the race.

I drove to back to 146 and went to about the 60 mile to the finish mark and watched Josh continue to hammer.  JayP arrived at that point 27 minutes after with Neil about a minute back.  I went ahead to catch Josh and told him he had a great lead just keep doing what he was doing and he would be fine and I went ahead to Hachita.  


Josh still looked great at Hachita and maintained his 25-30 minute lead at that point. He commented that a 25 minute lead was nothing with the "fastest riders behind him"  -perhaps a bit of self doubt or just true humility and respect for the two racers just behind him.   JayP rolled in to Hachita and took brief stop on route 9, got back on the bike and as he remounted Neil turned onto 9 from 146 and he looked shocked to be able to see JayP 200 yards ahead of him about to turn on to 81.  I followed the two of them and a mile and a half south of Hachita Neil caught JayP and they rode side by side for a few miles.  DJ got a great video of Neil catching JayP.  There were a couple of other TD fans on the course, Mitch, with a professional looking camera setup, a couple of guys taking video- Jeffery and his associate- and a dude on a motorcycle.

Without cell coverage I lost a bit of situtational awareness on the race, so I would stop and take time checks at easily recognizable places as Josh passed and then drive back to see were JayP and Neil were, snap so pics and head back to the place I took time checks.  Josh maintained about a 20-25 minute lead in each of these checks.

I leap frogged ahead to caught up to Josh just after the 25 mile to go mark and offered some more words of encouragement.  Josh was focused.  Later I would find out that Josh ran out of water at the 25 mile to go mark and would start to cramp up.  He thought his race was over if he didn't get some fluids in him so he stopped in a rain filled culvert and refilled his bottle and drank some "nasty tasting" water.  It worked and he avoided locking his legs up.  

I headed to the "finish" line.  Shortly thereafter Lindsay arrived awaiting her husband's and the rest of the racers arrival.  DJ, Mitch and the others arrived shortly after Lindsay.

Josh was still flying as he entered the finish area at 7:39.  He could not believe what had happen that day.  After finishing he commented that he could not believe he finished, or that he finished ahead of Neil and JayP... "I'm just a nurse... This hasn't sunk in... I can't believe it" he said to himself and those around him several times.  


As those of you watching the blue dots know, JayP pulled ahead of Neil after mile 40.  JayP rolled into the finish at 8:02.  He had nothing be respect for Josh and Neil and spoke of how those two guys" "pushed [him] all day long."  Neil finished up at 8:20 and was relieved and excited to be done.  

Josh told those there that he had not had a flat or mechanical issues for the entire race, he thought he brought much more stuff that he needed but after freezing the prior year he was going to be prepared, and that he never thought about not finishing.  He commented that seeing JayP and Neil very early that morning, he was sure he woken them up as he shined his headlight at their bivy site as he passed.  He also said that he thought before he started that his best possible time would have been around 17 days.  

JayP spoke of how his BB issues really had him concerned, but most of all he regretted sleeping FIVE hours the night before, which was way more than he had planned.  Neil was super pleased with his effort and felt he has done all that he could have and had raced the best race he had in him.

These three guys were simply class acts.  Each humble in attitude, yet superhuman their race.  As I watched the race unfold yesterday morning, I knew it was going to shape up to be something special.  I also knew I wanted to be there to see it.  I think many of us blue dot watchers had written Josh off as a close third to JayP and Neil prior to Friday morning.  He really found a great rhythm Friday and was just the faster guy.  Josh made some gutsy race winning decisions beginning on Thursday night and dug deep all the way to Antelope Wells.  

I came away with a far deeper understanding of the Tour Divide.  While I don't understand it in the way that those who have raced it,  being on the roads, around the racers gave me a great appreciation and respect any who toe the line and attempt it.  

I took a bunch a pics not much video.  

[kiwidave]

Amazing ride in an amazing event. Dylan will beat the ghost of JayP and Alex is going to have to keep up his awesome pace to beat the old record - here's hoping he can do it.

Lael's ride is also of the same level of these top guys - she'll smash the old record when she finishes.

Maybe these new records will give motivation to Matt Lee, Kurt, Jefe, Olly, Craig and Eszter to have another shot.

Josh Kato - the everyman's hero! WOW dude - you nailed it. AS they say, "Some days you're the hammer, some days you're the nail." Last year was a "nail" year, but this year you were the HAMMER.

The open question for the riders still out there is to find out which pie Josh chose in Pie Town ... if there is one called "Josh Kato rocket fuel" then make sure you order three slices!!!
  

[Donald]

My guess is that the pie was apple and chilli. It was as unpalatable as it sounds, but guaranteed to light the afterburners.

[BobM]

...what's the point of racing if you're not trying to win?

Wouldn't adoption of that attitude eliminate most of the field in nearly all races?

[ridingman1]

Impressive ride by Josh! jP!and Neil! The others on the course are equally awesome!
Now where is my bike...

[Payton MacDonald]

Congrats to Josh, JP, and Neil, and congrats to all the other folks out there riding hard and finding their bliss.  Also, huge shout out to ACA, Matthew, Scott, Joe, Crazy Larry, and all the significant others, trail angels, and other good folks who make this race happen.  Your dedication and enthusiasm is inspiring and a real testament to American ingenuity and generosity.

[jmh]

My favorite pic of Josh Kato.

[vikb]

Amazing ride from the front running men! 

Great to see Lael go so strong given her health challenges. 

Anyone heard why Beth D is not making much progress at the moment?

-- Vik

BTW - I just donated to TrackLeaders to support the race coverage. 

[Mxhdroom]

I wonder if we'll ever know why JP and NB spent the last part of the race riding together.  A single pace might have suited one of them, couldn't have suited both of them and might have suited neither. Plus, it gave JK a single quarry to pursue.  If he took down one, he took down both. Which is what he did. Extraordinary race.

Excellent point. That single target would provide a psychological boost if nothing else.

But what a race. Whenever I need inspiration to get on the bike now, I'll just look at those finish photos JMH took and start riding.

[Mxhdroom]

My favorite pic of Josh Kato.

Great work, JMH, excellent photos. 

I also hope that's a beer in Josh's hand. He deserves a truckload after that ride. 

[mtbcast]

#TourDivide15 - Overnight: Tom De Vries called in from Salida to say he is OUT! Charlie Kemp called in from Lander getting some saddle sore treatment! John Bowers called in from the Basin! And Erik Richenberger called in from Boulder!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td15/

[geekonabike]

Lael's hitting strong headwinds (20mph SE) & a good chance of rain approaching Grants, NM.
A 'deja-vu, all over again' #YogiBerra looks possible in Categories NoBo 'this layer only'. Jeff Tayor & Mike Ingram are keeping each other in site, while Gab Murphy could still be a lurking spoiler.

[mtbcast]

‎TourDivide15‬ - Marty Johnson called in from Wamsutter!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td15/

[si]

Great photos and report JMH , thanks very much.

The photos and comments from folks along the way really bring the race to life for those of us miles and miles away.

[samh]

Awesome write-up and finish photos, jmh, thank you!  The pic of all three with their bikes sitting at the border is pretty rad.  

Dylan doesn't look to been stationary for more than about seven hours in the past 60+ so his staying ahead of JPs ghost will be well-deserved.  Alex should do he same too.  I'm still cheering for all the riders following!

[dp]

Whew, what a finish!

JMH, thanks for the finish-line photos.  Those are some happy campers, to be sure.

[dawgless]

Thank you jmh for the great pics!  I love that one of Josh sitting there on the curb with the smile on his face.  Awesome!!