Conquering the Tour Divide with Ultra²

Summer Adventures

Summer is perfect for adventures, whether it's a bike tour or a bikepacking trip. Have you ever wondered how far you can push yourself? I recently completed a journey that tested my limits and rewarded me with unforgettable experiences.

After months of preparation, I embarked on one of the wildest and most renowned bikepacking races in the world: the Tour Divide. This race spans 4,300 kilometers along the Continental Divide from Banff, Canada, to Antelope Wells, New Mexico, USA. The route is mostly unpaved, with gravel roads and remote trails, and includes over 60,000 meters of elevation gain.

The race demands complete self-sufficiency, meaning participants must carry all their food, water, and gear. Last year, I was the first German to win the race. This year, the Tour Divide was part of the Triple Crown Challenge: completing the three biggest bikepacking races in the USA within a single calendar year.

Day 1: On June 14th at 7:00 AM I started off with a well-lubricated chain using Ultra². Over 250 participants set off from Banff, heading south to Mexico. The pace was intense. After 60 kilometers, a lead group emerged: Laurens ten Dam, Justinas Leveika, and myself. After 250 kilometers, we reached Fernie, Canada, almost simultaneously. A quick bike clean with Wonder Wipes and a brief motel stop for 2.5 hours of sleep was all we had before continuing.

Day 3: On June 17th, a winter storm hit Butte, Montana, bringing subzero temperatures and 20 centimeters of snow. The next 36 hours were some of the toughest I've ever endured. Wet and cold, I had to keep moving and believe that better times were ahead.

Day 6: After 6 days, 7 hours, and 45 minutes, I reached the halfway point in Wyoming. In second place, I was 3 hours behind Justinas Leveika and 10 hours ahead of Laurens ten Dam. Self-discipline and time management became crucial as fatigue set in. Everything I could do while riding, I did - washing my face with a Wonder Wipe, eating and brushing my teeth included. I only stopped once a day for supplies and sleep.

Day 11: In Colorado, temperatures soared above 45 degrees Celsius. Riding at altitudes between 3,000 and 3,600 meters, I felt every gram of my gear. On the night of Day 12, I caught up with Justinas Leveika after over 260 hours of racing, only to suffer a flat tire from a 5 cm steel nail. I patched it up, quickly lubricated the chain with Ultra² and on the bike again. Resumed the chase, but lost over 3 hours.

Endless Final Push: With 3,900 kilometers covered, I was 3.5 hours behind Justinas Leveika. While he raced ahead of a storm, I found myself in its eye. Lightning struck all around, and there was nowhere to hide. Torrential rain and impassable mud added to the challenge. Despite everything, my mental strength and sheer willpower carried me to the finish line in Antelope Wells, New Mexico.

I finished second overall, improving my previous time by more than 5 hours and surpassing the 8-year-old course record, despite losing nearly 17 hours to bad weather in the final days.

4,325 Kilometers in 13 Days, 22 Hours, and 13 Minutes
I traversed part of Canada and the USA from north to south, sleeping in basic shelters or roadside. I averaged less than 4 hours of sleep per night, fueled by strawberry milk, chocolate bars, burritos, and packaged food - over 120,000 calories needed to come from somewhere.

But it wasn't just my body that needed care and attention to withstand the challenges - I also had to take care of my BMC Twostroke 01 Monster Gravel Bike. A piece of microfiber cloth, Ultra², and some Wonder wipes were my constant companions throughout the journey. A full bottle of Ultra² is definitely enough for the entire route. On a lot of days, I only had to lube the chain once. In very bad weather conditions, sometimes 3-4 times, But those were truly hellish conditions - but it always kept everything running smoothly. Following the motto: Save the free watts :)