The Tour Divide is the longest off-pavement race totaling over 2,754 miles of mostly forest dirt road. Starting from Banff, Alberta Canada it crosses the continental divided until Antelope Wells, New Mexico USA. The route climbs 220,00 vertical feet and is the considered hardest self-supported mountain bike race in the world hands down!
Gunnison’s Jefe Branham placed second last year in 16 days hours and 21 minutes and Crested Butte’s Ethan Passant finished 3rd in 17 days 23 hours and 45 minutes.
There are two Crested Buttians partaking in the 2012 event. Josh Shifferly and Ester Horangzi. Josh Shifferly will be riding for the Crested Butte Avalanche Center. You can help him raise his goal of $1,000 dollars from his fund-raising site. http://joshshifferly.com/ Eszter Horanyi whose accomplishments with team Alpine Orthopedics are numerous has also entered her letter to ride.
Follow Josh and Esther while they travel through 2 countries. West Elk Project will continue to follow these racers as the travel the Great Divide!
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