Two Local Riders Set Out on the 2025 Tour Divide

Two NoCo Riders Set Out on the 2025 Tour Divide (One Scratches Before the Start)

The 2025 Tour Divide officially rolled out this morning from Banff, Alberta, sending over 230 riders off the start line on one of the longest and most demanding ultra-endurance bikepacking events in the world. The course covers roughly 2,745 miles (4,418 kilometers), tracing the length of the Rocky Mountains along the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR), and finishes at Antelope Wells on the U.S.–Mexico border. Riders face remote mountain passes, long stretches without services, desert heat, unpredictable mountain weather, wildlife encounters, and more than 200,000 feet of climbing.

Originally, three Northern Colorado riders were set to take on the challenge: Mike Neal of Bellvue (“Cookie Mike”), Mark White of Severance, and Fort Collins expat David Averill (now living in Telluride). However, Mark White did not roll out with the group Friday morning.

That leaves two NoCo riders currently on course:

Mike Neal (“Cookie Mike” owner of the Mary’s Mountain Cookies truck) — a bikepacking veteran but Tour Divide Rookie — is aboard a Specialized Epic hardtail with front suspension and 29″ wheels. Mike, 49, is targeting a finish in 18-20 days, a very aggressive pace for his debut run. You can follow Mike on IG at @maryscookietruck.

David Averill enters the Tour Divide with some unfinished business. He previously started but did not complete the route, making him a “v0.5” veteran. This year, he returns aboard a Salsa Fargo Ti with rigid fork and 29″ wheels. David, 53, is aiming for a finish time between 21 and 28 days. Follow David at @ramblingsofdaverill.

Riders are entirely self-supported and carry everything they need, handling their own repairs, resupplies, navigation, and logistics along the way. It’s not uncommon for riders to sleep just a few hours each night to stay on pace.

You can follow Mike, David, and the entire field live via the embedded Trackleaders map on YGR.
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Best of luck to Mike and David as they take on the Divide!