I think 24 hours into the race is when it really begins, at least for me. The first few hours generally go like a typical gravel race, but when the sun sets & the night and the cold it brings surrounds you, another race begins. Getting to CP1 (158 miles // 12,000’) was the hardest of the entire race. My body felt as if I had just finished the race instead of just doing 1 checkpoint. My plans of riding non-stop were immediately dashed, as I needed a little time to rest before I continued into the night. I sat down and ate two entrees and took a power nap in the middle of a busy restaurant. Everyone said the first part of @acrossandes was the hardest, and they weren’t wrong. Loose, rocky and washboarded gravel was like nothing I’ve ever ridden before and I paid for it with instant fatigue. I thought my chances for a result ended at this CP, but it’s amazing what the body can do when you just give it a little break. And after an 8 hour push thru the night and finally getting service to check my Dot, I knew I was still in the fight for a top 10. 📸 @nils_laengner