The 2022 Tour Divide watchers thread.

[PaulB2]

It looks like he's on a valley road that'll take him into Helena so maybe the he's decided his lack of sleeping gear isn't compatible with the amount of snow on the tops.

Edit: backtrack that, he's heading back the way he came so must have just turned the wrong way along the road.

[BobCatMax]

ouch, not the costliest of mistakes, but even so..

[Dave Barter]

I think that might be the 2019 logging reroute we did that got taken out of the 2022 route. Hateful section of trail so he'll be pissed off with that.

[fatbikephil]

It does seem that having the right GPX track for a given years route seems to be a major challenge for the TD!

[redefined_cycles]

A long way off [10 km ish] is the map showing the correct re routed route ?

Steve is indeed going well so far - amazing what these people can ride in a day and then repeat

I often think that when my bottom's sore on a fairly steady 100km (target, not always achieved) road ride. Totally mental/tough... I'm gonna invest in some 7mesh undershorts to see if that allows me to ride 100 miles mtb. Hope you're well Jon - we should go for a ride anytime soon

[landel]

It seems to only come out a few days before the grand depart. I understand that they want to get the latest on the ground situation sorted before sending it out but it must cause a lot of stress for people that have already set out for Banff. Tricky finding a pc/laptop to split it up and load it if using an Etrex or similar.

[Lazarus]

we should go for a ride anytime soon

LEJOG is three weeks away so sometime after that - its only at 100 miles ish per day but it is s elf supported without B & B

SS is back on track now so must hav the correct file [ or outside assistance ]

[fatbikephil]

SS is back on track now so must hav the correct file [ or outside assistance ]

Makes you wonder doesn't it - It's not like he'd have an absence of wheel tracks or other riders to cue him that he's gone wrong...

[Dave Barter]

I think that might be the 2019 logging reroute we did that got taken out of the 2022 route. Hateful section of trail so he'll be pissed off with that.

No I'm wrong, he genuinely went a bit weird after his kip.

[jay91]

He said on Instagram that he loaded the wrong route up by mistake

[Dave Barter]

Once Steve has done his big climb and descent we can catch him on the Ovando webcam

https://video.nest.com/live/6oAK3yyGlJ? ... TktpA_reoc

[Pirahna]

Once Steve has done his big climb and descent we can catch him on the Ovando webcam

https://video.nest.com/live/6oAK3yyGlJ? ... TktpA_reoc

Looks like Cathy was there to greet him.

[Mart]

He said on Instagram that he loaded the wrong route up by mistake

Ok so how did he realise? Did someone alert him? Is that classed as outside help??

[BobCatMax]

Who could say..

[Mr conners]

I've seen a video somewhere with the late Mike Hall explaining his view on the "no support" ethos for the transcontinental. He was pretty clear what he felt it meant, I'm not sure "gramming" yourself and therfore getting various replies giving support would be seen as ok by Mike. However, I could be wrong.

[fatbikephil]

That seems to be the tenor of the debate just now in terms of being filmed, posting on social media and having screaming fans ID your spot track location and throwing things at you.
That said for someone like Sofiane Sehilli, I get the feeling he won't care one way or another what people post back to him as he doesn't need any encouragement whatsoever. Whether a pal texted him to say he was off route and he then got the correct GPX track off the tinternet and got back on reoute, we will never know I guess

[Mr conners]

I agree, the guy is obviously a mutant and would turn himself inside out regardless of any outside influence. But how does it trickle down into the rest of the field? Oh well. I'd just ride it and leave all that boll@#ks behind. Surely that's part of its ethos.

[larsmars]

Solid pace by Steve, well inside his 20 day target so far despite the tough conditions. I hope they catch a photo of him in Ovando today.

[larsmars]

This woman is riding the Divide and she can't see any of it https://www.instagram.com/shawn_cheshire/

Amazing!

[Dave Barter]

Solid pace by Steve, well inside his 20 day target so far despite the tough conditions. I hope they catch a photo of him in Ovando today.

I’m well impressed by Steve’s ride so far as conditions look a mess. He’s got 3 big climbs now until Helena then the god awful Lava Mountain trail which I bet is a mud fest as well.

[larsmars]

https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... -mudslides

This might not affect the route if they can still get through Flagg Ranch, but it could mean other road closures or impasses outside of the park as well.

[Mike]

just had a look where Jim's at and he's doing well to.The ground conditions in places sound brutal and plenty of bears to go around by the sounds of thing's

[BobCatMax]

His and. Chris' Facebook update this mor ing was that they're going to hunker down for 24 hours are the conditions are bad

[Richpips]

6 rescues on the course in the Fernie area by Mountain rescue, with worsening weather forecast for today.

[sean_iow]

Just seen this on the FB group, looks like the weather is bad this year.

A message to all Tour Divide racers from the local Search and Rescue groups:-
There have been a number of rescues for Tour Divide racers in the Elkford - Fernie area in the last 72 hours. 6 in the course of today. Most have involved serious cases of hypothermia.
We would like to draw your attention to the challenges of the route from Fernie to the US border, which are potentially extreme with the current weather.
Fernie to the US border is typically 14-16 hours of riding. There is no food along the way. There is only one public shelter (Butts Cabin, about half way). The weather will be heavy precipitation for the next 24 hours, much of it snow at higher elevations. The risk of hypothermia is extreme and riders who are not sufficiently prepared are encouraged to delay this stage until the weather is more supportive.
Ride safe and enjoy!
Fernie Search and Rescue