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Crew Playbook

LOTOJA Feed Zone Strategy

Per-feed-zone crew bag contents, vehicle routing rules, and drop bag logistics from the official 2026 race guide. Built for crews who have never done LOTOJA before, and the riders who want to make their crew's job easier.

The Bottom Line

Crews Lose 15 to 25 Minutes Across the Day. Pre-Bagging Saves Half of That.

Crew fumbling for the right gel, looking for the spare bottle, or asking "what do you want?" is the single biggest controllable time loss for ride-class finishers. A labeled drop bag for each feed zone with a written checklist eliminates ~10 minutes of cumulative fumbling. Riders chasing the 8:30 PM finish cutoff: this is where your time comes from.

The Eight Feed Zones

Four supported, four neutral-only, one finish line. Per-zone crew bag contents and tactical notes from multiple LOTOJA finishes.

Preston

Mile 29 race / 34 ride
Ride crews onlyCutoff: 10:00 AM
Crew Bag Contents
  • Two fresh bottles (sports drink + water)
  • Light gels (2 to 3) for the climb to Strawberry
  • Banana or small snack — keep it light, this is still warmup
  • Sunscreen if forecast is hot
  • Discard arm warmers if wearing them in Cache Valley
Tactical Note

Race-class riders only get neutral water here. Save your crew bag drop for Montpelier.

Strawberry

Mile ~62 race / 57 ride
Neutral onlyCutoff: 12:00 PM
Self-Sufficiency Plan
  • No crew access — self-sufficiency required
  • Available: water, Hammer Heed, Hammer Gel, Hammer Bar, Endurolytes Fizz, fruit
  • Skip the bar; the descent to Bear Lake is fast and bumpy
  • Refill bottles; grab a gel for the descent
Tactical Note

Top of the 22-mile climb. Fast descent follows immediately. Do not over-eat here.

Montpelier

Mile 81 race / 76 ride
Race crews onlyCutoff: 1:00 PM
Crew Bag Contents
  • Two fresh bottles (sports drink primary)
  • Real food: turkey sandwich, boiled red potatoes with salt and butter, rice ball
  • Caffeinated gel (1 to 2) — first dose 15-20 min before Geneva or Salt River
  • Second Beetroot Pro serving for 9+ hour finishers (mix in 12 oz plain water)
  • Electrolyte capsules if salty sweater
  • Sunscreen reapply
Tactical Note

Biggest crew interaction for race-class riders. Take the time to eat real food. The next 47 miles include two big climbs.

Salt River Pass

Mile ~111 race / 106 ride
Neutral onlyCutoff: 3:00 PM
Self-Sufficiency Plan
  • No crew access — plan ahead from Montpelier
  • Available: water, Hammer Heed, gel, bar, Endurolytes Fizz
  • Top off bottles for the 17-mile descent to Afton
  • Quick gel — the descent is fast but you need calories for Leg 4
Tactical Note

KOM at 7,630 ft, highest point on course. Photo op, then descend.

Afton

Mile 128 race / 123 ride
All crewsCutoff: 4:00 PM
Crew Bag Contents
  • Two fresh bottles
  • Second wave of real food: rice cake, second potato, half sandwich
  • Caffeinated gel for Leg 4 rollers
  • Second Beetroot Pro serving (if not taken at Montpelier) for 10+ hour finishers
  • Reapply sunscreen — Star Valley is exposed
  • Lip balm and chamois cream top-up
Tactical Note

Crew rules change here — Afton is the first all-crews feed zone. Use the extended station area if you need 3+ minutes.

Alpine

Mile 161 race / 156 ride
All crewsCutoff: 6:00 PM
Crew Bag Contents
  • Two fresh bottles
  • Final round of real food + gels for the canyon
  • Front and rear bike lights — required from 7:30 PM forward
  • Reflective vest or armband if arriving Alpine after 5:00 PM
  • Warm layer (arm warmers, light jacket) — canyon temperature drops after sunset
  • Final caffeine hit for the climb to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
Tactical Note

Last full crew interaction. Crews drive to Jackson via SR-26 if leaving 1-5 PM; canyon route is closed to vehicles in that window.

Game Creek

Mile 185 race / 180 ride
Neutral onlyCutoff: 7:30 PM
Self-Sufficiency Plan
  • No crew access — last neutral feed before finish
  • Top off one bottle; eat a final gel
  • Available: water, Hammer Heed, gel, bar
  • Quick stop only — finish is 20 miles away
Tactical Note

Final climb to Teton Village is roughly 6 miles after this. Lights on by 7:30 PM regardless of light level.

Finish: Teton Village

Mile 203 race / 208 ride
All crewsCutoff: 8:30 PM
Crew Bag Contents
  • Warm clothing: jacket, hat, dry socks (canyon descent cools the body)
  • Hot drink in a thermos: coffee, broth, or hot chocolate
  • Recovery shake or chocolate milk pre-mixed
  • Real food: pizza, sandwich, salty snacks
  • Towel and clean kit for the drive home
  • Phone charger and ice for any tweaked muscles
Tactical Note

Finish line closes at 8:30 PM. Photo at the arch, then warm up immediately — finishers cool fast.

Crew Vehicle Rules

Pulled verbatim from the official 2026 LOTOJA Cyclist Bible. Violations result in cyclist disqualification.

Vehicle ID

Rider bib + "Support Crew" + "Caution Bike Race" signs on outside windows, high and centered (self-adhesive, provided at packet pickup).

US-89 Montpelier to Afton

Closed to crew vehicles 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Race crews exit Montpelier northbound on US-30 to Soda Springs, then SR-34 to Star Valley.

Snake River Canyon

Closed to crew vehicles 1:00 to 5:00 PM. Crews leaving Alpine in that window must take SR-26 to Jackson (longer but mandatory).

Arrival timing

Be in position at least 1 hour before expected cyclist arrival. For Montpelier, race crews delay leaving Logan by 90 minutes after start to reduce congestion.

No open feeds

Crew feeding outside designated feed zones is grounds for cyclist disqualification. Only LoToJa neutral support can hand off food or water outside feed zones.

Drafting prohibited

Drafting behind neutral support vehicles after mechanical checks disqualifies the cyclist. No exceptions.

Drop Bag Protocol

For riders without crew, or for feed zones where crew can't access.

Submission window

Bags must be submitted in Logan on Friday between 1:00 and 7:00 PM at packet pickup. After 7:00 PM Friday, no drop bags accepted.

Bag requirements

Durable, tear-resistant material. No plastic bags. Clearly mark your race number and the feed zone number on the outside in large letters.

Liquid containers

Any liquid (sports drink mix, recovery drink, etc.) must be in leak-proof, non-breakable containers. Glass is prohibited.

Pickup at the finish

Bags are returned at the Jackson finish "lost and found" tent from 7:00 to 8:00 PM. Bags not picked up by 8:00 PM are discarded — set a reminder.

What to pack

Anything you would want from a crew you do not have: sandwich, real food, extra bottles, kit changes, sunscreen, lip balm, lights and reflective gear for late finishers, electrolyte capsules.

Time the Crew to the Rider

Use the LOTOJA Arrival Calculator to back-time crew arrivals to one hour before expected cyclist arrival at each feed zone. The official PDF version ships in the Cyclist Bible; the digital version below is interactive.

Open the Arrival Calculator

Feed Zone Questions

Which LOTOJA feed zones can support crews access?+
Per the official 2026 race guide, support crews are allowed at Preston (ride crews only; race riders use neutral water), Montpelier (race crews only; ride riders use neutral feed), Afton (all crews), and Alpine (all crews). The Strawberry, Salt River Pass, and Game Creek feed zones plus the ID-WY border water stop are neutral-only — no crew vehicles allowed at any of these. Plan for self-sufficiency between the supported zones, especially through the long Leg 3 climbs from Montpelier to Afton.
What food does LOTOJA neutral support provide at feed zones?+
The 2026 race guide specifies water, Hammer Heed sports drink, Hammer Gels, Hammer Bars, and Endurolytes Fizz at all neutral support areas. Bananas, oranges, and various snack foods are typically available at the manned feed zones. The neutral-only zones (Strawberry, Salt River, Game Creek) are stop-and-grab format — same fuel options but no crew interaction. Practice with these specific Hammer products during training so race day is not the first time you use them.
How should I structure my LOTOJA crew bag for each feed zone?+
Pre-bag a labeled drop for each supported feed zone (Montpelier, Afton, Alpine). Use durable, tear-resistant bags (no plastic) clearly marked with your race number and the feed zone number on the outside in large letters. Liquids must be in leak-proof non-breakable containers. Drop bags must be submitted in Logan on Friday between 1:00 and 7:00 PM at packet pickup. Pick up your bag at the Jackson finish from 7:00 to 8:00 PM; bags not collected by 8 PM are discarded.
What should be in the crew bag at each feed zone?+
Preston (ride crews): two fresh bottles, gels for the long climb to Strawberry, light real food. Montpelier (race crews): two fresh bottles, real food for substantial calories (turkey sandwich, boiled red potatoes with salt), arm warmers if cool, caffeinated gels for Geneva and Salt River, second Beetroot Pro serving for 9+ hour finishers. Afton (all crews): two bottles, second wave of real food, caffeine, sunscreen reapply, electrolyte capsules. Alpine (all crews): final big crew interaction, two bottles, gels for the canyon, lights and reflective gear if finishing late, recovery drink staged for after.
What are the crew vehicle routing rules at LOTOJA?+
Per the official race guide: crew vehicles must display rider bib numbers on outside windows along with "Support Crew" and "Caution Bike Race" signs. US-89 between Montpelier and Afton is closed to crew vehicles 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Snake River Canyon is closed to crew vehicles 1:00 to 5:00 PM — crews leaving Alpine in that window must drive to Jackson via SR-26 rather than the direct canyon route. Crew vehicles cannot drive alongside cyclists or impede traffic flow. Drafting behind neutral support vehicles after mechanical checks results in cyclist disqualification.
How long should crews spend at each LOTOJA feed zone?+
Aim for 60 seconds or less for "stop and grab" interactions at the cones lane. For longer stops involving real food, sunscreen, kit changes, or first aid, use the extended station area (clearly marked at all supported zones). The longer you spend off the bike at any feed zone, the more aggressive your post-stop pacing has to be to make the next cutoff. A typical finisher stops 4 to 6 times for 2 to 5 minutes each, losing 15 to 25 minutes total to feed zones.
How do crews time their drive between LOTOJA feed zones?+
Per the official Crew Drive Distance Schedule: full race crews drive from Logan to Montpelier (70 mi, ~90 min) but should delay 90 minutes after their cyclist start time to avoid congestion. From Montpelier to Afton is 108 mi via the mandatory northbound US-30 route (~2 hours). Afton to Alpine is 33 mi (~40 min). Alpine to Jackson finish is 73 mi via SR-26 (~90 min) if leaving in the 1-5 PM window. Use the Pacing Calculator to back-time crew arrivals to one hour before expected cyclist arrival.
What if my cyclist misses a LOTOJA cutoff time?+
Cyclists falling more than one hour behind the next cutoff should have crew at the next feed zone for pickup. The official cutoff times are: Preston 10:00 AM, Strawberry 12:00 PM, Montpelier 1:00 PM, Salt River Pass 3:00 PM, Afton 4:00 PM, Alpine 6:00 PM, Game Creek 7:30 PM, Finish 8:30 PM. The LOTOJA "sweep" vehicle follows the back of the field; if it passes your cyclist, official support is over and the crew takes responsibility. Cyclists still on course after dark need lights and reflective clothing per Wyoming state law.

The Full LOTOJA Playbook

Training plan, nutrition protocol, leg-by-leg fueling strategy, and the BRP + E360 stack timing.

Back to LOTOJA StrategyArrival Calculator

LOTOJA® is a registered trademark of LoToJa Classic. This page is an independent crew strategy resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the LoToJa Classic, USA Cycling, or the LOTOJA event organization. Feed zone access rules, cutoff times, and crew vehicle routing referenced from the official 2026 LOTOJA Cyclist Bible.