Does anyone remember the milage difference between the two routes. I'm not seeing the green line when i load up trackleaders on my old ipod. Thanks guys.

the bypass is about only 2.2 miles shorter but it's a climb going into leadville.
the biggest difference is just bypassing all the tourist traffic in leadville and on hwy 24 leaving leadville.

Scott,
Any chance you could add the Leadville bypass to the trackleaders map?  Just so the folks who choose to use the bypass don't end up getting their phone blown up by all their friends who think they have gone off course.
I've drawn it out in ridewithgps so you can download the gpx here https://ridewithgps.com/routes/15271087

thanks.

could TS be taking alternate routes to avoid common tracking/photo op spots as to not blow his pseudonym?

I think it's this is a valid issue that is worth discussion (not argument, but discussion).
If we were to ask past winners of these races what the leading reasons are why we may never see them race these races again, the leading reason will likely be because the amount of damage that the sleep deprivation required to actually 'compete' in these races does to their bodies eventually forces their decision to stop racing at that level (and once they no longer race at the level they once did, they fall out of the sport altogether).
I would be really interested to hear the input of some of the elite level competitors who have put their bodies through the level of destruction required to actually win one of these events and had negative effects from it.  I am sure it would be a 2 edged sword for them.  On one hand, I can imagine they would want to see some of these races start to migrate towards a format that is more sustainable/healthy for the elite racers.  On the other hand, though, I'm sure they would be a little sad to see the sport lose one of the elements that had drawn them to the challenge/addiction in the first place.
I don't think the idea of a mandatory rest period would hamper racing strategies, as suggested by others.  I think it would add another dynamic, as riders could choose when and where they wanted to sleep.  One rider could choose to sleep in the heat of the day to escape the desert sun and ride through the cool night, or he could choose to ride all day and sleep at night.  It would also be interesting to see if the leaders(who's bikes are increasingly looking more and more like that of day riders) would start carrying more sleeping gear like everyone else if they were forced to have those stop periods.
There are also a lot of exceptions that the moderator of any race could choose for his/her race, such as not requiring rest in the last 24 hours so long as a racer had a rest period within 32 or 48 hours of the finish. (yeah I know everyone hates rules and complexity.  Don't shoot me though, I am simply suggesting how a race of this format could still allow that big finish line push).  Another option could be that 4 hours of 'rest time' be added to your time regardless of if you stopped or not.  Then crazy people can still be crazy and ride 4 days without stopping if they want, but the race format would not be encouraging it.
I do not think that the proper way to address this idea is to shove it down peoples throats.  I think the best thing would be to gain support from other racers who are interested in racing this format of race and start opening the dialog with race organizers to see if any of them would be willing to implement this format into their race to see how it works and get feedback from the racers after the race.
There is clearly a great deal of support for the current format of these races, so it would be difficult to 'force' a change across the board.  But if a race organizer were to feel compelled that this is a change that could help support the health and sustainability of the race and its racers, he could certainly make the changes to his race and get the valuable feedback from the elite level of racers on whether the change was effective to increase the sustainability of the race as well as maintaining the same challenge/appeal that drew them to the race in the first place.
To sum it up, I am not saying this sport is at fault or that this is something that some great powers in charge of the sport need to enforce.  I am simply saying that this topic has merit that is worth actually discussing and not just throwing stones at.  It is a topic that I think race organizers should consider whether or not it would benefit the sustainability of their race.

I'm really rooting for Jack Mahler.
What an incredible feat it would be for someone to finish either azt race on a unicycle!
There's no doubt that he holds the record so far just getting as far as he has.
Hopefully he isn't too disheartened by sections like oracle ridge (which I can't even fathom any part being ride-able on a unicycle) and makes it to the trails up north of the mogolon rim where he can shred.
Also, I really hope some of the Tucson natives will make it out to take pics/video of this guy's setup and how he rides that thing.

Anyone know when the Trackleaders site will populate with all the riders names that signed up?  Curious to see how many nutters are taking the plunge this year!

we all know you just want to size up your competition! haha

Stefan, are you adopting the rule change suggested by Scott Morris regarding no relegation for taking a car ride to receive medical attention?  I'm not racing this year but thought it was worth mentioning if it could help others make the right choices out on the trail.

I feel there will be a new course record this year.....With this stacked lineup and the lingering effect of the new TD 2015 record....There will be some fast times.....its gonna be so good!!!!!

I wonder if they will drive each other into DNF via pushing too hard.  This will be interesting to see how long they can all red line without popping.

I placed well in the arizona trail race using aero bars.  Any trail that long is bound to have many sections that are smooth enough to ride in aero bars for comfort.  I would probably use aero bars on the ctr if I did it again too.
so does that mean that neither of those are mtb races?

I want whatever was in Kato's pie at pie town... that third slice did the trick.
It's funny how all the talk was about how Josh couldn't sleep early last night and make up the gap today.... and now he has made up that gap but from ahead instead of behind.  Amazing effort on everyone's part.

ohhhhhh i did not know this.....so a potential lineup is Jefe, NB, JP, Jesse J, and those above....im sure i'm forgetting some other big names..but YIKES that'll be a showdown like no other.....

Can't forget Kurt.
that lineup will likely push each other into depths of pain that no one else would ever want to explore.

#TourDivide15 - Josh Kato called in from Pie Town!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td15/

I need a transcriber... can't make out a lot of what he's saying....  what's up with the record quality? is it his cell reception?

I have to agree with earlier comments about no 'hand-holding' to the finish for Jay.  I doubt that's going to happen with a record on the line.  I'm surprised he has been 'holding hands' (using his own words) with Neil so much, anyway, after his 'eagles soar alone' commentary in years past.

Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer!  only way to know he isn't planning some kind of sneak attack is to be riding next to him.
One has to imagine a little company out there has to be good for the sanity too.

Just wanted to throw this out there.
I'm not a Salsa owner or in any way associated, but I am an engineer.
You can't thread carbon.  In order to have threaded BB in a carbon frame, they have to epoxy a chunk of metal to the carbon so that chunk of metal can be threaded..... which has it's own set of difficulties.
It just makes sense for a frame manufacturer to make a carbon frame with pressed BB rather than spending the time and resources dealing with trying to glue and machine a threaded insert into the frame.  Especially a manufacturer small enough to devote their time to developing a bike for a race that only has a little over 100 people toe the line!  It allows them to focus on their geometry and layup and trust that the BB manufacturers will do their homework.
And if they were to have made it a threaded BB, we would probably have another group of people complaining cause they think pressed BB is better.
Now lets get back to the race.  Can't help but root for the come from behind victories!  I rode with Dylan on the AZT750 until he left me in the dust, so I know that dude has some good after burners if he puts them on in time.

In hotel room--Achilles is now 'squeaky' and bumpy as well as swollen
Any way it could improve? Ice elevation as we speak
Any other suggestions?

Make sure your saddle isn't too high.  Try lowering it just a hair to eliminate subconsciously wanting to tippy-toe the pedals.  Relax the calves and let your ankles move freely as you push/pull on the pedals (constantly putting tension on the calves as if you were standing on your tippy toes will over stress the achilles).

good to see so many guys riding this one without stopping for camp.  Shout out to Scott Shirey and Rick Miller having great rides out there.  Looks like Rick took a short nap last night and was able to use that extra energy to catch back up!
Any word on what's up with Aaron Johnson's spot?

If Lael could go through Rawlins and have it still count, how come Saul Britton couldn't?

I think the difference is course "Record" vs race.
I think it was stated that she could still qualify for the route record.  No one has stated that it would still qualify as winning this year's race though(although no one has stated either way on this).  I think it should at the very least qualify as an ITT kind of record if she were to beat it.

I know it's not the official record (because of fire detours), but it would still be kind of cool to see Mike Hall's 2013 pace flag to see how his ride would stack up to the current leaders.

I'd like to raise a practical question at this juncture.

It is my understanding that the official rules of the Tour Divide (as much as an event of this sort can actually have official rules) state that there is to be no support for the riders. It is also my understanding that this has historically been interpreted quite strictly by the elite riders who are truly racing to win as "you can't even talk to a loved one on the phone".

My impression is that the elite racers who hope to win the race still hold to it, but that for most riders this whole event is much more about fun and enjoyment than about the podium (which doesn't actually exist). In the end winning this event is all about personal pride, sportsmanship and bragging rights, correct?

How many people truly care if the first to finish was communicating with loved ones during the event or not?
What is the current state of this rule and interpretation?

There is no double standard.  Everyone is expected to ride the ride in a manner that respects all the rules of the ride.
With that said, there are certain people who have ideology of what their own idea of self supported is and choose to hold themselves to a higher standard for the sake of their own experience.
I don't think anyone thinks it would be reasonable to expect a rider to be out on the course for 2-4 weeks without checking in with the loves ones at home.  In fact, it would be extremely unfair to the loved ones at home to not allow racers to check in to make sure their wife/husbands/kids at home were doing ok.  For instance, there could be situations where a rider would need to quit to ride to get home if something serious were to happen back home.

curious.  would Lina Rice be the youngest person to take on this race?
also, is the JayP record pace flag his actual location at this point in the race from the past, or is it a constant line that always moves at a constant pace of his average speed across the route?

looks tempting.
time splits for sections can be taken from track leaders last year : http://trackleaders.com/blackhills14
Dylan Taylor is a strong rider, so I can tell from his splits that this route must be fairly hard.