Tour Divide Coaching: Preparation That Gets You to the Finish

We establish your aerobic foundation with Zone 1-2 endurance rides, gradually increasing volume while keeping intensity controlled. For Tour Divide, this means long rides at 55-65% FTP, building your ability to sustain effort day after day. We also introduce loaded bike training early. Your body needs to adapt to carrying 15-25kg of gear before race day.

This phase introduces Tour Divide-specific demands:

• Back-to-back long rides: Weekend blocks of 8-12 hour rides on consecutive days to simulate cumulative fatigue
• Loaded climbing sessions: Hill repeats with full bikepacking setup to build climbing strength under load
• Gravel-specific skills: Technical handling, loose surface cornering, hike-a-bike practice
• Navigation training: Route-finding under pressure, decision-making when tired
• Overnight rides: Night riding practice, sleep strategy testing
• Nutrition dialing: Testing real-world fueling strategies over 8-12 hour days

We run multi-day simulations that replicate Tour Divide conditions: consecutive long days on gravel, loaded bike, navigation, resupply planning, and minimal sleep. These simulations reveal what works (and what doesn't) before race day. The final 2-3 weeks taper volume while maintaining intensity, ensuring you arrive at Banff fresh but sharp.

For multi-week self-supported racing, 60-70% FTP isn't a recommendation, it's a ceiling. Tour Divide finishers pace conservatively: 55-65% FTP on flats, 50-60% on climbs. Going harder feels sustainable for a week, then destroys Week 2 and beyond. We establish your sustainable power targets and practice riding within them even when it feels too easy.

Tour Divide forces you to eat real food from gas stations, diners, and grocery stores, not just gels and bars. We develop a fuelling strategy that works with what's actually available on route: calorie targets (4,000-6,000/day), macronutrient balance, resupply timing, and how to eat enough when appetite disappears after 10 days of riding.

Sleep management makes or breaks Tour Divide attempts. We develop your sleep strategy: how many hours per night, when to take rest days, how to recognize when sleep debt is becoming dangerous, and how to maximise recovery quality in hotels, campgrounds, or bivvy sites. This isn't about sleeping less, it's about sleeping smarter.

Tour Divide creates dark moments most riders aren't prepared for: crushing loneliness, the temptation to quit, decision-making when exhausted, and managing pain for weeks. We practice mental strategies during training including visualisation, staying present, self-talk techniques. These become instinctive when things get hard.

We dial in your complete system: bike setup, gear selection, clothing layers, tool kit, navigation devices, and resupply strategy. Everything gets tested during training rides. By race day, you know exactly what you're carrying, where it goes, and how to access it quickly.

Tour Divide typically takes riders 15 to 30 days to complete the full 2,745 miles (4,418km) from Banff, Canada to Antelope Wells, New Mexico. Elite racers finish in 13 to 16 days, strong experienced riders complete it in 18 to 24 days, and touring-pace riders often take 25 to 35 days. The route includes approximately 200,000 feet of elevation gain through challenging mountain terrain, unpaved roads, and remote wilderness sections. Completion time depends on daily mileage targets, fitness level, off-bike efficiency (resupply, sleep, bike maintenance), and how you handle altitude, weather, and isolation.

Yes, the Tour Divide is entirely self-supported. This means no outside assistance, no support crew, no pre-arranged help, and no accepting rides in vehicles. Riders must carry all equipment, navigate independently, find their own food and accommodation in towns along the route, and handle all mechanical issues or bike repairs themselves. You can use commercial services available to anyone (hotels, restaurants, bike shops), but cannot have friends or family providing support. Self-supported racing demands careful planning for resupply points, carrying adequate emergency equipment, and genuine self-sufficiency for extended periods in remote wilderness.

Tour Divide requires a capable bike that handles rough gravel, mountain passes, stream crossings, and extended loaded riding. Most successful riders use mountain bikes with adaptations for long-distance touring, gravel bikes with wide tyres (40mm or more), or rigid or hardtail mountain bikes to minimise mechanical complexity. Key requirements include frame mounts for multiple water bottles and bags (the route has long waterless sections), gearing low enough for steep mountain passes while carrying 15 to 20kg of gear, reliable mechanical disc brakes, and tubeless tyre setup to reduce puncture issues. Durability and simplicity matter more than weight or speed.

Tour Divide itself has no entry fee. It is an unsanctioned, self-supported race anyone can attempt. However, total costs typically range from £2,500 to £6,000 depending on your approach. Major expenses include flights to Canada and from New Mexico, bike shipping or transport, accommodation costs along the route (depending on pace and whether camping versus using hotels), food and resupply for 15 to 30 days, emergency equipment and bike maintenance supplies, SPOT tracker for safety, and insurance. Budget-conscious riders camping frequently and cooking their own food can complete Tour Divide at the lower end of this range. Those using hotels more frequently and eating in restaurants typically spend more.