The new re-route was 5 1/2 hours faster than going through Rawlins for the racers. There is a non-technical bypass around the rocky section. Win-Win for everyone.
If you listen to
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/calls/ , Billy Rice's is rapturing about a new section of double track that he calls the Basin Rim trail and describes as super-rocky, super-slow. I guess it refers to the miles 40-47 from Atlantic City and his description implies that it is technical.
If you look carefully to the local map (see
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/7983582 ) there is a bypass of this rim trail over the Bison-Basin Rd (TD racers will be relegated for taking this bypass).
I would prefer the reroute over the old route with a long wait at the construction site south of Rawlins. Aspen Alley is a rather overrated 0.5 mile. It is more a traditional photo opportunity.
If you alter the reroute on miles 40-47 as mathieu suggests, bypassing by continuing on Riverside and then going to Bison-Basin Road, it's almost the same distance and almost the same climbing. This reroute looks like a good choice for all riders, with the option of the Basin Rim Trail for the racers and others looking for technical terrain, and Bison-Basin Road for everybody else.
I hope to have an on-the-ground report on the reroute before I have to make the choice.
The first southbound Tour Divide racers have gotten through the new reroute from Atlantic City to the Colorado border. Turns out it's a lot faster for the racers. The section was five and a half hours faster, 11.5 hours for the Wamsutter route versus 16 hours for the Rawlins route, for Jay Petervary, the record holder and current race leader.
Possible location of a well 40 miles north of Wamsutter reported by the early racers.
Based on the TD cue sheets I think this is the location:
https://goo.gl/UEvfeGIf anyone who has actually been there could confirm that would be great.
Sounds like a good new route.
Wayne
