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80? Or 1, if I get there first.
What is the resupply situation like? Literally a small shop for 500k? That could definitely prove unworkable unless Nelson pre-warns them or there turns out to be other options.
hippy-
Nelson on FB
"I just finished putting together an updated version of the resupply information that is included in the Race Manual with some commentary. Essentially it outlines the distances between the resupply points that everyone can count on regardless of whether you come through first or last. If you could have a look and let us know what you think that would be great. Basically the question is whether the longest stretches between reliable resupply points are too long or not. There are two stretches in particular of 374 and 563 kilometers where there are only small shops in villages that will likely not be able to handle 80 hungry cyclists. We could potentially do something about the second stretch but would need to get very creative for the first..."Most people saying 374km at the start is cool (3 days on this terrain, so c.5kg of food?), but 563km (or 1/3 of the race, so target of 4.5 days) midway is a bit of a challenge.
For the second stretch there are a couple of shops 2-4km off route, but they could do a delivery to the control which is in the middle of it. There'd still be maybe 300km iwth nothing though. I reckon they will either need to be able to do some sort of food drop or it won't be viable for more than say a dozen riders to do it. If you are carrying 4 days food, then it becomes a different kind of event, and the risk of someone fucking up and getting into trouble is bigger.
It's good that this is coming out for debate now as there is time to get solutions in place, but I'm not certain it will be viable.
frank9755
As well as the rider re-supply challenge, there's potentially an ethical issue in sending 80 locust-like cyclists into an area with 1 small shop in a few hundred km. Taking the food that locals are relying on would make it unsustainable as an event.