Race Across AMerica (RAAM) update

[Mark Longwell]

I know long distance riding is not a favorite past time of this group, but this years RAAM race for solos is unbelievable. After 2600 miles, the two leaders- Jure Robic (4 time RAAM winner) and Daniel Wyss (1 time RAAM winner) are TWO minutes - yes TWO minutes apart on the road with just a little over 400 miles to go- most of over the Appalachians in WV and western MD.

Robic actually has one hour in penalties- which are added on at the end- so he needs to gain an hour on the road over 400 miles.

To follow on line go to http://www.raceacrossamerica.org/raam/r ... _Year_ID=2

ETA at the finish line is 8 PM or so on Thursday evening. Basically 8 1/2 days to do over 3000 miles- and averaging (including rest stops) OVER 15 mph.....

[RPerson]

Ed Kross has been giving me updates daily at work... he's glued to it Very exciting (and totally insane) stuff.

[Jeffrey Scornavacca]

Thanks Mark. Truly the hardest race in the world.

[Mark Longwell]

224 miles to go- Robic twelve minutes ahead of Wyss on time right now- but a net 48 minutes down due to one hour of penalties.....
However, he is riding faster now. Can he make up the 48 minutes in 224 miles?
It will go right down to the wire.

Yes- I am glued to the site also:)

[Cort Cramer]

NE Masters stalwart and all around great guy Mark Suprenant (Soups) is killing it on Team Type I. Updates here: http://teamtype12007.blogspot.com/

[dtower]

I predict that Robic will not go down without a fight !!! he will probably start blowing thru more lights and raking up the penaties in a desparate attempt Win.
This is Robic's Race !
He took over this event years back !!!

DT

[Mark Longwell]

Robic now ahead by 16 minutes on the road- but down 44 due to his one hour penalty. 180 miles to go.. he has gained time..... does he have enough of a runway to beat Wyss???
Next time stop is in about 40 miles....

[Mark Longwell]

131 miles to go- same gap... Wyss held on for 49 miles.... Can Robic pull away and grab 44 minutes in the last 7-8 hours of riding??

[Mark Longwell]

93 mles to go- and Wyss has pulled ahead by 4 minutes- with the one hour penalty to Robic- he is 64 minutes ahead. I am afraid that Robic does not have the legs to gain 64 minutes in 94 miles... and Wyss will be a two time RAAM winner (last was 2006 I believe)

[dtower]

Whooopps not looking too good for Robic- unless Wyss had "spent" himself in an attempt to drop some time.

Very unlikely that Robic can gain 64 mintues in 94 miles.. BUT it could still happen.

[Mark Longwell]

Daniel Wyss is the winner- in 8 days, 5 hours and 45 minutes - an average of 15.28 mph for 3021 miles- amazing. Second fastest average speed for a crossing ( the best is 15.4 mph on a flatter route back in the early 90"s)
Robic has not finished yet- maybe when he realized he was not going to win- he pulled into a motel for a good 10 hour sleep?

[dtower]

If you can't win then go home : )

Great Race This Year !
Thanks for the updates.

Who has the most wins ever ??? Kish ? Pete P?

[Mark Longwell]

Robic- 4 wins, Kish and Fasching have three each I believe

[dtower]

I think that Danny Chew has three wins .

[Mark Longwell]

I think that Danny Chew has three wins .

I know I have none:)

[dtower]

Keep your ears open , their seems to be some unease behind the scenes

Still an incredible feat for all that competed !!!

[dtower]

Hi Mark ,
I just received some emails re the RAAM and a link over to Robic's blog site.
You can no longer access Robic's site on the RAAM site.

I also heard that Danny Chew has had issues with this years race director.
Lots of things happen behind the scenes, but as with any race it should be equally fair for all the competitors.

I will send you an email with the links .

[Mark Longwell]

Diane- got the links thanks.. Safe to say Robic is not back next year. That video makes Wyss look pretty guilt- but only if a RAAM offiicial saw him. There is an old adage in soccer (and most sports)- it is only a foul if the ref calls it.............

[dtower]

I heard from some pretty good sources that The officials were AT the red light and also near the infamous right turn down the wrong side .

I heard that the race director pretty much told Robic early on , that He wanted a different winner.

If this is the case , then it may hurt RAAM in that alot of people will not want to commit to a $10,000+ race if it is not going to be consistently fair to all riders .

The previous Race Directors have worked so hard to make RAAM more enticing. It would be a shame for this race to deteriorate