Tour Divide 2024 - Race Discussion

[jjmundt]

We didn't have a "Race Discussion" thread in 2023.  Let's resurrect it and enjoy dot-stalking once again!

[MikeI]

Curious ... I think the new route piece just south of Hachita was in the works for quite a while, but does anyone know what the piece by the Tyrone mine is all about? ( other than to just get off pavement ) .. construction?

[jjmundt]

Curious ... I think the new route piece just south of Hachita was in the works for quite a while, but does anyone know what the piece by the Tyrone mine is all about? ( other than to just get off pavement ) .. construction?

Caveat:  the following thoughts are from someone who has never seen these sections in person, instead relying on the power of Google's maps.

Good question.  The northern NM changes and the southern NM changes (at Hachita) seem to be an aim to get a bit more of the actual CDT involved in the race, since that trail is open to cycling and those parts appear navigable on a bike.  The alterations at Silver City are less clear.  The road section that is the GDMBR route out of Silver City seems to be in very good condition and not in need of any repair.  In addition, it has great shoulders for cycling, the residents of the area are familiar with the cyclists, and it's pretty safe to say that traffic on 90 is not heavy...so I'm not sure.

The Tyrone Ridge section especially appears to be quite sandy...maybe a bit softer than the Separ Road, so rain in that section could be a challenge.

The "conspiracy theorist" in me jokingly thinks of these alterations (much like Koko Claims) as a way to protect Mike Hall's FKT, but I know that's not the case.  More than likely, it's about challenging riders and highlighting the spirit of the CDT, which is mostly gravel and dirt.

[kiwijohnmac]

Does anyone know what the snow levels are like over Elk Pass in BC or north of whitefish, etc. Here in Summit County, Colorado, we had a lot of snow in May and it has only really starting to melt the last week or so. Thanks, John.

[jjmundt]

Does anyone know what the snow levels are like over Elk Pass in BC or north of whitefish, etc. Here in Summit County, Colorado, we had a lot of snow in May and it has only really starting to melt the last week or so. Thanks, John.

I can find snow cover information for Alberta, but none of the maps have resolution or "zoomability" to get detail.  Based on what I can find, it appears there is snow around Elk Pass, but no way to tell for sure what the trail up the pass looks like.  Having said that, the weather for the Elk Pass area on Saturday/Sunday is more concerning, with snow forecast to fall.  Accumulations don't look significant (an inch or two), but the riders won't want to dilly-dally.  Get up the hill, get down, and clear out of there on Friday.

https://www.viewweather.com/w657373-weather-forecast-for-east_elk_pass-alberta.html

There are good snow chances (up to an inch) for Harvey, Cabin, and Galton passes on Saturday.  

For Montana, this map - the URL is enormous, sorry about the length - shows a bit of snow around Grave Creek (on the route at 4300'), but I'm guessing this will be mostly gone come Saturday/Sunday:

https://nwcc-apps.sc.egov.usda.gov/imap/#version=169&elements=R&networks=!&states=!&counties=!&hucs=&minElevation=&maxElevation=&elementSelectType=all&activeOnly=true&activeForecastPointsOnly=false&hucLabels=true&hucIdLabels=false&hucParameterLabels=true&stationLabels=parameter&overlays=&hucOverlays=state&basinOpacity=70&basinNoDataOpacity=0&basemapOpacity=100&maskOpacity=0&mode=data&openSections=dataElement,parameter,date,basin,options,elements,location,networks,overlays,labels&controlsOpen=true&popup=&popupMulti=&popupBasin=&base=esriNgwm&displayType=station&basinType=mt_8&dataElement=SNWD&depth=-8&parameter=OBS&frequency=DAILY&duration=I&customDuration=&dayPart=E&monthPart=E&forecastPubDay=1&forecastExceedance=50&useMixedPast=true&seqColor=1&divColor=3&scaleType=D&scaleMin=0&scaleMax=100&referencePeriodType=POR&referenceBegin=1981&referenceEnd=2010&minimumYears=20&hucAssociations=true&relativeDate=-1&lat=46.672&lon=-109.028&zoom=7.0

[jjmundt]

I did a bit of comparison with a couple of the revised NM sections.

If MapMyRide is to be believed:

The revised route out of Silver City adds 10.5 miles and a little more than 200' of additional climb.  It's less of a difference climb-wise than I expected, but there will be a big difference ride-wise between 10 miles of smooth pavement and 20 miles of dirt and sand.
The revised route at Hachita adds 3.5 miles and about 530' of additional climb...and again, a change from a sealed surface to loose.

The revised route up north to Hopewell Lake is beyond my ability to rationalize between MapMyRide, Google Maps, and the TrackLeaders route.  I'll keep messing with it to try and get it.  If someone else has those numbers, feel free to share!

[catchacold]

Women's race should be interesting, some notable names:

Ana Jager - '22 winner is back again, targeting 17 days

Meaghan Hackinen - impressive list of FKTs and world record ultras, targeting 18 days

Marie-soleil Blais - former pro roadie, finished last year in 19 days, targeting 18 days

Virginie Caspard - another pro roadie (ultra experience?) targeting 19 days

[catchacold]

Looong list of guys targeting 15 days or less, just a few:

Ulrich Bartholmoes - defending champ, triple crown goals

Justinas Leveika - runner up last year

Alex Schultz - AZT winner

Kraig Pauli - legend of road ultras, multi Trans Am winner

Laurens Ten Dam - road pro

Liam Glen - '21 HT550 winner

Mateo Paez - good experience in "shorter" ultras

"Doll King" Hefner - what in the world

[catchacold]

The "that name looks familiar" list

Marty Johnson - back again at age 69

"Dirty" Dan Connell - play it again dan

Peta Mcsharry - dot watcher getting dot watched

Sue and John O'Malley - these kiwis probably know the way

Rick Ashton - 77 years young

Robert Lesmerises - 63, targeting 18 days

[jjmundt]

I noted:

Marshall Bird - finished in <19 days back in 2015.
Ed Pickup - I believe he was part of the "Inspired to Ride" crew that did the Trans-Am in 2014.
Noah Bodewes - I wonder if he's a younger brother of Luke/Will Bodewes, who were both in their teens in 2015 and among the youngest ever to tackle the Tour.  Will had a remarkable top-10 finish.

[MikeI]

Rewatching Ride the Divide now, ..... wishing everyone a great ride this year!

[AZTtripper]

Three single speeders targeting 16 days

Zachary Del Greco

Alex Kowalski

Johnny Price

I only see one Pink SS dot? Gisele Nepolello

Do we know whose all in for the Triple Crown?

Best of luck to all.

jjmundt thanks for starting the stalking.

catchacold thanks for the info.

Great to see some action on the old school site, I don't think I need to sticky this tho.
 

[jjmundt]

Thanks for highlighting the single-speeders.  I give huge props to anyone able to tackle this endeavor, but I save my greatest respect for the single-speeders.  I haven't ridden a single-speed on a flat surface in four decades, so to be attempting this route and its contours with just one gear is almost incomprehensible to me.  As you all know, Chris Plesko holds the SS record (if one can label it such, given the ever-changing pathways of this race) at 15 days back in 2016.  I still consider that to be the single greatest accomplishment in the history of this race.

Compare the other great accomplishments to each other:  Mike Hall's sub-14 day run, Ulrich's super-human push last year after getting stuck in the Basin, Houchin's incredible SS run last year, the Kato/Petervary/Beltchenko slugfest to the finish in 2015.

Chris Plesko's run stands alone.

23 hours and counting...

[AZTtripper]

Compare the other great accomplishments to each other:  Mike Hall's sub-14 day run, Ulrich's super-human push last year after getting stuck in the Basin, Houchin's incredible SS run last year, the Kato/Petervary/Beltchenko slugfest to the finish in 2015.

Chris Plesko's run stands alone.

23 hours and counting...

He was the first true SS and rigid in the AZT 300 in 09, his record held until 21 I believe.

17 hours ........

[Babs]

I agree.  Bring the discussion back here!  Been a Dot Watcher Before 2015, but then 2015 happened and I was hooked!  So many people watching and commenting, and then the videos from dejay.birtch and wow!  A whole higher level of what we ever imagined as dot watchers.
Please don't let this site die and wither away.  go back and read the discussion of tour divide 2015 and the number of pages contributed and realize this is the place to be to discuss this wonderful race!  Not Facebook!  Don't give Facebook the time or day to make revenue.  Bring it back to bikepacking.net

[Babs]

http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/ultra-racing/tour-divide-2015-race-discussion-thread/1200/

[WatermelonSugar]

Bikepacking.com have part one of their Tour Divide bikes up:
https://bikepacking.com/bikes/2024-tour-divide-rigs-part-1/
Time to geek out over the bikes and gear!

Does anybody else hate it when people call their bikes rigs?

[jjmundt]

Bikepacking.com have part one of their Tour Divide bikes up:
https://bikepacking.com/bikes/2024-tour-divide-rigs-part-1/
Time to geek out over the bikes and gear!

Does anybody else hate it when people call their bikes rigs?

I do.  It's a bike!

It's nice to see the Surly Krampus represented by at least one rider.  I think there's been at least one in every TD since I started watching in '15, and I'm guessing it sure beats lining up this morning in Banff and just being asked, "What flavor of Cutthroat do YOU have?"

[jjmundt]

I agree.  Bring the discussion back here!  Been a Dot Watcher Before 2015, but then 2015 happened and I was hooked!  So many people watching and commenting, and then the videos from dejay.birtch and wow!  A whole higher level of what we ever imagined as dot watchers.
Please don't let this site die and wither away.  go back and read the discussion of tour divide 2015 and the number of pages contributed and realize this is the place to be to discuss this wonderful race!  Not Facebook!  Don't give Facebook the time or day to make revenue.  Bring it back to bikepacking.net

+1.  Couldn't agree more than I do!!

[jjmundt]

Banff weather looks like clouds and about 50F this morning with light SW winds.  There's a chance of rain later in the day with a high in the mid 60s.  If the rain stays away or is light, it's a perfect day to ride!

It's almost here...