Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Freewheeling => Racing => Topic started by: morbihan on 26 April, 2019, 12:21:55 pm

Title: Italy Divide.
Post by: morbihan on 26 April, 2019, 12:21:55 pm
http://trackleaders.com/italydivide19

Unfolding right now.  Some top shelf riders in the mix, a good smattering of TCR alumni too.
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: psyclist on 26 April, 2019, 01:10:36 pm
Indeed, I've been following since the start. Jay is a multiple Italy Divide winner, and seems to be stretching his legs once more. First time for James Hayden on this type of terrain, so an impressive start for him. Matt Falconer has prior experience, but says he's not at the same level of fitness this year ... not bad to be in 3rd position after 24 hours if that is the case!
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: quixoticgeek on 26 April, 2019, 01:39:29 pm


Previous winner has been disqualified. No info yet on why.

Impressive amount of talent in the race!

J
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: Frank9755 on 26 April, 2019, 01:48:04 pm
He took the wrong route. Went up the road rather than a rough, parallel hike a bike trail
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: Phil W on 26 April, 2019, 04:04:55 pm
James dropped back to third but nothing in it between 2nd and 3rd really.
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: psyclist on 26 April, 2019, 04:13:04 pm
James dropped back to third but nothing in it between 2nd and 3rd really.

Last update from James was over an hour ago. His tracker seems to be intermittent, usually updating every 30 minutes but sometimes longer between updates.

As I write the above, it's updated and James is showing in second again!
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: Phil W on 26 April, 2019, 08:00:17 pm
James takes the lead  Looks like Jay stopped to eat or similar.
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: morbihan on 26 April, 2019, 08:47:41 pm
Front 2 have pretty much not stopped. A few of the others at the sharp end have had an hour or two here and there, maybe that will play out a little later?  I'm intrigued by Matt. At 85 plus kilos and 5 ft 9inches he breaks all the rules about endurance body shape. An enigma. I think he said he was shy a few low gears last year so I presume he has switched down this time. He's shown on TCR how deep he can dig. A very exciting race so it is.
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: psyclist on 27 April, 2019, 07:25:07 am
James is now in the lead, just over 6 km ahead of Jay. Matt has dropped back to fourth. About halfway.

I wonder if James knows that he is leading. In the Cycling Podcast I seem to remember that he said he rides his own race, and doesn’t look up where he is amongst other racers. On a mandatory route, passing somebody like Jay would give you an inkling that you’re at the front, but the pass might have been made when Jay was slightly off route catching some ZZZs.
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: quixoticgeek on 27 April, 2019, 10:47:32 am
Looks like Jay and James are leapfrogging each other. Given the non synchronous tracker updating, telling which of the two is actually in the lead at this point is anyones guess. I notice the most recent update for Jay has him at 666.7km mark...

Really impressive riding from both of them.

Has James slept yet? I know Jasmijn Muller did best part of 48hours and 1000km of Biking Man Oman without any sleep, Is James trying something similar?

J
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: JonBuoy on 27 April, 2019, 11:36:27 am
Using a bit of visual interpolation I reckon that Jay is currently about 25 minutes behind James.
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: quixoticgeek on 27 April, 2019, 03:53:03 pm

Got an update from both Jay and James at the same time. There's just 2km between them. This is amazing to watch!

J
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: psyclist on 27 April, 2019, 04:57:34 pm
Two big hills to get over this evening before the flatter section. I would expect the sleep strategy for James and Jay tonight will be a huge determinant for how tomorrow plays out, and the final outcome.
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: quixoticgeek on 27 April, 2019, 06:46:45 pm

Nap time for Jay. James continuing on. Why do I get the feeling this race is going to be won or lost in the next 6 hours ?

Anyone else looking at this event and seriously considering giving it a go next year?

J
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: morbihan on 27 April, 2019, 08:02:30 pm

Nap time for Jay. James continuing on. Why do I get the feeling this race is going to be won or lost in the next 6 hours ?

Anyone else looking at this event and seriously considering giving it a go next year?

J

Id love to have a go. Its tricky timing though with the early season start.  It would also involve the expense of gear ratio changes on my rig or a different set up all together.  I have taken the year off from an event this year to concentrate on my job but we are trying to set up our lives into the future where it would be possible to do a couple of ultra events and a tour or two each year together. its really giving me itchy feet watching the dots! I'm really intrigued and excited by the ID concept where you are not dealing with the big roads on the likes of TCR as much as I love that race. My past route mishaps on TCR could be good training for the likes of ID or GTBreizh.
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: psyclist on 27 April, 2019, 08:10:51 pm
Anyone else looking at this event and seriously considering giving it a go next year?

I had it down for last year, but decided against it as a first bikepacking race. At this time of year and with high mountains, I thought more experience would be prudent. I'm now targeting Bikepacking Trans Germany in July, with Tour Divide in 2020. Probably fit something else between the two, but I'll see how Germany goes and decide from there.
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: morbihan on 27 April, 2019, 09:10:50 pm
Its intriguing looking at the average moving speeds during this race. The spread is squashed right down as opposed to the likes of TCR where James Heydon etc can be riding 7 or 8 kph faster than the rest of the riders. I guess all the hike a biking is a real leveller. The fastest rider here to date, I think, is Jay and its still less than 16 kph. I haven't looked at the course in detail but see there is a big flat section coming up across the Po valley. Maybe a time when the likes of James can gap other riders? I guess bike choice may have a bearing on this too. Some of the MTB orientated bikes doing better on the really broken up stuff, but will struggle when it flattens out.
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: rob on 27 April, 2019, 09:52:05 pm
James has tweeted the mountain terrain is out of his comfort zone and his dynamo won’t charge at slow speeds.  Overnighting at a pizzeria.
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: psyclist on 28 April, 2019, 04:13:06 am
Both James and Jay have had about 4 hours sleep and are on the move again, James ahead but neck and neck with Sofiane, who appears to be a cyborg with hardly any downtime throughout the race.
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: morbihan on 28 April, 2019, 11:28:15 am
Sofiane actually has more recorded stop time than James on the charts but they are barely visible. Micro naps that don't record a flat line?
 Jay has had the most stops of all the three but was riding faster by a margin in the mountains. Perhaps James will gap him on the flatter stuff, though I guess its all still rough trails so maybe still more in Jays world. Matt has had a big kip and dropped off the pace but will likely finish strong after that rest. Very animated.
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: morbihan on 28 April, 2019, 02:39:57 pm
Jay taken the lead but he's doing 70kph so I guess he has abandoned and is driving to the finish.
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: quixoticgeek on 28 April, 2019, 02:47:04 pm
Jay taken the lead but he's doing 70kph so I guess he has abandoned and is driving to the finish.

Or it' down hill... 70kph downhill is not an unreasonable speed...

J
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: mattc on 28 April, 2019, 02:51:05 pm
I'm really intrigued and excited by the ID concept where you are not dealing with the big roads on the likes of TCR as much as I love that race. My past route mishaps on TCR could be good training for the likes of ID or GTBreizh.

Forgive my ignorance of this event - how does this work? Is it a compulsory route?  :-\
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: JonBuoy on 28 April, 2019, 02:54:03 pm
Jay taken the lead but he's doing 70kph so I guess he has abandoned and is driving to the finish.

Or it' down hill... 70kph downhill is not an unreasonable speed...

J

It is dead flat where they are.  All the logged points are on roads.  Maybe someone nicked his tracker ?
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: quixoticgeek on 28 April, 2019, 02:55:42 pm
I'm really intrigued and excited by the ID concept where you are not dealing with the big roads on the likes of TCR as much as I love that race. My past route mishaps on TCR could be good training for the likes of ID or GTBreizh.

Forgive my ignorance of this event - how does this work? Is it a compulsory route?  :-\

Compulsory route. Which has been designed to require you take the off road hike-a-bike section, not the nice tarmac next to it...

It is dead flat where they are.  All the logged points are on roads.  Maybe someone nicked his tracker ?

Or just GPS playing silly buggers. Unless he's consistently doing 70kph over a number of readings, it would seem unlikely to be anything malicious.

J
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: JonBuoy on 28 April, 2019, 02:59:13 pm


It is dead flat where they are.  All the logged points are on roads.  Maybe someone nicked his tracker ?

Or just GPS playing silly buggers. Unless he's consistently doing 70kph over a number of readings, it would seem unlikely to be anything malicious.

J

Unlikely to be GPS as 'All the logged points are on roads.'
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: quixoticgeek on 28 April, 2019, 04:59:04 pm

James, Jay, and the media car are all in the same place. I wonder what's going on.

J
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: quixoticgeek on 28 April, 2019, 05:08:01 pm

James has tweeted out:

"Genuine error with my route on device. Happy to correct and self punish. Mistakes happen. #italydivide"

Not fully sure what's going on. I'm guessing more info will come through soon.

J
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: quixoticgeek on 28 April, 2019, 05:19:23 pm

From the official facebook page:

"James Hayden have to come back in Bondanello because he skipped the route"

I don't think that's too far back, if I've got the location right on google maps.

No idea what's going on with Jay tho.

J
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: quixoticgeek on 28 April, 2019, 05:29:08 pm
Now Sofiane Sehili is off route. What's going on at the pointy end? First Jay, then James, now Sofiane! At this rate Birdman is looking odds on favourite!

J

Edit, he's gone back to do the bit he missed. A shorter detour than James'

J
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: Phil W on 28 April, 2019, 06:07:53 pm
James now coming back up to the point where the media car and other two are. Looks like they may have neutralised the front three and they will restart when James reaches the others.
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: quixoticgeek on 28 April, 2019, 06:08:53 pm
James now coming back up to the point where the media car and other two are. Looks like they may have neutralised the front three and they will restart when James reaches the others.

Sofiane is rolling already. Doubt things have been neutralised.

No news yet on what's up with Jay.

J
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: Phil W on 28 April, 2019, 06:41:47 pm
They have now but they were stopped there for some time. Maybe a time penalty?
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: JonBuoy on 28 April, 2019, 07:28:55 pm
...and Sofiane is off-route again.  This is getting a bit messy.
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: JonBuoy on 28 April, 2019, 07:35:51 pm
An update from Jay who looks like he has had mech hangar problems: (https://www.instagram.com/p/BwzylD1FW-B/)

Quote
Don't fret the blue dot going 100km/h. I got a ride and am fine.
Out of nowhere the ship almost sank. After exhausting other options I almost gave up and then out of nowhere a bag full of random hardware was brought to me. The situation does change the direction I was going but it will not prevent me from doing what I think is one of THE most important things - finishing!
I will walk away with lessons learned, even an evaluation of my own thoughts and attitude, as it floored me with emotions, disappointment and sadness when a really fun strategic game that I thought I had some good control over was all of a sudden over.
I wonder how many cafes and pizzas I can eat before I finish!? At this point I think its going to be a lot as I go into tour mode starting back up in the AM.
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: morbihan on 28 April, 2019, 09:14:11 pm
An update from Jay who looks like he has had mech hangar problems: (https://www.instagram.com/p/BwzylD1FW-B/)

Quote
Don't fret the blue dot going 100km/h. I got a ride and am fine.
Out of nowhere the ship almost sank. After exhausting other options I almost gave up and then out of nowhere a bag full of random hardware was brought to me. The situation does change the direction I was going but it will not prevent me from doing what I think is one of THE most important things - finishing!
I will walk away with lessons learned, even an evaluation of my own thoughts and attitude, as it floored me with emotions, disappointment and sadness when a really fun strategic game that I thought I had some good control over was all of a sudden over.
I wonder how many cafes and pizzas I can eat before I finish!? At this point I think its going to be a lot as I go into tour mode starting back up in the AM.

classy right there.
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: psyclist on 29 April, 2019, 06:45:51 am
James and Sofiane appear to be neck and neck up the first big climb today, but zooming in on the map shows James to be off-route on a different path. Fingers crossed that’s just a tracking issue.
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: quixoticgeek on 29 April, 2019, 07:46:39 am

James has tweeted that it's snowing above 1100m. Not sure what that means for him.

Is he going to skip the altitude stuff? Or wait for the snow to clear later? No idea. Time will tell.

J
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: psyclist on 29 April, 2019, 09:33:27 am
Yes, looks like he has taken a road and stopped at Viaverde. Been there for a while.

As you say, time will tell. If he doesn't have the right clothes for the conditions, hunkering down would be a good call given the height he would be going to on this section.
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: Phil W on 29 April, 2019, 10:22:28 am
This is a bit further north 200m higher than the route goes but will give you an idea of conditions.   Currently -3c there but has been down to -10c overnight.

http://www.rifugioprimaneve.it/ipcamview.php

There is a hotel at James' location and he has tweeted he is not dressed for the mountain weather. He could be some time.

Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: quixoticgeek on 29 April, 2019, 10:23:48 am
This is a bit further north 200m higher than the route goes but will give you an idea of conditions.   Currently -3c there but has been down to -10c overnight.

http://www.rifugioprimaneve.it/ipcamview.php

There is a hotel at James' location and he has tweeted he is not dressed for the mountain weather. He could be some time.

Are they going to all bunch up before the snow, waiting to see who's brave^Wstupid enough to cross it first.

I do not envy any of them this decision. Ice is something I fear when cycling.

J
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: Phil W on 29 April, 2019, 10:26:30 am
Sofiane has about 7km and 400m vertical to ascend before he pops over the top and can start descending to warmer climes.  I'd say he is pretty much commited to that up there now till he reaches the refugio.   The refugio is closed but most have a winter room with blankets and possibly a stove. I suspect it will be a case of walking more than anything else. 
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: psyclist on 29 April, 2019, 12:20:47 pm
Sofiane has been stopped for a while, at a place where there is a restaurant. Not quite reached the summit. He could just be eating, or waiting for a break in the weather. I can't imagine it was easy going to reach where he is now.
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: Phil W on 29 April, 2019, 12:37:03 pm
James now heading back up the track to rejoin the route where he left it.
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: psyclist on 29 April, 2019, 02:05:42 pm
Both on the move, about 8km between Sofiane and James. But that's a top of the mountain 8km, with Sofiane about to descend the other side, and pass the media bike which is positioned halfway down the mountain. Then just one more 1500m climb to get over before descending for the finish.
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: Frank9755 on 29 April, 2019, 02:21:07 pm
James decided to sit it out and Sofiane decided to push on.  Unfortunately for Sofiane it looks like he deviated from the route a bit in the snow.  I don't expect he fancies going back and re-doing!  Will the organisers penalise him, or will they judge that it was hard to avoid and did not give him an advantage...?
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: quixoticgeek on 29 April, 2019, 02:27:55 pm
James decided to sit it out and Sofiane decided to push on.  Unfortunately for Sofiane it looks like he deviated from the route a bit in the snow.  I don't expect he fancies going back and re-doing!  Will the organisers penalise him, or will they judge that it was hard to avoid and did not give him an advantage...?

Given the conditions I hope the worst they opt for is a time penalty. I wonder what it'll be like by the time the rest of the field get there.

J
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: quixoticgeek on 29 April, 2019, 03:14:51 pm
Sofaine is off route again! Hope he's just hunting down food or something.

James Is over the top but still walking (he posted a picture on instagram).

Can't stop hitting refresh!

J
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: psyclist on 29 April, 2019, 03:23:02 pm
Sofaine is off route again! Hope he's just hunting down food or something.

He's gone to where the Media bike was located whilst they waited for the leaders to get over the mountain, so I would think there's food there, and shelter from the elements.

Separately, on FB I see that Jay had lost an axle nut, and had put together a temporary fix. Matt found the nut, and handed it back to him a short while ago.
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: quixoticgeek on 29 April, 2019, 03:32:13 pm
Sofaine is off route again! Hope he's just hunting down food or something.

He's gone to where the Media bike was located whilst they waited for the leaders to get over the mountain, so I would think there's food there, and shelter from the elements.

Looking at the satellite imagery, I can't see anything the way he's gone, he's turned back towards the route, so my guess is a navigational screw up "Hey this is clear tarmac, that can't be the right route".

Quote
Separately, on FB I see that Jay had lost an axle nut, and had put together a temporary fix. Matt found the nut, and handed it back to him a short while ago.

That's awesome. I notice that JP had gone back to where he'd hitched from, and has caught up with Birdman. Is he able to challenge for a GC position? Is the axle nut being given back to him going to count as not self supported?

J
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: morbihan on 29 April, 2019, 04:04:22 pm
Wot a classic.
 All the hallmarks of TDF circa 1910. It just needs Sofiane to bellow Assassins! at the media car at the top of the last climb.
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: psyclist on 29 April, 2019, 05:46:34 pm
James is 2.5km behind Sofiane. Been closing the gap over the past couple of hours, slowly. Feels like they'll be pushing on through to the finish now, but it'll get dark before the summit of the final climb. Hopefully the path is clear.
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: JonBuoy on 29 April, 2019, 06:04:14 pm
It is about 10k to the top of the climb and they have over an hour before sunset.  The descent might get a bit murky.  Local webcams (https://www.brentonicoski.com/it/webcam/index#lg=1&slide=3) show a bit of snow on the tops but it doesn't look as bad as the previous lump.  It looks like James is catching Sofiane and is now about 10 minutes behind him.  Exciting stuff!
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: quixoticgeek on 29 April, 2019, 06:31:05 pm

Just over 30km to go for Sofiane. James' tracker is showing him stopped, but in a weird location. His tracker has been quite erratic in it's updates, so it may be that it's just not had updates in the last 30 minutes, or it could really be that he has stopped. Once they get into the clear of the descent, it's going to be an interesting sprint finish. Can't be more than 2-3 hours of this left!

J
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: Phil W on 29 April, 2019, 06:46:04 pm
James' tracker now updated.  I'd say there is about 700 metres between James and Sofiane. They are both moving at walking place.
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: mattc on 29 April, 2019, 06:53:38 pm
They are both moving at walking place.
Is it possible you guys have misread the parcours, and in fact this may finish with a bike-pushing sprint??
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: quixoticgeek on 29 April, 2019, 07:55:01 pm
https://twitter.com/JamesMarkHayden/status/1122933460451110919

"We finish together. Respect. #italydivide https://t.co/2Wb8GJsRvi"

He's caught Sofiane. They are going to finish together.

J
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: psyclist on 29 April, 2019, 08:05:42 pm
I wondered what was happening, James’s tracker hasn’t updated for a while.

After all that has gone on over the past few days, much respect for that call.
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: quixoticgeek on 29 April, 2019, 08:39:27 pm

They seem to be off course tho on the latest reading, with just 2km to go!

J
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: quixoticgeek on 29 April, 2019, 08:41:22 pm
Bouncing dot! They've made it!

J
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: psyclist on 29 April, 2019, 08:50:34 pm
Superb. What an exciting race to follow.
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: JonBuoy on 29 April, 2019, 08:52:27 pm
Excellent!

I see that Levente Bagoly is still pressing on over the penultimate climb in third place.  There is a fair amount of snow on the ground, it is dark, it is 1degC and there is a 30kph wind blowing.  Rather him than me.
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: Phil W on 29 April, 2019, 09:03:43 pm
Excellent stuff.  Third placed guy really depends how he is equipped. I see Sifiane had a duvet of some sort on hence ability to jeep climbing high in the cold and snow.
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: Phil W on 30 April, 2019, 03:01:19 pm
(https://images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4kwHPnlR6PCoUPboA7qOCm/5488f51b4927f610746c75129f0b6318/Screenshot_2019-04-30_at_08.27.57.png?w=600&fm=jpg&q=60)

(https://images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6iylX7r5oLzfcmtdwor06/7ba9d68e27bc478b6701d1b6732e6795/Screenshot_2019-04-29_at_14.32.45.png?w=600&fm=jpg&q=60)

(https://images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/bJ4pwU0AgvUvJF4kidxxa/ef6f15c06b0d81313bffe784db7a7e78/Screenshot_2019-04-29_at_19.28.45.png?w=600&fm=jpg&q=60)
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: cygnet on 01 May, 2019, 10:30:59 am
And from Sofiane:

https://twitter.com/TheUltraBiker/status/1123280561190125569 (https://twitter.com/TheUltraBiker/status/1123280561190125569)
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: paddyirish on 07 May, 2019, 09:00:50 pm
James' blog is a great read- starts here (http://jamesmarkhayden.uk/italy-divide/italy-divide-report-day-1/)
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: morbihan on 11 March, 2020, 02:06:51 am
this Years event pushed back to later in the year for obvious reasons.
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: psyclist on 11 March, 2020, 04:47:13 am
this Years event pushed back to later in the year for obvious reasons.

Indeed, I was waiting for this news as it seemed inevitable. Unfortunately I cannot make the new date as it clashes with the French Divide, so I’ll be opting to ride the Italy Divide next year.

It must be hard for the organisers, but at least they now have a new date to work to.

I have a pre-paid room in Pompeii for 30th April if anybody is travelling that way ... suspect nobody will snap that one up!
Title: Re: Italy Divide.
Post by: rob on 11 March, 2020, 09:28:13 pm
this Years event pushed back to later in the year for obvious reasons.

Indeed, I was waiting for this news as it seemed inevitable. Unfortunately I cannot make the new date as it clashes with the French Divide, so I’ll be opting to ride the Italy Divide next year.

It must be hard for the organisers, but at least they now have a new date to work to.

I have a pre-paid room in Pompeii for 30th April if anybody is travelling that way ... suspect nobody will snap that one up!

Sorry to hear that, but I think you were expecting it.