Words and Photos by Justin McKinley

The 2025 Tour Divide was memorable for all sorts of reasons. It was my third attempt in as many years. My first two ended before reaching Antelope Wells so when I showed up in Banff this year I knew there was 2700 miles of rugged terrain ahead of me. Every year on the Divide is different with its own challenges and rewards. This time the challenge was simply getting to the start line. The reward was the ride itself. More than ever I found myself appreciating every inch of the route.

In the months leading up to the race I created a YouTube series that documented my preparation. I shared my gear choices and training and the mindset I carried into the Divide. By the time the Grand Depart rolled out on Friday June 13 I felt ready. We already knew there would be a fire reroute through the Gila National Forest in New Mexico but the first week’s forecast looked favorable and I was eager to start clicking off miles.

Every rider’s experience on the Divide is unique but this year conditions were unusually pleasant. That gave me space to settle into the rhythm of the trail and focus on the steady work of moving forward day after day. It is hard for me to put into words what my video recap doesn’t already show but if there is one thing missing it is the compassion and kindness from people. Both the riders I shared the trail with and the people in towns along the way shaped the ride as much as the terrain. Small gestures like sharing info or encouragement on trail or strangers in remote towns offering water or a place to rest became just as meaningful as the miles themselves. The Divide is a solo effort but you are never fully alone out there.

As for the bike I don’t think I could have built a better setup. I raced on an Otso Fenrir Ti built with Wolf Tooth Components and a 100mm Fox 32 fork with drop bars, a dynamo hub powering kLite lights, and custom JPaks bags. Every detail was considered and reconsidered and two months later I still would not change a thing. I suppose another small detail is that I did it singlespeed, running 32×18 gearing.

Below is JJJJustin’s Tour Divide Recap video from his YouTube channel. If you haven’t already, take a look at his channel for great Tour Divide content, some gear talk, and tons of tips and tricks from Justin’s past attempts at the route. Huge congrats to Justin for this year’s finish!