Riders Set Out on the 2026 Tour Divide

The 2026 Tour Divide officially rolled out this morning from Banff, Alberta, sending 231 riders off the start line on one of the longest and most demanding ultra-endurance bikepacking events in the world.

This year’s field includes one current Fort Collins rider and two Fort Collins expatriates.

David McClelland of Fort Collins is registered for the event, although he was not appearing on Trackleaders at the time of publication. YGR has reached out to McClelland for an update.

Former Fort Collins residents Torey Lenoch and David Averill are also on the start list. Averill is racing under the Trackleaders handle “Don_Siesta_De_La_Cuneta.”

The course covers roughly 2,700 miles along the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR), tracing the spine of the Rocky Mountains through Canada and the United States before finishing at Antelope Wells, New Mexico, 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.

The Tour Divide is a self-supported event, meaning riders must carry or source everything they need along the route without outside assistance. Finishing times typically range from about two weeks for the fastest racers to more than a month for riders focused on completing the journey.

Follow along below.

David McClelland | Fort Collins, Colorado

Making his Tour Divide debut, 35-year-old David McClelland will be the lone current Fort Collins resident in this year’s field. McClelland is targeting an ambitious 21-day finish and plans to ride a custom rigid 29er equipped with flat bars and a Salsa rigid fork. His setup includes 2.3-inch Maxxis Aggressor and Recon tires, favoring simplicity and reliability for the nearly 2,700-mile route.

David Averill | Former Fort Collins Resident

Now living in southwest Colorado, 54-year-old David Averill returns to the Tour Divide after a previous attempt ended short of Antelope Wells. Racing under the Trackleaders name “Don_Siesta_De_La_Cuneta,” Averill is aiming to turn a partial finish into a successful crossing of the continent. He expects to complete the route in approximately 24 days aboard a 29-inch hardtail equipped with suspension, drop bars, and aerobars.

Torey Lenoch | Former Fort Collins Resident

Former Fort Collins rider Torey Lenoch, now based in Buena Vista, returns to the Tour Divide after an earlier attempt that ended before reaching the finish. At 53 years old, Lenoch plans to ride a rigid GoodDay bike fitted with drop bars, aerobars, and 45mm tires. He projects a 28-day finish time and has given himself up to 32 days to complete the route.