Meaghan Wins Tour Divide in Record Time
Meaghan Hackinen has done it again: This afternoon, she arrived in Antelope Well, on the Mexican border, as the first woman to finish this year’s Tour Divide, and 8th overall. This is the second time Meaghan has won the 2,700-mile bikepacking race. Her time of 14 days 10 hours 2 minutes set new records: It is one-and-a-half days faster than the previous Tour Divide ‘Grand Depart’ record—set by Meaghan in 2024—and also more than half a day faster than Austin Killips FKT (Fastest Known Time), set during an independent time trial (ITT).
The Tour Divide hugs the crest of the Rocky Mountains, North America’s highest mountain range, as it traverses the entire United States. Meaghan impressed not just with her calm, yet speedy, ride, but also with her joyous attitude. In her daily video updates, she spoke of the scenic beauty and of chance encounters on the trail. Being a day-and-a-half ahead of her previous pace, she enjoyed seeing places she rode at night in 2024, such as Indiana Pass in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, the route’s highest pass at 11,910 feet (3,630 meters). She reported: “I’m super grateful for that. It was absolutely stunning.”
Embracing the original bikepacking ethos, Meaghan often rode until her body told her to stop, then bivouacked by the side of the trail—unlike other competitors who prefer to plan stops in motels for efficiency’s sake.
Meaghan rode a Salsa Cutthroat with front suspension (100 mm travel). She set up her Rene Herse 29″x2.2″ Fleecer Ridge Endurance tires tubeless with Rene Herse Supple Sealant, and she reported no tire trouble during the many rough miles from Canada to the Mexican border.
A huge congrats, Meaghan! You are such an inspiration! Now get some rest, and then we look forward to hearing more stories from your incredible adventure.
P.S.: A big shout-out to Victor Bosoni, who won the men’s race, also setting new records—and to all the intrepid riders who are still out of the route!
Further Reading:
- Meaghan’s Instagram with daily updates from the Tour Divide
- Tour Divide Tracker
- Meaghan’s pre-Tour Divide bike check
- Meaghan’s story of winning the Silk Road Mountain Race is in the current Bicycle Quarterly (BQ 90).
