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This is an update from Sofiane:
It's all right. I got lost at the top of the col in the middle of the night. Can't find the way in the snow. I had to turn around because the temperature fell under the-5 degrees and that I'm not equipped to face these temperatures."
Apparently there's been 19" of snow in the last day or two!
Lael Wilcox seems to have disappeared off the map?
Lael Wilcox seems to have disappeared off the map?
There's a dozen or so riders all at the same point so her marker is hidden behind some others. If you hover your cursor over her name on the riders list, her marker will start bouncing.
Some pretty bad conditions over there it seems. Just seen this:
News from Lael that Kato carried on up a pass to find some shelter, found a cave and went to use it to find a cougar resting there 😯
Lael and a host of other riders are ensconced at a place called Bruce Mountain Lodge. Apparently the trails have turned to peanut butter type mud. Local time there is 8am so there has to be a good reason for racers like those not to be moving.
Billy just posted a video from BML - its snowing massive wet flakes right now; he says the trail is grim, and does a good explanation as to why the riders can't move yet. I've ridden that trail twice; its over 9000 feet and is tough even during a warm dry sunny day.
The Armistice is holding for now.
conditions look grim++ type2 but some smiling and some dropping out...good update about an hour ago
Day 10 https://www.do****cher.cc/post/4uEPvQaUyN3RJeq3EvLAZk
https://www.do****cher.cc/race/tour-divide-2019 - day 11.
Seems the hold-up at Brush Mountain Lodge has been dealt with once a northbound rider came through with only 3-4 hrs hike-a-bike. Lael out.
Looks like Josh Kato is out.
"I don’t normally log into Facebook while racing my ultras. However, this Divide is turning more into a survival march for me.
Last night I awoke vomiting, shaking and coughing uncontrollably.
I was able to point my bike to Del Norte. Feels like my body is on auto-pilot right now. Can’t really make it do what I want it just does what it knows it should. Not 100% sure what is wrong. Feels like multiple things at play. Perhaps I pushed too hard and found my limits or maybe something simple as bad food. Who knows, I’ll see how the Del Norte hospital rates things. (Nurse humor: it will be sort of fun to walk in and tell them I feel like I might die)
This race tests you in ways you can’t imagine.
Before I set out this year I had two objectives. Chase and catch the Mike Hall record flag (just for a bit) and to complete the race as fast as I could in memory of a friend who can’t be here now.
I intend to honor my promises. I don’t know at what speed my legs will now carry me but I shall continue forward. We can do more than we think we can and we can be better than we are. Sometimes unexpected stuff happens and we have to figure it out. Believe me, you are tougher and more resilient than you think! We can all be better and we can all do more."
And then:
"Well folks, this is a bit more serious. I will remain in hospital tonight and transport somewhere else. Won’t say much now as I need to contact my family. I want to say this-
Remember, if you can be out there do it! Don’t waste time thinking of doing things. Get out there now! Chase your dreams!"
And
Hi bikepack family. Was just reading through this as it seems I have time sitting in a hospital room with a direct view of the Old Woman Trail that comes into Del Norte. Thanks for the well wishes. Unfortunately I will not be able to continue forward. My problem would likely not be survivable before the end. I will be seeking treatment and hopefully return to this race I love so much. I seriously thought about getting back on my bike after finding the source of my problem as dying on the Divide would be preferable to anywhere else at this moment. That would be unfair to the Divide. It would also be unfair to all of you and my family. So thank you all. Keep the TD the TD. The best race on earth and the most honorable of sporting pursuits. Love you all.
Wowsers.... not idea.
👎
that escalated quickly.
I hope he is ok both body and mind, Thats pretty strong language.
Note that JK is an ITU/ICU nurse so likely to ask the "right" questions and understand the answers and their implications.
Bloody Hell! He's clearly made the right decision to scratch.
On a completely seperate matter:
From Kim Raeymaekers post you can hear that they were relying on hearsay and someone doing a reconnaissance ride on Lael's film crew's electric bike:
That doesn't seem right to me...
Also in things that don't seem right and probably shouldn't happen:
Lael Wilcox has also scratched after falling off her own record pace - but she will apparently keep riding, which unfortunately creates an issue for other racers (such as Evan) on the visitation rules as she is no longer a fellow racer so Lael's continued presence clearly breaches the written rules on "no visitation".
From the Radavist i think they said that Lael and her girlfriend were holed up in the mountain lodge. Her partner was staying in her room to avoid breaching the visitation rules but as Lael was clearly now unable to beat her record pace she decided to scratch (as did her partner) so her partner wouldn't have to sit in her room alone and will now just ride the rest of the course to complete it rather than race it. Or something to that effect.
Visitation: Divide racing is not intended to be a spectator sport! (what about dot watching!!!!) However, route-town locals only may interact with (i.e. visit briefly, cheer on) thru-racers as they pass through their locale. Out-of-town visitation to the GDMBR mid-race from challengers' family or friends—even if only a 'loosely-planned', remote possibility for rider rendezvous—is prohibited.
There's an FAQ on this at http://tourdivide.org/td_rule_2_faqs#comment-5316
Not sure about the second quoted block by @BillOddie, Lael and her partner are now just riding the TDR, so long as they don't provide assistance to those in the race then it's fine (By my interpretation of "the rules"). Other riders who've scratched or been relegated to touring don't fall foul of this. Is it just that it's Lael's partner that's the problem?
Edit: If it was me scratching but continuing to ride I'd try and avoid too much interaction with those still racing. Obviously if someone's got you in their sights and using you to drag themselves along there's not much you can do about it other than make extended stops.
My new favourite name.... Bear Stillwagon
Awesome!
Some great shots in a couple of bikepacking.com articles including how to do so without effectively being a sag wagon:
https://bikepacking.com/plog/2019-tour-divide-recap-1/
https://bikepacking.com/plog/2019-tour-divide-recap-2/
Also the second Brit, Les Brown, has finished in just over 19days 👍
so salsa have dropped Jay Petervary for getting to involved in the whole Lael/team/visitation issue
one side here
so salsa have dropped Jay Petervary for getting to involved in the whole Lael/team/visitation issue
Good
Are you going to post "good" every time it's mentioned ?
I'm sure he's quaking in his boots with your seething hatred with which the word good was repeatedly typed.
ITI LEGEND Mike Curiak has a long standing dislike of Jay Petervary due to JPs many alleged rule bending/braking instances over several years.If even some of them are true it's a wonder that Salsa have hung onto him for as long as they have.
It's not like a bike firm to keep supporting an unpleasant rider when they're winning. 😉
Allegations of cheating to one side. Here's JP setting a TD ITT record, and err, being followed by a film crew....