Tour Divide almost over…
… Actually, it is over for the winner and the rest of the pack who has finished. Just after my latest update a few weeks ago, Reuben bid farewell to the tour (he had to pull out with a swollen ankle) and Matthew Lee had to pedal to the border by himself, again. He won in 19 days and 12 hours. Great time given trail conditions. His final recollections of the finish: Matthew’s Blue Dot in NC-side. His family is expecting a baby and as far as he proclaimed this was his last last as a racer. Congratulations Matthew, you are an inspiration!!!
It’s worth to see the provisional result list where you can click on racers’ names and see their pictures at the finish. Their haggard, abused bodies, worn-out clothes and dusty equipment are easy signs to see of how tough and demanding this race is. But there is always that infectious smile on their faces. They’re proud and happy to be done;) But after a few good meals, day or two later, they will realize what an adventure of a lifetime this has been. It is pure joy to read some of these guys final notes on the race… Adrian Stingaciu’s Final Recollections post is an inspirational ode to life, living it fully and enjoying every second of it. Ardie Olson’s post-race comments are a laundry list of funny, memorable and unexpected moments that can happen to you on the Great Divide route only.
So, congratulations to all the finishers. And to all the others, still out there enjoying the Great Divide race trail magic, tailwinds all the way to Antelope Wells. Go Felix, Mary and Stephen!!! You are almost there…
It is probably too early to summarize this year’s edition of the race but one thing stands out, organizationally. The idea to employ GPS tracking devices was a WINNER. It made the race closer to us following it from our homes. I know the Great Divide race is all about self-supported, adventure endurance modus operandi. It is a race for the racers to measure themselves against their peers, the route and, above all, against themselves. As such, the use of GPS is more controversial to some organizing minds behind the race. I, for one, don’t follow… In addition to hearing racers’ voices (through MTBcast.com), reading their call-ins (Tour Divide blog) to see their actual progress in Google maps, or in Google Earth was was an added bonus that made us all “blue dot junkies”…
PS: In the other race, the Great Divide Race 2008, John Nobile won in a record time of 15 days 1 hour and 26 minutes. That is just mind-boggling!!! The other racers are still trickling in, with three others crossing the line in the last few days… For the latest, check out the Great Divide Race Updates blog and the Leaderboard 2008 (time spreadsheet of racers’ progress). I’m out, for now;)
