I was in race mode while my body was trying to survive. I donвЂ™t recall actually thinking during the 100ish miles around this image. It was as if there was a small fire deep inside that could not get fuel to burn any bigger. I had woken up in my bivy covered with about 3-4 inches of snow the morning of this image. Only the very core of my being was warm despite my physical output. Water and mud had worked their way into my rain gear and wicked away precious warmth. I was hungry but my stomach churned and was on the verge of releasing its contents. The cold, wet air made that hugely challenging. I was beginning to have difficulty breathing and perhaps a touch of chest discomfort but maintained a deep, rhythmic tempo with my lungs. Every fiber in my legs was on the fine line between total collapse and total power output. My vision was slightly blurry, hence no sunglasses on at the time despite the cold rain stinging my eyes as it hit me. The only meaningful sensation in my right arm was pain. Also a result from the previous nightвЂ™s crash. My right knee was swollen and ached with every stroke of the pedals. My right shoulder was subluxated from a crash the previous night and I could not reach to my bar-end shifter smoothly and had to let out a deep groan every time I did. I was almost trance-like as I rode past him. I could barely see him through my effort but I remember almost every single detail at this one moment in time. Eddie had parked along the road and was snapping photos.

While others would be turned back by mud, the commitment by those five to forward progress via pushing and carrying their bikes proved to be the key break in grabbing the race by the reigns to establish the winning breakaway of the race. After their departure, only a couple of young men, Matt and Eric, from Vancouver, Canada touring the route for the first time would make it over the pass for the next two days.

Further behind, Steve Halligan and Nate Ginzton made a quick refuel and headed up just a few hours later. Back at the lodge, 3rd placed Chris Seistrup took advantage of the situation to eat, grab a few hours of sleep and head up at dawn, which turned into his winning move of the race. It spelled the end of the race for Sofiane and left Josh in survival mode bivying in the dark under a spruce tree to warm up until first light when he could make better progress in the extremely cold, trying conditions. Unfortunately for both of them, they were also heading into a rare winter-like blizzard that dumped 20 inches of snow at nearby Steamboat Springs Ski Resort that night. Being in the northern extents of Colorado in the Elkhead Mountain Range, it typically receives the brunt of bad weather from winter storms dipping down out of the north. Race leaders Sofiane and Josh both stopped for a quick meal and headed up in the dark of night to climb over Sand Pass, which tops out at just under 10,000 feet. However, those luxuries are often skipped by racers vying for the win. When racers get to the Tour Divide sanctuary of Brush Mountain Ranch in northern Colorado, they can get a warm meal, take a shower and sleep in a soft bed if they so desire.

The great divide mtb ride