Tour Divide Riders Navigate Challenging Terrain Through Wyoming

The 2025 Tour Divide, a grueling long-distance cycling race that spans nearly 2,800 miles from Banff, Canada, to the Mexican border, is currently winding its way through Wyoming—one of the most rugged sections of the course, Wyoming Public Media reports.

Often described as one of the most difficult endurance cycling events in the world, the Tour Divide follows the spine of the Rocky Mountains, closely tracing the Continental Divide. Participants must self-navigate the mostly unpaved route, which includes gravel roads and remote two-tracks. Over the entire course, cyclists climb a staggering 200,000 feet in elevation.

This year’s race began on June 13 with roughly 200 cyclists. The Wyoming segment of the route takes riders through Grand Teton National Park before they ascend Union Pass into Pinedale. From there, the route continues across the expansive and desolate Red Desert before riders enter Colorado near the town of Baggs.

Leading the men’s race is Robin Gemperle, 29, of Switzerland, who is on pace to complete the course in an impressive 13 days. Lael Wilcox, 38, of Tucson, Arizona, currently leads the women’s field and is projected to finish in 14 days.

The current overall course record was set in 2024 by Justinas Leveika of Lithuania, who completed the race in 13 days, 2 hours, and 16 minutes. Before that, the record was held by the late Mike Hall of the United Kingdom, who completed the course in just under 14 days in 2016.

While elite racers compete for records, many others cycle the Tour Divide route recreationally throughout the summer. Some communities along the trail, including historic towns in Wyoming, are seeing economic benefits from the increase in bikepacking tourism, as explored in a recent episode of Modern West by Wyoming Public Radio.