Tour Divide

Fucking wish I was racing

I've ideas too

Me too.

Sofiane scratched. 19 riders stuck at Brush Mountain Lodge

mikes record is seemingly safe then

JP being a nob as usual
guess he'd probably get a lift over the top on a snowmobile, as that's how he liked to cheat in 2010

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It's easy to comment from afar. But he does have a point.

Ie. Not prepared for such conditions.

I think the damage is 50/50 me and them :)

Looks like everything wasn't "going to plan".

I think the more competitive riders with more ego realised they'd blown their chance at a good finish, so they're drinking beer at brush mountain lodge. Can't blame them, it's the nicest place on the entire route.

It also makes a good story for the documentary.

Ego is the big point here isnt it.

Looks like a handful have passed those stopped at the lodge and continued on....

I'd disagree, the documentary story is wading through waist deep snow in pursuit. Not quitting because you cant win.

Ultra endurance racing is more than winning, it's about enjoying the ride and finishing.

Good point about the documentary, sitting around not riding is boring.

https://theradavist.com/2019/06/2019-tour-divide-race-part-3/

it's about enjoying the ride and finishing.

Wait, what? I seem to have the second part sorted but what's this first bit?

If you've already finished it before and you were gunning for the record or the win you can kinda understand not pushing on through possibly race ending conditions when given the chance.

ie. you were 5th and now you're equal first because the leaders have all stopped too. Why hurt yourself unnecessarily. As soon as someone goes I guess the rest will be out the door soon after. Someone will see it as an opportunity and then everyone else will react.

Yeah, that makes sense, except some people have already left, but not the fast people!?!

Perhaps they expect to charge past the late comers and are only watching the 'fast' dots. Like a break in a pro race... let it get out there but not so far you can't bring them back before the finish. Someone will crack and leave and then everyone will be out the door.

Yeah, maybe. They are all fast riders, and the ones that got over the pass today, took a long time, so I guess there's still snow.

I still think they should keep moving. Snow is pretty much a given on high passes on TD (except the year I did it there was zero).

Lael has scratched. The rest have left the lodge to carry on now.

Wonder why?

Can't be bothered? Record out of reach?

shrugs

She was going for the record. Conditions prevent that, why press on? Or perhaps, in going for the record in tougher conditions, she's ridden herself into the ground before the finish?

Yeah, and she knew it was probably out of reach because of the heavy snowfall this year, so I guess quitting wasn't so hard. There's always next year!

Maybe SS is the way forward :-S ?

Ha! Simone is out there.

Maybe SS is the way forward :-S ?

I'll be running pinion gearbox next time, probably with a belt drive. I broke my mech and hanger in mud on the first day!