Every second Friday in June about hundred riders starting to race the entire route. The race is a solo event and completely self supported. Every racer has to carry all the stuff and gear he things to need to on his bike and/or back. On the downside - The additional weight of the gear turns a former race bike very quickly into a lame duck. Any kind of support from outside is strictly prohibited and results in disqualifying. Every rider has to take care of not running out of food or water. If your bike breaks you have to fix it by your own. There is no entry fee but also not a trophy nor any other financial reward for the winner. Only a so called Letter Of Intent (LOI) is necessary to announce you are in a stand by position for the race.
The best racers make it to the Mexican border in 16 days. The red lantern needs almost the double time.
What makes the race so difficult? Immediately everyone would reply "The fitness" of course. For sure, fitness is one pillar to successfully finish the race, but the race is not all about fitness. The most challenging thing on the Tour Divide is the unforeseen. Nearly nothing is according to a schedule. Every day you have got to align your goals.
In addition: Very capricious weather along the whole route can turn the ride into hell. Cold weather in the north with many days of rain or even snow. Extremely hot weather in the south with the possibility of forest fires. Thunder, lightning, hail and strong headwinds. Snow covered mountain passes where it is impossible to ride a bike. You've to walk or carry your bike over miles. The same can happen in very muddy conditions. Wash boarded roads slowly drive you mad.
Grizzlies, black bears, snakes, mountain lions plus mosquitoes and aggressive dogs.
Long stretches with less or without any service at all.
The Basin in Wyoming with 140 miles of nothing. The Gila Wilderness in New Mexico: 175 miles with just one coke machine (may work or not).
Riding every day from dawn till dusk or even riding through the night. Mostly alone. There is a lot of time left to thing about the sense or nonsense of the (ad)venture. This is the issue why the mental fitness is nearly more important than the physical fitness.
Every racer is carrying a SPOT - Messenger. This GPS satellite device provides tracking and SOS functionality. Family and friends at home are able to follow online the position (updated every 10 minutes) of their favorite rider(s).
Navigation or route finding is done with GPS or/and the so called cue sheets (a roadbook) plus the official maps from the ACA (American Cycling Association).
What makes the race so difficult? Immediately everyone would reply "The fitness" of course. For sure, fitness is one pillar to successfully finish the race, but the race is not all about fitness. The most challenging thing on the Tour Divide is the unforeseen. Nearly nothing is according to a schedule. Every day you have got to align your goals.
In addition: Very capricious weather along the whole route can turn the ride into hell. Cold weather in the north with many days of rain or even snow. Extremely hot weather in the south with the possibility of forest fires. Thunder, lightning, hail and strong headwinds. Snow covered mountain passes where it is impossible to ride a bike. You've to walk or carry your bike over miles. The same can happen in very muddy conditions. Wash boarded roads slowly drive you mad.
Grizzlies, black bears, snakes, mountain lions plus mosquitoes and aggressive dogs.
Long stretches with less or without any service at all.
The Basin in Wyoming with 140 miles of nothing. The Gila Wilderness in New Mexico: 175 miles with just one coke machine (may work or not).
Riding every day from dawn till dusk or even riding through the night. Mostly alone. There is a lot of time left to thing about the sense or nonsense of the (ad)venture. This is the issue why the mental fitness is nearly more important than the physical fitness.
Every racer is carrying a SPOT - Messenger. This GPS satellite device provides tracking and SOS functionality. Family and friends at home are able to follow online the position (updated every 10 minutes) of their favorite rider(s).
Navigation or route finding is done with GPS or/and the so called cue sheets (a roadbook) plus the official maps from the ACA (American Cycling Association).
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