Tour Divide 2023 - Race Prep Discussion

[jjmundt]

Jens Van Roost has really closed his gap to the leaders in the last twelve hours or so.  SPOT has him just a few miles back now.

[mtbcast]

#TD23 Peter Kraft Jr. called in from Helena!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td23/

[tlane3of6]

Anyone know what happened to Andrew Kulmatiski, now listed as scratched?  He was making a quick NOBO run and in the top ten overall for quite awhile.  Looks like he spent the night in Horca after fighting through Carson NF all day yesterday.  There was considerable slushy snow 2 weeks ago when I pushed my bike through most of it. 

BTW, I'm still recovering with Enteritis and on 2 antibiotics.  Feeling much better now.

Thanks, Tom

[bon]

Anyone know what happened to Andrew Kulmatiski, now listed as scratched?  He was making a quick NOBO run and in the top ten overall for quite awhile.  Looks like he spent the night in Horca after fighting through Carson NF all day yesterday.  There was considerable slushy snow 2 weeks ago when I pushed my bike through most of it. 

BTW, I'm still recovering with Enteritis and on 2 antibiotics.  Feeling much better now.

Thanks, Tom

Glad you're on the mend, Tom!!
Andrew ended up with a bad stomach issue so he scratched.
Also -  Ted King said on IG he is getting checked out at the hospital from a bad bout with nasty stomach issues. Wishing him a full recovery as well!

[mtbcast]

#TD23 Alexandera Houchin called in from Helena. Her call cuts out and her follow-up had little audio; Justin Smith and Peter Kraft Jr. called in from Butte!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td23/

[Iowagriz]

If my counting was correct. 71 riders under the pace mid afternoon Tuesday (day 5). There is a long way to go, but that is a solid group during lots of rain.

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

[mtbcast]

#TD23 Alexandera Houchin called in leaving Helena!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td23/

[bon]

If my counting was correct. 71 riders under the pace mid afternoon Tuesday (day 5). There is a long way to go, but that is a solid group during lots of rain.

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

Very solid!

[WatermelonSugar]

Anyone know what happened to Andrew Kulmatiski, now listed as scratched?  He was making a quick NOBO run and in the top ten overall for quite awhile.  Looks like he spent the night in Horca after fighting through Carson NF all day yesterday.  There was considerable slushy snow 2 weeks ago when I pushed my bike through most of it. 

BTW, I'm still recovering with Enteritis and on 2 antibiotics.  Feeling much better now.

Thanks, Tom

That's a shame, sounds like he's had rotten luck. I read he had his spot tracker and charger for his derailleur stolen along the way too.

[mtbcast]

#TD23 Peter Kraft Jr. called in after finishing the Old Bannock Rd.

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td23/

[bon]

17 riders over the age of 60 this year. That's pretty darn cool!

[geekonabike]

Anyone know what happened to Andrew Kulmatiski, now listed as scratched?  He was making a quick NOBO run and in the top ten overall for quite awhile.  Looks like he spent the night in Horca after fighting through Carson NF all day yesterday.  There was considerable slushy snow 2 weeks ago when I pushed my bike through most of it. 

https://bikepacking.com/news/2023-tour-divide-debrief-days-1-2/    Shows him posting that his Tracker & derailer charger were both stolen.  sounds like a thief with very specific needs?

[mtbcast]

#TD23 Justin Smith called in heading into Lima and Peter Kraft Jr. called in after leaving Lima!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td23/

[mtbcast]

#TD23 Peter Kraft Jr. called in near the Wyoming line!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td23/

[jjmundt]

Thanks for the update.  I wonder if that will grow such that it forces a reroute?

Up north, Mike Hall's spirit is at Wamsutter and has opened up a 40-mile lead during the night.  The actual leaders appear to have stopped together to rest.  If I recall, Mike did the second half of the 2016 route more quickly than the first.  However it turns out, Ulrich Bartholmoes, Jens Van Roost, and Justinas Leveika have been remarkable to this point.

Grabbing the popcorn...

All the best!

Joel

[jjmundt]

Checking the radar, there's quite a bit of rain (and even a bit of indicated snowfall) in the Basin.  Right now it's just north of the TD route, but last night it may not have been.  I don't know what happens to the roads in the Basin when they get wet, but that might have slowed the leaders last night.

Weather can be so cruel in this race!!

All the best!

Joel

[bon]

The Basin can be a beast if it rains. I know of a few riders who had an extra day added to their efforts as they couldn't get through the peanut butter mud. Always exciting and unpredictable out on the Divide!

[jjmundt]

That seems so strange to me.  The notorious roads (the Bannack, the Basin, etc.) appear to be much like the gravel roads here in Iowa.  When we get rain, those roads do not become impassible, they just get wet and a bit soft, but they're completely rideable.  Those roads on the TD must actually be a different composition than what I'm used to riding here.

All the best!

Joel

[larsmars]

The three leaders appear to have stopped together in an odd spot last night and have been stationary for more than 8 hours. Seems strange. Anyone know what is going on?

[mtbcast]

#TD23 David Averill called in from Butte and Alexandera Houchin called in from Big Springs!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td23/