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Tour Divide 2023 : The race, the gear, the whys and everything in between

• May 13, 2023

It was just over 2 years ago the first time I ever heard of the Tour Divide. I didn’t even know what bikepacking was or that bikepacking racing was a thing.

By then, I had become a time trialist specialist on the road. I had become obsessed with mastering my mind, mastering the art of executing a perfect time trial. I love it so much. I know very well this feeling, my sight on the road ahead, my head tucked in, my lungs expanding to their max, my legs flowing over the pedals. That feeling when I get in the zone, when I’m able to fully surrender and let no amount of pain bother me. It’s pretty amazing. And quite freeing.

A few years ago when I was reading this passionating book “How Bad Do You Want It”, the author spoke of how references are limiters to the mind and the body. If you can remove the information that you know as your references, you could push your body much further. I decided to test the concept and did a 20-minutes blind test – no numbers, no references. Increasing my best 20-min power by 18% was a shocking, yet insightful experience. “You are stronger than you think.” Simply remove the thinking.

I was on the stationary bike trainer when a youtube video came up about the Tour Divide (the documentary was I Just Want to Ride featuring Lael Wilcox – record-holder of the fastest female time on the Tour Divide). A 4,300 km time trial. WOAH! Now everything I know as references are quite irrelevant. How the hell is this humanely possible? Then… What if I remove what I know as possible. What if this was just another example of the amazing things a body can do when you remove references. I was immediately filled with curiosity.

I couldn’t sleep that night. I had to find out: where is the limit of what I can do. Am I able to apply what I came to master in road cycling time trial to a 4,300km bikepacking time trial?

Covering a distance of 4,300km, the Tour Divide is one of the longest and arguably the hardest ultra-endurance bike race on the planet. From Banff (Alberta) in Canada, to Antelope Wells (NM) at the border of Mexico, the course takes the riders along breathtaking scenic landscapes of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (designed by the Adventure Cycling Association back in the 1990s), one of the most well-known off-road touring route that attracts bikepackers and bike tourists from all over the world.

The race has been going on for many years, starting on the 2nd Friday of June of each year, but only started to gain popularity lately with the rise of bikepacking and bikepacking events. The 2023 edition has currently over 250 participants registered to this day (one month before the start). 26 of them are female or non-binary, the highest non-male participation rate ever!

The Tour Divide is more than a cycling race, it is the definition of an endurance and resilience test. The race is self-supported, which means you are not allowed to receive any help. You can use public services such as hotels and restaurants, but you must carry everything you need (clothes, food, camp & sleep, tools). The route goes through many remote areas where a satellite device is the only way of communication. High-altitude mountain passes, changing weather, and wildlife encounters are all part of the race.

Getting ready – my journey to the start line

There is the physical journey, then it’s freacking scary! 2 years ago I had never camped before, never packed gear on a bike, never ridden in the dark or encountered a bear.

Before I could attempt this, I had a few classes to take on. So, 3 weeks after watching the youtube video about the Tour Divide, I departed for my first bikepacking trip. An improvised, but oh so life-changing, one-month bikepacking trip in Utah and Arizona hooked me up. From there, I would use bikepacking for training when I’m not racing.

Last year (2022), I was still racing as a pro road cyclist when a series of events occurred, one of them being the cancellation of BC Superweek, my beloved crit series in July. I was going to fly to western Canada (near Banff) for Road Nationals, but then I had an opening in my calendar. “What a great opportunity to check out the course of the Tour Divide!” I thought.

I flew with all the gear I had and set to ride as much as I can of the route after racing Nationals. I had a wonderful ride in the time trial at Nationals, I rode the absolute best I could. Another 2nd place, but I felt satisfied. I love when I leave it all on the course. I was not going to be National Champion but that’s how it is. I don’t have less joy riding my bike fullgas. It was time to swap bikes.

So, a week later on July 4th, 2022, I departed from Banff and headed south on my pretty beat-up Cannondale FSi mountain bike hardtail, to see if I was capable of riding the terrain, to overcome my fear of bears (oh, I did come face-to-face with a grizzly! But that’s for another storytelling time), to overcome my fear of riding in the dark and confronting the weather of the high-altitude mountain passes.

The course was absolutely mind-blowing!!! Every day, I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the landscapes surrounding me. The “non-technical” terrain was very much challenging for my roadie skillset. I was very unprepared for the hike-a-bike and the rain, but it was so empowering to come out of these challenges stronger.

I completed the route in 28 days (about twice as long as the race-winning time), averaging over 10 hours of riding to cover 150km each day -it was the hardest thing I had ever done !!

This course recon was the first step to getting prepared to race. It also made obvious that I needed to improve my MTB skills, to strengthen my upper body for the hike”push”-a-bike, to fasten my camp-to-bike transition, a warmer and more reliable sleep system, and better overall gear and bike.

My 2023 Tour Divide Gear List

By now I have gathered enough bikepacking experience to know better what I want and need for my ideal setup. So I have reached out to my favorite companies and I’m very fortunate that they embarked on my dream race project with me! Here is the best bikepacking setup I could build for racing the Tour Divide :

• Cannondale Scalpel HT, 100mm suspension fork
• Sram X01 mechanical 34T x 10-52 Eagle cassette
• SL4 Lucky Jack – Duke Racing Wheels (XC carbon wheels, 1200g a pair)
• Son 28 dynamo hub
• Ergo grips and aero bars
• Maxxis Ardent Race and Ikon 2,2 tires

Packs: Backcountry Series by Apidura

• Apidura 11L handlebar pack (clothes)
• Apidura 2x 1.2L feed pouches, 1L top-tube feed bag, 1L rear top-tube pack for accessories
• Apidura 4L frame pack with a hydration bladder (food & water)
• Apidura 1.8L down-tube pack (tools and pharmacy)
• Apidura 10L saddle pack (sleep system)
• possibly a hip pack or hydration vest… TBD
• 7mesh cargo bib (pad removed) paired with 7mesh Foundation Shorts
• 7mesh Hollyburn light thermal pants
• 7mesh Chico Anorak pull-over
• 7mesh merino buff
• 7mesh Skypilot Gore-tex rain jacket
• MEC 800-down jacket
• Mountain Hardwear 800-down pants
• MEC rain pants cover
• Showerpass waterproof gloves and socks (available at MEC)
• Defeet merino gloves

Sleep System :

• MEC Talon 0 degree C 800-down quilt
• MEC Vectair Ultralight insulated air mat
• Mountain Laurel Designs FKT bivy
• Warmlite Gear Vapor barrier long-sleeve jersey
• Warmlite Gear Vapor Barrier socks

Electronics :

• Garmin 540 Solar for navigation (MEC)
• Garmin inReach satellite tracking (MEC)
• GoPro Mini 11 for self-documenting the race
• iPhone and AirPods
• Sinewave Cycle Beacon2 headlight (dynamo powered)
• 1x 5,000 mpa power bank, 1x 10,000 mpa power bank, fast-charging wall charger, and cables
• Black Diamond headlight (MEC)
• Set of rear lights (MEC)

Tools, toiletry, and other items :

• Sunscreen (lots of sunscreens)
• Toothbrush, toothpaste
• Laundry handwash soap
• Eye mask, ear plugs
• ibuprofen, allergy med
• Caffeine, melatonin
• BeFree water filter and water purifying tablets
• Muc-Off Hydro chain lube with a rag
• Hand pump, tire plugs and sealant
• Multi-tools with chain breaker
• Spare derailer hanger, spare brake pads, chain links
• Patch repair kit
• Protein powder, BCAAs, Greens powder

Thank you to my sponsors for gearing me up with the best. Find this gear online: MEC outdoor gear , 7mesh cycling apparel , Apidura bikepacking bags , Duke Racing Wheels , Warmlite Gear vapor barrier gear .

Live-Tracking – From June 9th, 2023

We will depart from Banff (AB) on June 9th, 2023. You can follow the race live via satellite tracking here .

Even though I will try to film as much as possible, I will not be posting a lot on social media during the race (because it’s a race!) and there isn’t much service between towns. If you do follow my progress, I will love to read your messages of encouragement!

You can find me on instagram at @msoleilblais74 and you can subscribe to my Youtube Channel to be notified when my Tour Divide film is up!

But why in the hell would someone want to race this?

I have long asked myself this question. What is my motivation, why do I want to race the Tour Divide and put all of the efforts behind such a big commitment? Multiple answers come to my mind.

First, it’s the curiosity, the need to push the limits and see how far I can go. I see this as a continuation of my fascination for the power of the mind and playing with the concept of removing references. To see what I could do if I go into something where I have no references at all. Can I carry my time trial state of mind over 4,300km ? How resilient am I?

Second, it’s the transformation. Endurance has never been something I particularly excel at naturally. I had a strong anaerobic profile as a pro cyclist but that is quite useless over a long distance. I think you never become ready for the biggest race of your life, just like you don’t do a marathon before your first marathon. You “become” someone who is capable of doing it, by doing it. I want to become the person at the finish line who was able to race that distance and push her limits to a new level. No matter what happens, I will come out of this test stronger and more resilient.

Lastly, I want to live the experience. The experience of racing my bike all day, all night. Riding as far as I can, every day, with nothing else on my mind than going further. I quite enjoy the solitude of riding long distances in remote areas, and I look forward to re-discovering the magnificent, yet challenging course that is the Tour Divide.

Stay tuned, peace out

Full heart, fullgas

Marie-Soleil Blais

Bike Racer & Adventurer

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The Tour Divide: What, Where, Why, and How?

By Mac Leave a Comment

The Tour Divide is an annual 2,700-mile (4,300 km) self-supported bikepacking race following the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR). Most of the route follows dirt and gravel roads with a few sections of pavement or singletrack sprinkled in for good measure (along with the occasional hike-a-bike section).

Cursory internet sleuthing tells me that the current iteration of the Tour Divide began in 2008. However, the first individual time trial of the route was in 2005, and people have been riding the GDMBR since as early as 1997 when the Adventure Cycling Association first mapped it.

Speaking of websites, the current Tour Divide website hasn’t been updated since 2014 and leaves much to be desired. Or perhaps the state of the website is instead part of the Tour Divide’s charm? Mystique? Neato-ness?

You may already have more questions than answers if you’ve encountered this with zero knowledge of the Tour Divide or the GDMBR. Fear not; they will be addressed. Also, know that I will likely have many of the same questions. I intend to answer said questions by participating in (and hopefully completing) this year’s Tour Divide.

That said, I’ve been doing my research (and investing heavily in bikepacking gear).

What Is the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route?

The northern terminus of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) is in Jasper (it was in Banff – the start of the Tour Divide – until 2018), a resort town in Alberta, Canada. It then heads south for over 3,000 mi / 4,800 km to its southern terminus at the US-Mexico Border at Antelope Wells, New Mexico. It can be ridden in either direction, but it’s traditionally ridden southbound.

Along with the Arizona Trail and the Colorado Trail, it comprises the most significant leg of bikepacking’s Triple Crown; similar to the thru-hiking Triple Crown comprised of the Pacific Crest Trail , Continental Divide Trail , and Appalachian Trail .

The route is almost entirely along dirt and gravel roads and is, for the most part, not a technical ride (i.e., you don’t need to be an expert-level mountain biker to navigate the GDMBR). Yes, there are a few short sections of singletrack, but overall, this route is suited for gravel or mountain bikes (but certainly not road bikes).

The GDMBR is approximately 3,000 mi / 4,800 km long and has over 133,000 ft / 40,500 m of climbing and an equal amount of descent. It passes through seven states/provinces: Alberta, British Columbia, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. Despite beginning in Canada (as in riders must pass immigration at a border crossing), the route does not enter Mexico; it ends (or begins) at the US-Mexico Border.

The Difference Between the Tour Divide and the GDMBR

You may be asking yourself, as I have, what’s the difference between the Tour Divide and the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route? The answer? Nothing. Kind of.

The Tour Divide is the name of the annual self-supported race of the GDMBR . Put another way, the Tour Divide follows the GDMBR. However, it begins in Banff instead of Jasper; Banff was the northern terminus of the GDMBR until 2018, when it was moved to Jasper. At least, that’s all you need to know if you’re not racing and/or riding the Tour Divide. What’s self-supported? It means that racers are only afforded resources available to everyone else participating.

For example, staying at a hotel? Perfectly fine. Staying at a friend’s house? Not okay.

When you drill down to the details, there are a few sections where the Tour Divide diverges from the GDMBR. But for all intents and purposes, they’re the same; again, unless you’re concerned about racing the Tour Dviide, then there are a few spots you need to take note of.

Every year, people bikepack all or part of the GDMBR on their own (in both directions). These people can take as much or as little time as they like – many presumably even enjoy their experience. Meanwhile, others decide to race the Tour Divide beginning on the second Friday of June at the northern terminus in Banff, Alberta (in Canada). The latter group’s enjoyment often falls more heavily into the Type II (or even Type III) fun category.

The GDMBR Versus the Continental Divide Trail

When I first hiked the Continental Divide Trail (CDT), I met one person in Island Park, Idaho, who was riding the Divide; I had no idea what they were doing, what the Tour Divide was, or what the GDMBR was. The cyclist was stoked to see me and my CDT hiking buddy, but we thought ourselves cooler than him because what could be cooler than hiking the CDT?

How things have changed. I apologize for not greeting you with the enthusiasm you deserved, anonymous 2017 Tour Divide racer.

Despite the CDT following a lot of dirt and gravel roads – that would be suitable for bikepacking – there’s actually very little overlap between the two routes. Yes, there will be opportunities for northbound CDT thru-hikers to see Tour Divide riders, but many will pass like ships in the night.

The Tour Divide starts too early for southbound CDT hikers to catch any riders, but they could still encounter northbound GDMBR riders during their thru-hikes. Remember, play nice if/when you see each other out there. We’re all out there doing awesome things in nature. There’s no need to perpetuate a bikepacker-backpacker divide (on the Divide).

How to Participate in the Tour Divide

The community that has made the Tour Divide what it is today doesn’t exist as an official organization or entity. Instead, it’s willed into being by the yearly riding crop’s cohesion, carrying on traditions from and iterating upon actions of previous years’ cyclists.

There’s no sign-up form, no entry fee, no website (at least not a website updated in the last decade), and no organized event at the starting line in Banff (or at the finish line at Antelope Wells, New Mexico).

Most of the organization appears to come from Facebook groups (typically some of the most toxic online cesspools, but in rare cases, useful information corners). Every year, participants who provide tracking information (using a device such as a Garmin inReach Mini 2 ) to trackleaders can be watched online as they move down the course.

You show up in Banff, start riding south on the second Friday in June, tell anyone who asks that you’re riding the Tour Divide, and BOOM! you’re officially racing the Tour Divide. I’ve heard that in recent years that the community attempts to organize waves of riders (based on estimated finishing time) to ease impacts and congestion on/along the start of the race. Don’t want the local government to come in and try to shut down the unofficial race, after all.

Maybe one day, the magic of this unofficial, unorganized, organized, official bikepacking race will wane as permits, regulations, and rules are imposed with increasing popularity and awareness of the event. Maybe someone will write a best-selling book about the Tour Divide and blow it up like a certain unnamed book did to a certain unnamed trail in the Western United States.

Apparently, you’re supposed to send in a letter of intent to a random email address that I suspect is maintained by the crew at Bikepacking.com , but the letters of intent used to be posted to the Tour Divide website (which seems like it was a fun tradition that’s now sadly gone as of 2010).

For now, you only need to get on your bike and ride.

The Tour Divide is the unofficial orrifical self-supported race of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, with a few changes to the route. Simple enough, right?

It’s an incredible test of physical and mental endurance, with many riders forgoing sleep to put in more hours on the bike (how many hours I sleep every night is something I’m interested in seeing).

According to DotWatcher , since the Tour Divide’s conception in 2008, only 716 riders have completed the race (this number is likely not 100% accurate, but it’s about as good as we can do). Hopefully, after this year’s race, I will be able to count myself among the fewer than 1,000 total finishers.

For now, it’s time to go and ride my bike .

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Tour divide 2023.

Banff, Canada

Running from Banff, Canada to Antelope Wells on the US-Mexican border, the Tour Divide is for many the halo event of Bikepack Ultraracing. There are both Southbound and Northbound riders racing self-supported along the ACA's Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, always with a few weather re-routes to spice it up.

24:00, 9 June, 2023

Distance — Elevation

4,400km — 60,000m

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Ulrich Bartholmoes

This Year's Female Winner

Lael Wilcox

This Year's Male Winner

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Lachlan Morton sets scorching pace over Tour Divide route

EF Education-EasyPost says Australian rider finished with a time of 12 days, 12 hours and 21 minutes

On August 29 Lachlan Morton set out to take on the Tour Divide route – from Banff in Canada's Rocky Mountains to Antelope Wells in New Mexico – to see just how quickly he could do it even while including a self-imposed minimum of 12 hours rest every 48 hours. The answer, it turns out, is pretty darn quick. EF Education-EasyPost said that Morton had covered 2,670 miles in 12 days, 12 hours and 21 minutes. The acknowledged fastest known time set by a self-supported rider has long been 13 days 22 hours and 51 minutes, a mark set by ultra-endurance behemoth Mike Hall in 2016 over a course which has altered somewhat since. It was a longer distance according to Hall's tracking data of the time, which shows a distance of 2712.8 miles.

Still, Morton was fully aware when setting out that his time is unlikely to be considered a replacement self-supported record, as not only has the course of the annual self-supported race altered over time, the presence of a film crew has also been a contentious issue in the past given its impact on a key mental element in the self-supported race, being truly alone. Morton was confronted by a wide range of challenges throughout the 12-and-a-half days, with plenty of wet and cold weather, peanut butter mud, fire diversions , saddle sores, trench foot and a dead derailleur on day 11, which led to some bush mechanics.

Lachlan Morton chases Tour Divide record time but with self-imposed sleep quota Fires, wolves and dodgy coffee for start of Lachlan Morton’s Tour Divide Transcontinental: Racing 4,000km from Belgium to Greece in less than nine days

“I kicked it as hard as I could and then it started working again,” said Morton in an update from the trail, though then it stopped again. First option exhausted, Morton then resorted to shifting via a spoke shoved into the derailleur.

Morton's effort has also delivered more than just an impressive time, perhaps shedding just a little more light on a key, but complex, issue in ultra-endurance racing – whether it is possible to deliver a fast pace without sacrificing too much sleep.

"I am really interested to see with this approach, how fast you can really go and if it would be competitive with people who have really pushed that sleep element,” said Morton before setting out. 

While not directly equating to sleep time, the data on Morton's tracking dot put his stopped time at 30 per cent of his total, which equates to a little over seven hours a day, and was higher than the percentage of stopped time shown in the tracking data of both Hall in 2016 – at around 24 per cent - and 2023 Tour Divide winner Ulrich Bartholmoes – at over 23 per cent.

Through the ride, Morton has raised funds for Adventure for All , with the total so far at over $20,000.

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12d 12h 21m. 2,670 miles (4,296 KM) ridden. 192,000 Feet (58,521 meters) climbed. Two countries visited. Five states and 1 province crossed. Four storms weathered. Unknown amounts of candy bars and gallons of milk consumed. pic.twitter.com/N91gHv0BVq September 11, 2023

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Simone is a degree-qualified journalist that has accumulated decades of wide-ranging experience while working across a variety of leading media organisations. She joined Cyclingnews as a Production Editor at the start of the 2021 season and has now moved into the role of Australia Editor. Previously she worked as a freelance writer, Australian Editor at Ella CyclingTips and as a correspondent for Reuters and Bloomberg . Cycling was initially purely a leisure pursuit for Simone, who started out as a business journalist, but in 2015 her career focus also shifted to the sport.

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Tour Divide 2023

Ulrich's Winning Ride

14 days 3 hours 23 minutes.

That's how long it took ambassador Ulrich Bartholmoes to ride 4,345 km (2,745 miles) with over 51,000 meters (167,000+ feet) of climbing.

Not only did Ulrich win the prestigious race, he did it through torrential rain, unprecedented headwinds, knee-deep mud, and many more unexpected challenges.

This was Ulrich's first Tour Divide — a statement of what he can achieve, and what's to come.

Images by Nils Laengner, Ulrich Bartholmoes, and BikesorDeath

One of Ulrich's first photos from his ride.

Relentless climbing has its perks.

Challenge From the Start

On the first day of Tour Divide, Ulrich covered over 450 kilometers (280 miles). Only Justinas Leveika was able to keep up. One reason for this: Ulrich and Justinas simply rode through the first night.

Despite the large distance traveled, the beginning of the race posed its own challenges - the rain started at kilometer 160 and it didn't stop, resulting in unrelenting mud.

"The mud-clogged drivetrain made riding really hard and exhausting. Add to that the brutal climbs and the cold at night, and I was already suffering"

Shelter in a Porta Potty

Seven days into the race, Ulrich had reached the the half way point, averaging 326 kilometers per day. Perhaps the toughest section of the entire Tour Divide lay ahead — 150 kilometers of straight road consumed by a crushing headwind. And thanks to the rain, gravel had turned to mud. Ulrich had planned on 9 hours to cross the expanse, it took 26.

The mud was knee deep, it was raining, it was windy, and it was cold. The horrible conditions forced the leading riders to seek shelter in a Porta Potty. Wrapped in their emergency bivys, three riders squeezed into the toilet – and spent more than 10 hours there waiting for the rain to pass and waiting for the mud to dry up until at least walking or pushing the bike became possible again.

Done & Dusted

Ulrich took his last nap in Pie Town, about 550 kilometers before the finish line. From there he rode consistently to the end.

After 14 days of almost non-stop riding, it's best practice to first remove your shoes, then celebrate.

Final Numbers

• Arrival at the Finish line in Antelope Wells / New Mexico: United States on the 23th of June at 10:23 am local time (GMT-6)
• Final position in race : 1
• Total Kilometers in race : 4,345 kilometers (2,700 miles)
• Total time in race : 14 days / 03 hours / 23 mins — second fastest time in course history
• Total Elevation gain : 51,509 vertical meters (168,993 feet)
• Total calories burned : 121,000
• Total sleep time : An average of 3 hours per night for 14 days

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Meet the Riders - Tour Divide 2023

The Tour Divide is an epic cycling race that spans over 2,700 miles along the Continental Divide in North America. Known as one of the world's toughest mountain bike races, it challenges riders both physically and mentally. Starting in Banff, Canada, and ending in Antelope Wells, New Mexico, the route traverses through breathtaking landscapes, rugged terrains, and remote wilderness. 

Participants must navigate steep climbs, technical descents, and unpredictable weather conditions, testing their endurance and perseverance. The Tour Divide is a true test of grit and determination, attracting cyclists from around the globe who seek the ultimate adventure of conquering one of the most challenging races on Earth. You can see the race tracker below:

We’ve put together a list below of a few key riders who'll be using Restrap kit and tackling this year's event, so make sure you follow their dots on the race tracker.

Steven LeHyaric

@stevenlehyaric

Bike: Girs Nomade Carbone

No stranger to riding long distances through remote landscapes, Steven LeHyaric is aiming to be at the front of this years race. He runs the Gravelman Series of events, and also regularly races and rides huge trips many times throughout the year. Steven is a long-time ambassador for our brand, and you can learn more on his trips by going back through our blog.

With Steven's vast experience in ultra-distance riding, incredible endurance and consistent pace, he'll be one to watch. 

@joe__nation

Bike: Santa Cruz Highball

After seven years of professional Enduro World Series racing, he has made the move to bike packing for 2023. He's diving headfirst into the world of bike packing, where ultra-distance races push him to his limits both physically and mentally. He clinched victory in the Great British Divide in 2022, he has since poured all his energy into mastering this new craft and honing his skills. The transition from competitive racing to the wild challenges of long-distance bike packing presents a fresh set of obstacles, but he's eagerly embracing the chance to explore uncharted territories and chase adventure.

Joe has gone through his full pack list in a video over on his youtube channel, which you can see below:

@alex_howes

Bike: Cannondale Topstone Gravel

National Champion and experienced Grand Tour veteran, is no stranger to racing. However, his driving force extends beyond the pursuit of race results. What truly motivates Howes is the challenge and competition that cycling presents. As he looks ahead to the upcoming year, his focus remains on seeking out new opportunities to test his abilities and engage in thrilling battles with formidable rivals. For Howes, the joy lies in pushing his limits, experiencing personal growth, and embracing the excitement that comes from competitive cycling.

Title image - Flint Zeigler

(Flint Zeigler and his 14 year old daughter Scarlet rode the entire route last year - you can read their inspiring story here:  https://bikepacking.com/plog/just-to-be-with-you-great-divide/ )

@stevenlehyaric & @alexis_chaillousphotography

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2024 NCAA Tournament championship score, schedule: March Madness bracket, date, tipoff, live stream, channel

Check out the master schedule for the ncaa tournament so you can watch all the march madness 2024 action.

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The final game of the 2024 NCAA Tournament will take center stage on Monday night at 9:20 ET inside State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. It's a great one — UConn vs. Purdue. It's a matchup between the two teams that have combined to be ranked No. 1 in 12 of the 20 Associated Press Top 25 polls this season. It'll feature two-time CBS Sports National Player of the Year Zach Edey matched up against UConn's Donovan Clingan, a fellow center who is in contention to be the first big selected in the 2024 NBA Draft.

When it's over, we'll either have a back-to-back national champion in UConn or one of the greatest redemption stories in sports history with Purdue winning a national title one year after becoming just the second No. 1 seed ever to lose to a No. 16 seed in NCAA Tournament.

What more could we ask for?

UConn is listed as a 6.5-point favorite, which is notably higher than how most computers are projecting this game to go. That's interesting but also understandable given that the Huskies have now won 11 straight games in the NCAA Tournament by at least 13 points. So Purdue clearly has a tough test on tap in trying to become the first team to beat the Huskies this season without the benefit of a home-court advantage.

Want to stay up to date on all of the action and have a box score updating in real-time throughout the game? Then keep this page on a second screen and enjoy the last contest of what's been a fabulous season.

2024 NCAA Tournament scores, schedule

National championship.

Monday, April 8 State Farm Stadium -- Glendale, Arizona

Tuesday, March 19 UD Arena -- Dayton

Wednesday, March 20 UD Arena -- Dayton

First round

Thursday, March 21 Spectrum Center -- Charlotte | CHI Health Center -- Omaha | PPG Paints Arena -- Pittsburgh | Delta Center -- Salt Lake City

Friday, March 22

Barclays Center -- Brooklyn | Gainbridge Fieldhouse -- Indianapolis | FedEx Forum -- Memphis | Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena -- Spokane

Second round

Saturday, March 23 Spectrum Center -- Charlotte | CHI Health Center -- Omaha | PPG Paints Arena -- Pittsburgh | Delta Center -- Salt Lake City

Sunday, March 19

Thursday, March 28 Crypto.com Arena -- Los Angeles (Game 1, Game 3) | TD Garden -- Boston (Game 2, Game 4) * Tip time may be delayed if prior game at site ends late

Friday, March 29 American Airlines Center -- Dallas (Game 1, Game 3) | Little Caesars Arena -- Detroit (Game 2, Game 4)

Elite Eight

Saturday, March 30 TD Garden -- Boston (Game 1) | Crypto.com Arena -- Los Angeles (Game 2)

Sunday, March 31 -- 2:20 p.m. start Little Caesars Arena -- Detroit (Game 1) | American Airlines Center -- Dallas (Game 2)

Saturday, April 6 State Farm Stadium -- Glendale, Arizona

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Here is the schedule for 2024 March Madness, which started with Selection Sunday on March 17. The NCAA tournament continues with the national championship game between No. 1 UConn and No. 1 Purdue at 9:20 p.m. ET on Monday, April 8 on TBS/TNT/truTV .

You can get a printable 2024 NCAA bracket here .

Here is the game-by-game schedule for the 2024 men's tournament, including TV networks. Click or tap on each game to be taken to the live streams.

2024 NCAA tournament schedule, scores, highlights

Monday, April 8 (National championship game)

• (1) UConn vs. (1) Purdue | 9:20 p.m. ET | TBS/TNT/truTV

Tuesday, March 19 (First Four in Dayton, Ohio)

• (16) Wagner 71 , (16) Howard 68
• (10) Colorado State 67 , (10) Virginia 42

Wednesday, March 20 (First Four in Dayton, Ohio)

• (16) Grambling 88 , (16) Montana State 81
• (10) Colorado 60 , (10) Boise State 53

Thursday, March 21 (Round of 64)

• (9) Michigan State 66 , (8) Mississippi State 51
• (11) Duquesne 71 , (6) BYU 67
• (3) Creighton 77 , (14) Akron 60
• (2) Arizona 85 , (15) Long Beach State 65
• (1) North Carolina 90 , (16) Wagner 61
• (3) Illinois 85 , (14) Morehead State 69
• (11) Oregon 87 , (6) South Carolina 73
• (7) Dayton 63 , (10) Nevada 60
• (7) Texas 56 , (10) Colorado State 44
• (14) Oakland 80 , (3) Kentucky 76
• (5) Gonzaga 86 , (12) McNeese 65
• (2) Iowa State 82 , (15) South Dakota State 65
• (2) Tennessee 83 ,   (15) Saint Peter's 49
• (7) Washington State 66 , (10) Drake 61
• ( 11) NC State 80 , (6) Texas Tech 67
• (4) Kansas 93 , (13) Samford 89

Friday, March 22 (Round of 64)

• (3) Baylor 92 ,   (14) Colgate 67
• (9) Northwestern 77 , (8) Florida Atlantic 65  (OT)
• (5) San Diego State 69 , (12) UAB 65
• (2) Marquette 87 ,   (15) Western Kentucky 69
• (1) UConn 91 , (16) Stetson 52
• (6) Clemson 77 , (11) New Mexico 56
• (10) Colorado 102 , (7) Florida 100   
• (13) Yale 78 , (4) Auburn 76 
• (9) Texas A&M 98 , (8) Nebraska 83
• (4) Duke 64 , (13) Vermont 47
• (1) Purdue 78 , (16) Grambling 50
• (4) Alabama 109 , (13) College of Charleston 96
• (1) Houston 86 , (16) Longwood 46
• (12) James Madison 72 , (5) Wisconsin 61
• (8) Utah State 88 , (9) TCU 72 
• (12) Grand Canyon 77 , (5) Saint Mary's 66

Saturday, March 23 (Round of 32)

• (2) Arizona 78,  (7) Dayton 68
• (5) Gonzaga 89 , (4) Kansas 68
• (1) North Carolina 85 , (9) Michigan State 69
• (2) Iowa State 67 , (7) Washington State 56
• (11) NC State 79 , (14) Oakland 73
• (2) Tennessee 62 , (7) Texas 58
• (3) Illinois 89 , (11) Duquesne 63 
• (3) Creighton 86 , (11) Oregon 73 (2OT)

Sunday, March 24 (Round of 32)

• (2) Marquette 81,  (10) Colorado 77
• (1) Purdue 106,  (8) Utah State 67
• (4) Duke 93 , (12) James Madison 55 
• (6) Clemson 72 , (3) Baylor 64
• (4) Alabama 72 , (12) Grand Canyon 61
• (1) UConn 75 , (9) Northwestern 58
• (1) Houston 100 , (9) Texas A&M 95 (OT)
• (5) San Diego State 85 , (13) Yale 57 

Thursday, March 28 (Sweet 16)

• (6) Clemson 77 , (2) Arizona 72
• (1) UConn 82 , (5) San Diego State 52
• (4) Alabama 89 , (1) North Carolina 87
• (3) Illinois 72 , (2) Iowa State 69

Friday, March 29 (Sweet 16)

• (11) NC State 66 , (2) Marquette 58
• (1) Purdue 80 , (5) Gonzaga 68
• (4) Duke 54 , (1) Houston 51
• (2) Tennessee 82 , (3) Creighton 75

Saturday, March 30 (Elite Eight)

• (1) UConn 77 , (3) Illinois 52
• (4) Alabama 89 , (6) Clemson 82

Sunday, March 31 (Elite Eight)

• (1) Purdue 72 , (2) Tennessee 66
• (11) NC State 76 , (4) Duke 64

Saturday, April 6 (Final Four)

• (1) Purdue 63 , (11) NC State 50
• (1) UConn 86 , (4) Alabama 72

• Selection Sunday: 6 p.m. ET Sunday, March 17 on CBS
• First Four: March 19-20
• First round: March 21-22
• Second round: March 23-24 
• Sweet 16: March 28-29 
• Elite Eight: March 30-31 
• Final Four: Saturday, April 6 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
• NCAA championship game: Monday, April 8 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

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2023 Tour Divide: Who to Follow?!

Previous Dispatch From Thu Jun 8, 2023

Marketa Marvanova Wins Women’s 2023 Trans Balkan Race

As we approach tomorrow’s grand depart of the 2023 Tour Divide, we get to speculate about who might be the frontrunners, which is always a fun part of this race because it brings so many different cyclists with varied backgrounds to Banff. This year is no exception, with some of the best athletes in the ultra-endurance realm soon to toe the line. In our latest video, Neil discusses a list riders he anticipates being at the front of the pack…

Photos by Eddie Clark from 2022 Tour Divide coverage except where noted

Back in 2015, Mike Hall did a great job making a list of folks to watch at the front of the Tour Divide, so we’re going to make a similar list to highlight some notable names and historically fast racers. It’s the least we can do to pay tribute to the late ultra-endurance athlete and current record holder of the Tour Divide. Watch the video below and scroll down for a written summary…

For those unaware, the Tour Divide is a self-supported race that follows the 2,700-mile Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, which starts in Banff, Alberta, Canada, and finishes in Antelope Wells, New Mexico, on the US/Mexico border.

As we inch closer to the Grand Depart, which is the 2nd Friday of June every year, we get to speculate about who might be the front runners; It’s the fun part of this race because it brings so many different cyclists with varied backgrounds to Banff. This year is no exception, with some of the best athletes in the ultra-endurance realm soon to toe the line. There are some high-level ex-pro road racers turned gravel aficionados, veterans who have tackled the Tour Divide many times, and undoubtedly, we will see some new folks make a mark on what’s arguably the most challenging bikepacking race out there.

I’m most looking forward to watching the women’s race this year simply because some powerful and fast women are lining up. Let’s start with a few veterans…

Lael Wilcox

Lael is a highly decorated ultra-endurance athlete who currently holds the woman’s record of 15 days, 10 hours, and 59 minutes is lining up again. While Lael didn’t set a goal for a finish time, she did say, “weather depends – as fast as I can,” and knowing Lael, she is gunning for an overall win, not just besting her own woman’s record. Lael took a warm-up ride from the Arizona/Mexico Border to Banff. Follow Lael on Instagram here .

Alexandra Houchin

Marie-Soleil Blais

Another woman to watch is a Canadian pro road cyclist Marie-Soleil Blais. Marie is a rookie lining up for the grand depart, but she pedaled the GDMBR last year, finishing in 28 days, so she knows the route and the many unique challenges that come with it. She was even in Colorado last month, bikepacking in the snow and getting acclimated to the higher elevations of the race. Marie has set a goal finish time of 18 days, but don’t be surprised if you see her name in front of the pack. The question remains: can she keep it up over the course of two-plus weeks? Follow Marie-Soleil on Instagram here .

The men’s race has a mix of ultra-endurance enthusiasts, World Tour pro racers, and highly regarded gravel racers. It’s going to be an exciting race to follow. Again, let’s start with some veterans.

Andrew Kulmatiski

Let’s start with Andrew Kulmatiski from Logan, Utah. I don’t think anyone has worked harder to try and accomplish the 200-miles-a-day that it will take to beat Mike Hall’s record of 13 days, 22 hours, and 51 minutes. While there may be faster riders lining up, Andrew has ridden in Tour Divide many times, putting 10,000+ miles into the event. He knows the route, knows the climbs, and knows what it takes to complete hundreds of miles a day, which could not only set him up for a Tour Divide win but also a course record. Follow Andrew on Facebook here .

Steve Halligan

Ulrich Bartholmoes

Since 2019, the German has had a great deal of success in ultra-endurance bikepacking events, taking on 19 events and winning 14. Ulrich has the legs for the Tour Divide, and despite being a rookie, he might be the most well-prepared rookie in the field. Ulrich recently finished the Unbound XL in third place while dealing with several mechanical issues. It would be no surprise to see Ulrich right at the front in his first Tour Divide. Follow Ulrich on Instagram here .

Justinas Leveika

Justinas Leveika is another rookie with ultra-endurance experience. The Norwegian has had many recent successes, including wins at the Race Across Rwanda and the Dales Divide, and second place in the Atlas Mountain Race this year. While I’ll be doing another post analyzing rigs of the Tour Divide next week, it’s safe to say that Justinas’ rig is pretty darn minimal. Follow Justinas on Instagram here .

Retiring from road racing last year, 35-year-old Howes also saw success in the gravel race scene with wins at SBTGravel in 2021 and other high ranks in competitive races. While Alex has a limited amount of experience in ultra-endurance events, his time on the pro-circuit should set him up for success in riding long days over two weeks. Plus, he is no stranger to foul mountain weather, which is a big part of the Tour Divide. Follow Alex on Instagram here .

The beauty of the Tour Divide is that it’s so long, challenging, and demanding that anything can happen. The fastest riders rarely win. Instead, it’s the strong-willed, consistent riders who ride day after day who tend to get to Antelope Wells the fastest.

With that, I would love to hear from you all. Who are you rooting for? And if you think I forgot someone, please leave it in the comments below. Good luck to everyone. Be smart, be safe, and ride fast!

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About Tour Divide

Tour divide is a ultra-cycling challenge to pedal solo and self-supported the length of great divide mountain bike route...as fast as possible().

In This Section:

Time-trial season on the Great Divide Route begins annually with Grand Départs, occurring approximately 2nd weekend in June from both termini of the Route. The goal of these Solstice common starts is for athletes to challenge the Route in situ , under similar weather conditions and maximum daylight. If one cannot make a grand départ, there is a season-long ITT-Divide format to contend. Tour Divide requires no entry fee or formal registration. There is no prizing for finishing. A toll-free phone number with voice mail is provided to all riders for field reporting. Voice messages are podcast on the Race Updates blog. Riders who carry SPOT GPS Messengers are tracked via the Live tracker .

"A venturesome minority will always be eager to set off on their own, and no obstacles should be placed in their path; let them take risks, for godsake, let them get lost, sunburnt, stranded, drowned, eaten by bears, buried alive under avalanches – that is the right and privilege of any free American." –Ed Abbey