Cruz Blue completed the Tour Divide, Colorado Trail, and Arizona Trail within 12 months. His time on the Tour Divide was 19 days 11 hours and 6 minutes. Despite this, he cannot claim the official Triple Crown Challenge because the rides were not in the same calendar year. He will study abroad in Italy for his senior year.
For a young rider balancing school, a strict calendar year window feels arbitrary. Completing these three trails in a rolling 12 month period is a massive effort, yet the current rules prevent official recognition based solely on the date. It feels like the spirit of the achievement is lost to a technicality.
Should the Triple Crown Challenge rule requiring all three trails in a single calendar year be reconsidered, especially for young riders with school commitments?
Since he is heading to Italy, I am curious about how different terrain affects these goals. Does moving to a new region change a rider's approach to long distance endurance goals?