Tour Divide 2016 - race discussion thread

[flyboy]

So, where willthe 'Golden Spike' occur this year? Normally seems to happen at Brush Mtn Lodge but at the speed MH is riding it looks like it will be much more central CO this year.

[danwiz]

I live in Colorado and race MTB and CX.....Often times many SS'ers race in the groups ahead or behind my times......and the top guys are faster than most if not all the geared racers.  While I am not familiar with this Chris Plesko guy......I am completely astounded by his movement.....Right behind Mike Hall...and cruising along at a pace that is almost unheard of.......Kudos to you Chris Plesko and all the other single speeders out there...AMAZING Athletes!!!!

[blurltd]

Forget this Guy guy, I'm rooting for Candyce Deddens, 68, what an inspiration also. Met her in Banff in 2014, I hope she finishes this year! Go Candyce!

Sorry to hear the news Josh!

[mtbcast]

#TourDivide16 Episode June 14, 2016 – Tour Divide ’16 Day 5!
Here are your true ups for Tour Divide 2016 Day 5 as Rob Brown, David Horton, and current record holder Josh Kato!

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

[Angler]

Hello FINALLY from Ovando.  We have had a plethora of riders in today....all day.....and trying to keep them sorted, warmed, healed and on the road has kept me from posting photos.  I've got them loaded and will slowly post them.  If I have the names wrong with the pictures, sincere apologies and please correct me!!!

And so we start from last night from the Ovando Inn [thank you Liz Raymond for providing these!]

-  Mike Schlichtman of Colorado
-  Justin Chadwick of Alberta Canada
-  Dan Golob of England
-  Jackie Bernardi of Australia
-  Greg May of Ireland

Stand by more to come!

[Angler]

continuing from Ovando  for June 13 2016 evening:

-  David Garcia Galvan of Spain
-  Rick Miller of Colorado
-  Bailey Newbrey of Illinois

Continuing with today June 14 next!

[Angler]

Today, Tuesday started of 20 degrees cooler, cloudy, breezy and rainy.  Just the thing TDR's are made of.  So the masses leaving today did so under some duress and trepidation, especially since there were some reports of snow flurries along Richmond Ridge and Huckleberry Pass.

-  Matt Goodwin of Oregon who in lieu of a normal bike pack used woman leather purse wraped around his handle bars.  It was quite the topic of discussion, as seen in photo #3.

- Rudiger Volkmar of Germany who, when asked to smile for the camera sighed over such an American tradition.  :-)

-  Mike Schlichtman of Colorado leaving in the morning after a comfortable night at the Inn.

Continuing on......

[Angler]

continuing for June 14:  Photos of:

-  Justin Chadwick of Ontario Canada

-  The Three Amigos of Missouri:  Jonathan Graif, Paul Jackson and Sean Morton; who know how to travel when wet.  Remove the sodden muddy shoes and put on your flip flops.

-  Corey Godfrey of Nebraska

-  And Arthur Kopasky finally leaving Ovando after a 24 hours respite to get a swollen knee to cooperate.  24 hours of ice, Advil and rest did the trick and he was able to pedal out with the security of others.  Later today we checked his spot to make sure he made it at least to Lincoln and possibly the Medical Clinic.  Liz at the Ovando Inn and I looked at it and then each other and shouted "Out little boy made it to Helena!".  A report from his wife this evening let us know that it was severe inflammation but no damage; so he can continue on.  Right On!

more coming.....stand by.

[aarond]

It looks like Josh Kato's marker from last year is starting to move up a little.  CP is killing it on the single speed, and Stefan Maertens is looking to greatly improve upon his 23 day time from 2014.  Huge number of riders still ahead of the 20 day marker, but it looks like the next couple of days will be windy for the leaders.
Fires are looking good for the moment in NM     http://gacc.nifc.gov/swcc/predictive/intelligence/admin/google_maps/ics_209_incidents/ics_209_incidents.htm

[Angler]

Continuing from June 14th in Ovando of folks who rode in, fueled up and left:

-  Dan Golob of England

-  Ian MacNab of England who I had met 2 years ago.  Sometimes it's like getting reacquainted with old friends.

-  Ashley Benns of England; again another memory from 2 years ago.  He was happy to report his "mum" was great, a point of interest since his Mum called me in 2014 looking for her son whose spot tracker had stopped. 

-  Ken Waring of Ontario Canada, yet another acquaintance from a previous TDR; however this time Ken wasn't faring as well.  Reports had come in about a guy walking his bike in from Seeley Lake.  Turned out it was Ken.  He had blown his knee out.  So we went back to the ice, Advil and rest regiment for several hours.  He spent hours at the Inn watching dvd's until a buddy arrived.  It was then that he acknowledged that this wasn't going to fix itself anytime soon.  So he disqualified himself from the race and left.   Disappointment was felt by everyone.

-  Rob Adams and buddy Doug Lamate of Boise Idaho.

hang in there more coming......

[Angler]

continuing from Ovando for June 14 of those that arrived, and left:

-  Mike McElveen of Texas who we had met earlier while checking out the course enroute to Banff.  Thanks again Mike!!!

-  Dylan Boocock of England

-  Unai Iriondo of the Basque County of Spain.  He wanted us to make sure we mentioned the Basque country.  :-)


more pending as soon as I download them!!

[Angler]

A short scenic interlude to entertain you while photos download:

-  7 am opening of the Stray Bullet Cafe shows a line up of bikes already there.

-  Attempts at drying out after a rain storm during the lunch break.

-  Two cyclists who got to spend the night in Jail.  The Ovando hoosecow available for overnight shelter.

-  The storm clouds gather toward Ovando on June 14th with the tipi and sheep wagon in the foreground.


stand by for more......

[Angler]

and yet MORE photos from Ovando this day, June 14th:  Again apologies for wrong names and if they are PLEASE notify me.

-  The Tandem couple:  Laura & Chris Anderson/Alstrin of Colorado.  Wonderful couple who entertained us with their philosophy on how a married couple can last weeks on a tandem bike without divorcing or killing each other.  Simply put:  Only one of them can be a putz at a time. 

-  Nigel Leech of England

-  John Russell of England


stand by for the last ones!.....

[Angler]

Almost there....more from Ovando Montana on June 14th:

-  The Czech Brothers:  Jakub Gsela and Jiri Kriz of the Czech Republic

-  Kiwi Dave Chirnside of New Zealand but living in Praque, again of the Czech Republic

-  Mathew Griggs of Australia

-  Michael Devitt of Idaho

-  Dennis Loewen of California

[flyboy]

Huge number of riders still ahead of the 20 day marker, but it looks like the next couple of days will be windy for the leaders.
Fires are looking good for the moment in NM     http://gacc.nifc.gov/swcc/predictive/intelligence/admin/google_maps/ics_209_incidents/ics_209_incidents.htm

Yes, the 20 day marker will have 2 sub-optimal days, namely yeserday and today as it had a squeaky achilles and stopped early both days to rest and stretch it. After a late-ish start from Helena tomorrow it started to crank out some 150-180 mile days so expect it to charge off again.

[Adam Alphabet]

Don't really know what to say.. Head up Josh. You are a huge inspiration.
and... Get it Chris! Stand and Deliver!

[bakerjw]

Keep rooting them on folks. I am on ua1776 heading to Calgary right now.
Rubber side down and keep bears behind you.

[mtbcast]

‪#‎TourDivide16‬ Overnight: Dieter Borsutzky and Jean Frankhauser called in from Whitefish!
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td16/

[mtbcast]

‪#‎TourDivide16‬ David Chirnside called in from Lincoln! And Randy Neill called in from Whitefish!
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td16/

[mtbcast]

#‎TourDivide16‬ Bonnie Gagnon called in from Sparwood!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td16/