2022 Grand Départ


What is a Grand Depart?
A group of bikepackers who meet to ride a predetermined route, leaving at the same time and riding in a self supported manner. There is no registration, no support, no insurance and no prizes. It is not a race or organized event. Each rider assumes complete responsibility for their own safety.
30 riders, 7 women and 23 men participated in the 2022 edition 

​Ayant l’habitude de rouler en solo, sur de moyennes distances, il y a quelque chose dans ce type d’événement de groupe qui me motive à ne surtout pas abandonner!
(Being used to riding solo, over middle distances, there is something about this type of group ride that motivates me not to give up!)
Marie-Pierre Savard, Montreal QC First Woman and new LDW FKT 3d 15h 41min

Riders rode alone, in pairs, or in small groups, it was entirely up to them. One of our goals is to make the Log Driver's Waltz and  bikepacking in general accessible and riding as a pair or small group can provide a level of comfort and security. 

​“This was the first time that I had tried to ‘race’ anything like this and for most of the time I didn’t think I could actually complete it. The amount of fun riding, climbing, problem solving and junk food crammed into 68 hours was surreal.”
Ben Hamilton, Grand Depart, 2d 19h 56min

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Fastest Known Time (FKT):
Solo:
Riders who are attempting a "Fastest Known Time" (FKT) start at the same time but must complete the ride as a solo effort. All the other rules below apply. 

Cory Ostertag, Squamish BC, 2d 1h 43min (2022) 
Current Men's FKT and 2022 Grand Depart Overall Fastest Time

Marie-Pierre Savard, Montreal QC 3d 15h 41min (2022) 
First Woman and new LDW Women's Fastest Known Time (FKT) 
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Pairs:
Within a pair riders are able to share resources, draft and otherwise support each other. Time is based on the based last of the pair to arrive. All the other rules below apply. 

There were two routes to choose from:
The Inaugural Grand Depart was on August 20, 2022 at 8:00 AM
Riders left from Equator Coffee Roasters in Almonte/Mississippi Mills, Ontario

All those who rode chose  Log Driver's Waltz (800 km). The L'EGGs Route (350 km) is worth checking out if for any reason you are looking for a shorter route.

2o22 log Driver's waltz Grand Depart 

Please see the "Recognition" pages to see how the riders made out. 

David White, Guelph, ON
David Tuttle, Brantford, ON
Marie-Pierre Savard, Montreal, QC
Alex Stephan, Toronto, ON
Ben Currie, Australia
Jen Adams, Ottawa, ON
Eric Betteridge. Ottawa, ON
Matthieu Sanscartier, Montreal, QC
Matthew Scott, Beamsville, Ontario
​Jeff Mullen, Richmond, Vermont USA
Paul McEvoy, London, ON
Theresa White, Ontario
Lee Robinson, Toronto, ON
​Zachary Rayner, Toronto, ON
​Travis Guile, Bowmanville, ON
Brad Johnson, Cobourg, ON
Cory Ostertag, Squamish, BC
Matthew Kadey, Waterloo, ON
Mike Lapcevic, Turrialba, Costa Rica
Spencer Gough, Waterloo, ON
Geoff Agnew, Ottawa, ON
​John Swarbrick, Waterloo, ON
​Yves Poirier, Apple Hill, ON
​David Campbell, Thunder Bay, ON
Justin Campbell, Thunder Bay, ON
​Phil Clarke, Grafton, ON
Dave Ebert, Pickering. ON
Laetitia Tam, Newmarket, ON
Bastien Jean, Montreal
Roger Moore, Beeton, ON
Mike Framst, Guelph, ON
Robert Lesmerises, Franconia 
Hoiy Yhon Ho, Ottawa, ON
Lucas Wilson, Newmarket, ON
Charles Jamieson, Everett, ON
Alex Garcia-Nguyen, Ottawa, ON
Emily Barrette, Ottawa, ON

2O22 L'eggs Route GRAND DEPART 

Liz Overduin

2O22 Individual Time Trials

Riders may leave at a time and point on the route of their own choosing.​​
Trevor Brown, Montreal, QC
Emily Lafleche, Kanata, ON
Carl Presseault, Gatineau, ON
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