Tour Divide 2015 - race discussion thread

[Majcolo]

Amazing accomplishment, congrats Lael!

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[JRA]

Wow!
Watching these superhuman efforts is almost unbelievable.  Great run Lael.

[jmiked72]

Congrats to Lael! This has been an extraordinary race!

[BanffCrazyLarry]

*** Heartiest of Congratulations Miss Lael Wilcox !!!!  
THAT was an ImpreSSive Epic Ride of a Life-time!!! - eh!?

  NOW THAT WAS IMPRESSIVE AS CAN BE !!!  

THIS RACE BY NO MEANS, IS OVER YET!
There " ARE " many who are Touring this Route; as it is an Epic Accomplishment - JUsssst to finish this Tour Divide Route with all its logistical nightmare's!!!  
Anyone who does....is a Champion to themselves!
AND that is something one - can - take with you; for the rest of your ENTIRE Life-Time of living MORE adventures hopefully~!

  *** "The fact that you took the time energy logistics like separation from job family friends, obtaining a bike gear equipment, lonely days of training, Your Personal rides in Isarael, Ride from Alaska jussst before doing the Tour Divide Route is a testimony to the person you truly ARE! "
 
YOU NOW enter the Elite Fraternity Club of Ultra Endurance Adventurer Cyclist of the Word.
There ARE ONLY a handful.
Bravo. Kudos to you there young courageous lady!!!

You set a NEW Women's World Record at 17.01.51 beating out an ALREADY AmaZing time from Eszter Horanyi at 19.03.35
BUT TO ME *Personally ~ We are TRULY ALL on the SAME Team!
*Hopefully, the course/route stays the same, so that each rider setting goals can have the same playing field in the future!? eh?

We love our cycling!
We love what makes our hearts sing; and have the ability to do it.
There are MANY who can not.
SO Rock ON Miss Lael Wilcox.
You've set the standard to make MANY MANY a heart sing!!! ~ For quite-a- while to come!!!!  

Lets just say, "You've rattled the hornets nest for both women and men alike~!  
Thank you for all your lonely days of training and the many many miles you put on to come here to Banff, Alberta-Canada.

However, of that, history is STiLL - in - the - making with Billy Rice and his daughter being the FIRST EVER to ride the Tour Divide Route paving the way for many a father and daughter team; EVEN mother and son or daughter team to ride the EPIC Route >ALL Self Supported !
Meaning NO help! NO Stage tents setup for you. NO water waiting. NO food supplied.
THIS IS ALL YOU ....and YOU ALONE to see if you can pull it off!

When you do.
YOU WILL take one of the most gratifying feelings of a Life-Time!!! *SO I've heard, I haven't did this route / race for some, yet!  

***I really enjoyed INTEVIEWING YOU while you were riding making HISTORY happen before me!  
      THAT Was SOooo COOL !!! James Prosser ( a fellow rider who also could not participate this year, was in the truck driving while I filmed) We both were in AWE and SO SO excited to follow you!
So when you read this ....Please STAY in Touch ok!?    

Thanks for being THAT person who instills adventure, the curiosity to 'choose' to personally challenge one's self, and the courage to do such Epic Rides in SUCH an Epic AmaZZzing Time!!!

However, the RACE IS NOT OVER YET!  
There ARE many more adventurous cyclist who are also making their hearts sing; to accomplish one of the World's MOST TOUGHEST Races due to its extreme variety of terrain climate conditions that 'can' change so drastically on a moments notice that personally challenge EACH SELF-Supported cyclist touring / racing for some.

Way to go!!!
I AM SO AWESOMELY inspired to ride my bike!
And do the Tour Divide - one day!!!  

I AM, and have taken 30 days to follow you ALL; as I LOVE each one of you AMaZing cyclist from around the world; and thoroughly enjoy helping you in whatever way is possible when you come to Banff, Alberta for the START of the Grand Depart AND participate in the Crazy Larry's Grand Depart Group Picture ! (*Too!)  
 
Glad to have met you along side the road to interview you while riding.
Please, let me know where to post it!? (*if you wish it posted?) Or send it to you!

[mtbcast]

‪#‎TourDivide15‬ - Bethany Dunne called in from Grants with Seb Dunne! Troy Hopwood called in from Salida! And Jill Homer called in from Frisco to say she is OUT due to the respiratory gunk several have been battling.

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

[Angler]

Congrats Lael from the spotters in Ovando!  And I would like to point out that of the 16 SOBO females; all except one are still on the road and look to finish.  Now that too is impressive.  

At least to me.
Carry on and come on NOBO's!

[THE LONG RANGER]

Doing some research, I may be wrong about the current overall SS Record. Seems that last year,  Calvin Decker finished off in 18 days 5 hours, which would have beaten Plesko's long-standing time.

[pro_out]

The class of 2016 is going to have some BIG SHOES to fill

[vikb]

Lael Wilcox is in with a new women's record of 17:01:51! Congrats, Lael!

Is that correct or is she just getting the Solo ITT record due to not following the latest revision of the route in a couple places?

https://gypsybytrade.wordpress.com/2015/06/29/lael-wilcox-finishes-tour-divide-in-170151/

[BobM]

Is that correct or is she just getting the Solo ITT record due to not following the latest revision of the route in a couple places?

https://gypsybytrade.wordpress.com/2015/06/29/lael-wilcox-finishes-tour-divide-in-170151/

According to the article she has the record, but will not have a placing in comparison to other GD participants this year.  Not sure what that really means as solo ITT are supposed to count in the GC for a given year.

[ron]

Doing some research, I may be wrong about the current overall SS Record. Seems that last year,  Calvin Decker finished off in 18 days 5 hours, which would have beaten Plesko's long-standing time.

Only problem is, he didn't ride it SS.

Just found this confirming piece of evidence on his blog:

"The first 3 days went well, day 4 was a bit of a let down, and day 5 came to be a giant turning point in the race. In the morning I felt good, and headed out early toward Ovando in hopes to make up some lost time from the day before, only to discover it would be my biggest loss of the whole trip. It was about 35 degrees and a driving rain. I was wringing water out of my gloves without taking them off. I could not feel my feet, nothing I was wearing was dry. I was now riding a single speed. No, the bike worked fine, but I couldn’t shift because my hands were too cold."

http://calvinrdecker.blogspot.com/2014/07/tour-divide-more-than-silly-bike-race.html

[GunPilot]

So they are not giving Lael the win??!? I only see one deviation, and it looks like it was a longer route than published anyway.  Why was her pin not orange then?  ??

[THE LONG RANGER]

So they are not giving Lael the win??!? I only see one deviation, and it looks like it was a longer route than published anyway.  Why was her pin not orange then?  ??

I guess we can wait and see.

She's an upstanding Tour Divide racer, and she did exactly what she said she did out there. That's a major win in my book. If you look at 2014's thread, it was overrun about talk of rule bending. Not fun. A lot of people then clarified what it is they did (it's not easy to do when you're out there!), which I also found admirable.

Only problem is, he didn't ride it SS.

Just found this confirming piece of evidence on his blog:

"The first 3 days went well, day 4 was a bit of a let down, and day 5 came to be a giant turning point in the race. In the morning I felt good, and headed out early toward Ovando in hopes to make up some lost time from the day before, only to discover it would be my biggest loss of the whole trip. It was about 35 degrees and a driving rain. I was wringing water out of my gloves without taking them off. I could not feel my feet, nothing I was wearing was dry. I was now riding a single speed. No, the bike worked fine, but I couldn’t shift because my hands were too cold."

http://calvinrdecker.blogspot.com/2014/07/tour-divide-more-than-silly-bike-race.html

...and that's totally my complete and utter mistake in underdtanding. Plesko's record stands? Anyone this year up for it?

[THE LONG RANGER]

Actually, from the blog post,

Based upon a technicality where Lael did not have the most current GPS track for the route, as she was riding from Alaska to Banff when it was quietly published, her position with regard to the other competitors will not be honored.  However, her time will be recorded as a record-setting solo ITT.  I spoke with Tour Divide organizer Matthew Lee this morning and am confident that his decision comes with the same integrity with which Lael approached the ride. 

There you go: she crushed exactly what she set out to do. I think Ez would be completely on her side on that, as well.

https://zenondirt.wordpress.com/2015/06/24/watching-tour-divide-records-fall/

[robotfury]

Slightly off topic. Does anyone have a list or can point me to a list of TD singlespeed finish times?

[sjfoote]

Hard to believe that Lael would not be credited with the women's win and overall 6th place finish. She crushed the course while battling illness early on, GPS problems a little later, and exhaustion at the end. I have watched the entire event from the grand depart and would feel slightly bummed if she does not get the win....but in my heart I know she won and that is what I will take away from the 2015 TDR Women's race. Congrats to all who have finished the race and best of luck to all who remain on course.!

[bmattingly]

Joe Fox, great run for your first time.  Excellent job!!!  Super time.

I was very consumed with watching Josh, JP and Neal go at it on Friday.  Seemed like Josh was the Red Barchetta if we have any Rush fans out there.  You are all champions in my book!!! 

Good luck to all the rest of the riders out there still crankin.

[bikee]

Looks like Lael is riding north. At this point she's 3/4 way back to Hachita. Jeez, will she ever stop? After no sleep last night to boot!

[Eszter]

Looks like Lael is riding north. At this point she's 3/4 way back to Hachita. Jeez, will she ever stop? After no sleep last night to boot!

Current speed: 55.4 mph. She must have a killer tailwind.

[mikepro]

Hard to believe that Lael would not be credited with the women's win and overall 6th place finish.

She gets full credit in my book, based on all details available that I'm aware of.  Outstanding and inspiring ride.