While many of us slept in our comfy beds, raw-boned RAAM cyclists began rolling into Annapolis overnight to end their coast-to-coast bike race.
Two guys who rode cross-country relay style on fixed-gear bikes were the first to arrive at the RAAM finish line on Monday at 7:46 p.m., completing the 3,000-mile journey from Oceanside, California, in 8 days and 4 hours. They're the first fixie riders to ever finish the race.
The 8-man teams of BMC Cycling and Team Type 1 were expected to follow in the wee hours of Tuesday, just 5 days after leaving Oceanside with most of the other teams last Wednesday.
Slovenian cyclist Jure Robic, seen Monday in this RAAM video clip above, is expected to arrive around noon on Tuesday; his 14 mph average speed bringing him across the finish some 18 hours ahead of David Haase and Mark Pattinson, his closest competitors. His fourth win would set a RAAM record.
[Robic finished at 2:56 p.m. Tuesday, 8 days, 23 hours and 33 minutes after leaving Oceanside. His average speed — 13.98 mph.]
Fixies
It's obvious that these RAAM cyclists are a different breed, riding for as long as possible without sleep. That isn't enough for Jeff Bauer and Kevin Kaiser, who comprise the Gran Fondo Fixie team. They explained why they ride Salsa Casseroll fixies:
“We’re taking something hard and make it harder, sort of pushing boundaries.”
For their efforts, they become the first cyclists to ever complete RAAM on fixed gear bicycles. This RAAM video was shot while they raced across Kansas a few days ago.
Spread out
A couple of solo riders also are demonstrating what it takes to be a RAAM cyclist. About a day behind Robic is Franz Preihs, who is riding with a broken collarbone. A one-armed cyclist from Switzerland, Beny Furrer, dropped out after completing 1,800 miles, according to race analyst Danny Chew.
RAAM had several starting dates, depending on the race category. Older soloists and women started last Saturday, solo riders and fixies started Sunday, and all other teams started Wednesday.
Right now, there are RAAM cyclists stretched out along the route from mid-Missouri all the way to Annapolis, a distance spanning 1,000 miles. Check the Race Animation Map.
Many will be spending a few hours at Mt. Airy Bicycles, about 55 miles from the finish. That's the penalty box, where competitors have to wait out any time they've accumulated for infractions.
A lot of RAAM news, videos and pictures are posted online at the RAAM Live Race Coverage blog.
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