Rules

Yellow highlight denotes clarifications added 7/15/09

Tour Divide is based off one guiding principle: Complete the entire GDMBR as fast as possible under your own pedal power in a self-supported fashion.

The Particulars:

1. TD is observed as one stage (clock=non-stop). To complete the route riders may resupply, rent a room or shower, etc. along the way as long as services are commercially available to all challengers, and not pre-arranged[1]. Whether doing an Individual Time Trial (ITTD) or tackling the (2nd Friday in June) Grand Départ, Tour Divide requires that every racer—from those living along the route to those living on other continents—have an equal playing field. Therefore, pre-arranged and/or outside assistance[2] with navigation, lodging or resupply (esp. receipt of supplies from a non-commercial shipper) is forbidden.
2. Racers must always ride 100% of the official ACA main Great Divide Route[3] based on the most current edition of the maps; otherwise inter/intra-year comparisons are meaningless. Previous map editions may not be used unless updated with the current ACA Addenda. At times along the GDMBR, ACA maps provide cues for alternate routes. No alternates to the main route can be used with the exception of the following TWO in NM:
   1. The 116-mile section between Cuba and Grants, New Mexico. The main route is impassable and potentially dangerous when wet, so racers have the option to follow the alternate paved route.
   2. The 40-mile section between Grants and the Pie Town road, through El Malpais National Monument. Zuni Canyon (main route south of Grants) is commonly closed for fire danger.
3. Advancing (forward) on the route by any means other than your own pedal power is strictly prohibited. No drafting behind anything with a slipstream. No hitchhiking (see 3b. exception). Any type of air scoop or umbrella sail intended to harness wind power is also prohibited.

3a. Tour Divide is a solo competition, however, riding in the company of other racers is permitted. Again, no drafting, and no collaboration on equipment or supplies; one complete backcountry kit per racer.

3b. In the event of a serious mechanical, medical, or other emergency, a racer may be randomly[4] assisted in moving backwards or directly off the route, but never forward (on route). A racer may also receive random assistance returning back to the GDMBR, however, the moment a racer rejoins the route, further forward assistance is prohibited, even if a racer has already ridden that stretch prior to leaving the route. Consider this 'penalty paid' for being assisted off or back to course. Again, assistance moving forward on the route, in any circumstance, is forbidden. 

4. Shipping/receiving supplies (on course): In the interest of equal opportunity for international racers and minimizing the TD 'footprint', challengers are encouraged to race as reliant as possible on commercial services along the route. However, in advance of a start competitors may cache items at US Post Offices only ('care of' General Delivery). Typical practice is to cache a replacement chain and fresh bike shorts at the halfway point on route.
   

   4a. Once on course, racers may be assisted (emergently) in receiving repair/replacement items to the route. Items must be shipped using a commercial shipper (USPS, UPS, Fed-Ex, DHL, etc.). Items may not be delivered privately by family, friends or even anonymous persons. Items may only be shipped to a commercial address (Post Office, hotel, bike shop, restaurant etc.), provided that address is equally available to all racers. Use of a private address (residence) along the route is forbidden. Use of the Race Updates Blog to 'broadcast' for help (conjure 'trail magic') is also forbidden.

5. GPS navigators are permitted but non-essential. Mobile phones are also permitted, however, mobile service on the GDMBR is spotty, at best (~15% of the route). Reliance on a mobile phone as a rider's sole means of outside communication is not advised. Carry a calling card.
6. Tour Divide is a web-administered, do-it-yourself challenge based on the purest of wagers: the gentlemen's agreement. Nothing to win or lose but honor. Though Divide racing may be challenged at any time, TD emphasis is on the 2nd Friday in June (southbound) Grand Départ. For this common start there is no pre-race meeting. There are no checkpoints or officials on course. Racers alone must police their conduct. Racers alone are responsible for their safety. There is no mechanism to communicate to racers once on course. Racers alone are responsible for communication with their loved ones. Updates to the blog from racer call-ins are time-delayed and not intended to affect competitor safety. GPS tracking is also not intended to ensure competitor safety. Tracking is for entertainment value and when necessary, validation of course compliance. Again, Tour Divide simply provides a web-based framework to present racer progress. This is where TD responsibility ends.
   

   6a. Relegation: Racers who complete the GDMBR within the rules are eligible for ranking in the General Classifications (GC). Ideally those who default will scratch themselves from the GC. As stated above, "TD is...a do-it-yourself challenge...racers alone must police their conduct". However, to insure the integrity of the GC, Tour Divide reserves the right to relegate a rider for confirmed rules violations. Note: A racer will not be notified of possible relegation mid-race. Not only would such a system infeasible, it would be counter to self-support modus operandi. Again, it is the sole responsibility of racers to know the rules, police themselves, and in cases of course deviation, recognize their error and correct it before proceeding on route. Note: If any racer voluntarily scratches from the GC mid-race, yet continues on to finish the GDMBR, their individual tracking page will remain online/updated for informational purposes, however, they will be removed from the group (GC) tracking map.

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Endnotes:

[1] Pre-arranged is defined as prior to the start of the race clock.

[2] Outside assistance is defined as any third party assistance in navigation or lighting and any non-commercial assistance in food resupply and/or lodging. A service is deemed 'commercial' when it is for commerce, equally available to all racers (ITT + group-starters) year after year, and preferably listed in the 'services' guide on the applicable ACA Route map.

[3] On what constitutes completion of the GDMBR, do not confuse ACA's Great Divide Registry, which requires a rider to complete 90% of the route, with Tour Divide's 100% completion standards. There is an important difference. Divide racing has a zero-tolerance policy on course deviation. Route sanctity and Self-Support are Divide racing bedrock. Whether course deviation is intentional or accidental, if it is deemed material, the result is relegation from the General Classification (see item 8. above).

[4] Random assistance with transportation off-route or back to the route would be assistance from a bystander or passerby only. A racer may not contact a person they know for direct assistance (and remained qualified for TD GC).

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"To thine own self be true"  —Hamlet