(Updated)The Massive Sleep Deprivation on Two Wheels Race, also known as the Race Across America (RAAM), got underway Sunday.
After four days (as of 2 p.m. ET Thursday, June 23), mostly in the saddle, defending RAAM champion Jure Robic leads the 25 solo men in the race, followed by Mike Trevino just four minutes behind. Marko Baloh and Chris MacDonald, who lists Mulkiteo, Washington, as his former home, are battling for third place. Jim Trout, a racer from Seattle, is following in 16th place.
The solo racers are spread across two states from El Dorado, Kansas, (I spent the night here in 1984) back to Pagosa Springs, Colorado.
The RAAM website has lots of information about whereabouts of the teams and riders. There are stories about the youngest, Ben Couturier, and the slowest, Tom Rodgers, and how Patrick Autissier nearly pulled out in Arizona.
This 23rd RAAM covers 3,052 miles from San Diego to Atlantic City, passes through 14 states and climbs 110,000 vertical feet. The solo winner is expected to cross the finish line sometime on June 28.
In addition to the solo participants, there are two- and four-person men's, women's and mixed teams competing, as well as two mixed recumbent teams. There are four corporate teams and five “corporate challenge” teams, which ride an abbreviated race.
The current solo record holder is Pete Penseyres, who covered 3,107 miles in 8 days and 9 hours, averaging an incredible 15.4 mph. That was in 1986.
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