Lael Wilcox
Ultra-endurance bike rider and racer.
TOUR DIVIDE 2023
A 2,745-mile ultra-endurance bikepacking race that crosses the Rocky Mountains, from Canada to the Mexican border. Having led the women’s field for much of the race, Lael’s on track to keep her crown.
“I've been balancing a mix of racing, travelling, designing routes and setting up programs to encourage more women and girls into adventure riding. Leaving on my first cross-country trip in 2008, I thought I'd be riding for a couple of months before I moved on with my life. That was 12 years ago, and I'm more excited than I've ever been to keep riding and doing my best.
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Over the last decade, Lael has biked across both the length and breadth of the United States several times. In 2015, Lael set the women’s record for the Tour Divide which stretches from Canada to the Mexican border. Riding west to east, Lael raced the Trans Am Bike Race and made it from coast to coast in just over 18 days, securing herself the overall win in 2016.
In 2018, Lael decided she wanted to take on the outright record for the Tour Divide. With the support of her partner, filmmaker Rugile Kaladyte, she attempted the overall Tour Divide record in 2019 but was met with unprecedented weather and, like many other riders, had to stop.
Recent Adventures
Lael's kit
Lael’s kit is put through its paces as she takes on rides and races that push her to her own limits.