RAAM Daily Wrap-Up: Day 4

The battle heats up in the men’s race as they hit the gruelling climbs of Colorado and New Mexico.

After sweltering through boiling temperatures and getting blown by strong gusts in Monument Valley and Utah, the race headed to a pivotal point: the tough climbs of the Colorado Rockies. Through cycling landmark towns such as Durango and Cortez, both average speeds and motivation dropped as vertiginous climbs and descent took a toll on already-fatigued riders.

Many took the chance to rest in Durango, knowing there were some tough uphills ahead. For the leaders, it was then on to the the hills of New Mexico to Taos, which represents not only the 1,000-mile mark but also the finish line for the Race Across the West.

RAAM Solo
For the first time in almost two days, the lead changed hands. Early on Friday Morning, as Jure Robic snatched a few hours sleep between TS# 10 and 11, Dani Wyss put his head down and rode into first place. However, as Wyss, Baloh, Strasser and women’s leader Christiansen, now finding herself in the mix with ultra-cycling’s quickest men, all rested on the road to Durango later, Robic rode through a freezing and wet night to cement an advantage of 1h 54 minutes. It is going to take something simply super-human to beat someone who himself appears super-human at times.

Wyss takes up the challenge
It could come from 2006 RAAM winner Daniel Wyss: he is so far offering the sternest resistance to Robic. There is no way the great Slovenian champion can relax, knowing that his rival is under two hours behind. Moreover, he will be unwilling to make any more route errors – outside Durango, Robic took a wrong turning and lost more time retracing the course. This is isn’t the first time this has happened in the 2009 race either. It is a dangerous error to make in what is turning into the closest RAAM we have seen in years.

At the same time, as this enthralling solo RAAM tiptoes over the 1,000-mile mark, Wyss has to be careful to stay as close to Robic without going beyond his limits. If he blows up in a few days, he will lose hours, not just minutes.

Strasser and Baloh battling for third
A few hours back, Marko Baloh and young firebrand Christoph Strasser are swapping blows for third place. After a third of the race, it could hardly be closer, as they are separated by mere minutes. RAAM is often a veteran’s game, and it will be interesting to see how 27 year-old Strasser’s body reacts to unchartered physical territory in the coming days. So far, he has stood up to the challenge with remarkable aplomb.

Popp and Rees on the move in tightly-packed RAAM middle
As Gerhard Gulewicz and Peter Oyler sit pretty in fifth and sixth, there have been a few movers and shakers in the rest of the top ten. Riding well in the Colorado mountains, rookie and leading American racer Ben Popp shot up to seventh place, while strong Briton Jim Rees moved up from thirteenth to tenth. He is now just 17 minutes behind Julian Sanz Garcia.

In contrast, Franz Preihs tumbled down the rankings and out of the top ten. However, he should recover position again, considering he had a rest for a couple of hours before reaching Durango.

Indeed, the middle of the pack is so tightly packed. Through Time Station #14 at Durango, eighth-placed Michael Cook and fourteenth-place man Franz Preihs were separated by just five hours. There is still everything to play for as the race moves to the centre of America; let’s see what the mountains and a need for sleep do to the valiant racers.

Last man standing Bradley battles to stay in the race
RAAM is gruelling enoug without considering the elimination process. Any racer whose average speed drops below 10mph is technically eliminated at the time station he passes. Last man standing Bill Bradley is currently doing his utmost to avoid elimination. However, with the Rockies on the horizon, it looks to be an impossible task.

In the coming day, fellow back-markers Kevin Kaiser and Daniel Rudge will be battling the clock too.

Autissier abandons
Frenchman Patrick Autissier was the second RAAM solo rider to abandon. He called it quits after the ninth time station at Tuba City, Arizona. Considering he had not ridden his bike in the three weeks leading up to the race, his performance deserves great credit, battling his hardest for two days before conceding defeat. I suspected he might have problems, after his crew mentioned on their blog that he was finding sleep difficult after the opening day.

This is his last RAAM, and he is something of a veteran after competing 3 previous times: he finished 2nd in a four-man team in 2006, and nineteenth solo in 2007. Best of luck to Autissier, who has been a proud servant of the race in recent years.

Tomorrow…
For leaders Robic, Wyss and company, it’s up from Taos to the race’s highest time station, Eagle Nest, New Mexico, before some descending through Kansas to the plains. After the climbs of the previous days, this could even be an opportunity for the racers to even improve their average speeds, a timely boost. As things flatten out for the next few days, choosing opportune moments to catch valuable rest will also be crucial.

Also, in just forty minutes, the RAAM teams leave the start in Oceanside. Are records going to fall this year? Stay tuned for a wrap-up of their first day on the race tomorrow.

RAAM Solo Male Standings
1. Jure Robic (Slo) 1044.10 miles – TS# 18 – 2 day 16 hours, 10 minutes (16.27mph average)
2. Dani Wyss (Swi) 1044.10 miles – 2d 18h 04m +1 hour 54 minutes (15.80 mph)
3. Marko Baloh (Slo) 983.20 miles – TS #17h 03m (15.11mph)
4. Christoph Strasser (Aut) 934.20 miles - TS #16h 38m (15.93mph)
5. Gerhard Gulewicz (Aut) 934.20 miles – 2d 16h 31m (14.48mph)
6. Peter Oyler (Can) 884.10 miles - TS #15 - 2d 14h 44m (14.09mph)
7. Ben Popp (Usa) 814.00 miles - TS #14 - 2d 10h 42m (13.87mph)
8. Michael Cook (Usa) 814.00 miles - 2d 13h 20m (13.27mph)
9. Julian Sanz Garcia (Spa) 814.00 miles - 2d 14h 17m (13.07mph)
10. Jim Rees/Team Inspiration (Gbr) 814.00 miles - 2d 14h 34m (13.01mph)
11. Jean Marc Velez (Fra) 814.00 miles - 2d 15h 09m (12.89mph)
12. Tony O'Keeffe (Can) 814.00 miles - 2d 15h 31m (12.82mph)
13. Richard Newey (Gbr) 814.00 miles - 2d 17h 45m (12.38mph)
14. Franz Preihs (Aut) 814.00 miles - 2d 18h 05m (12.32mph)
15. Claudio Clarindo (Bra) 814.00 miles - 2d 19h 24m
16. Christopher Gottwald (Usa)/Miles for Mentoring - 769.20 miles - TS #13 - 2d 12h 11m (12.78mph)
17. Daniel Rudge (Gbr) 769.20 miles - 2d 17h 19m (11.78mph)
18. Kevin Kaiser (Usa) 719.10 miles - TS #12 - 2d 16h 23m (11.17mph)
19. Bill Bradley (Usa) 634.80 miles - TS# 10 - 2d 14h 34m (10.15mph)
DNF Patrick Autissier (Fra) 563.00 miles - TS #9 - 2d 01h 59m (11.26mph)
DNF Scott Luikart (Usa) 396.70 miles – TS #6 – 1d 04h 39m (13.85mph)

RAAM - Solo Women
Janet Christiansen continues to lead affairs in the women’s solo race. After being caught and passed by the top three leading men – she shared a friendly chat with men’s solo leader Robic on the road to Antonito, CO (TS #17) - she can boast a lead of around seven hours over Ann Wooldridge and Daniela Genovesi. The pair are very close together, and are swopping second and third places as it comes down to sleeping schedules. Genovesi had a big rest at Antonito (TS #17), averaging a touch under 5mph, so expect her to step it up over the coming twenty-four hours.

Meanwhile, the women’s race saw its first abandon. Michele Santilhano registered DNF, after the fifteenth time station at Pagosa Springs. She has endeared herself to fans and media alike with her racing attitude and smiley personality. Moreover, she kept well in touch for almost 900 miles. Hopefully the South African will be back at the RAAM in years to come.

As her lead opens up, Christiansen can afford to ride sensibly, recouping some energy as mental fatigue has an impact. The women need to put the mountains behind them and get back up to speed on the swooping downhills of Kansas.

1. Janet Christiansen (Usa) 983.20 miles – TS #17 – 3d 11h 40m (11.75mph)
2. Ann Wooldridge (Gbr) 983.20 miles – 3d 18h 15m (10.89mph)
3. Daniela Genovesi (Bra) 983.20 miles – 3d 18h 48m (10.83mph)
DNF Michele Santilhano (Bra) – 884.10 miles – TS #15 – 3d 14h 01m (10.28mph)

RAAM Solo Male 50-59
Dominique Briand is continuing to slowly extend his lead over Swiss rival Hermann Bachmann. As the route takes the pair up to Durango, he is about eight hours in front.

1. Dominique Briand (Fra) 769.20 miles – TS #13 – 2d 12h 07m (12.8mph)
2. Hermann Bachmann (Swi) 719.10 miles – TS #12 – 2d 16h 55m (11.08mph)

RAAM Solo Male 60-69
Solo 60+ male participant Paul Danhaus finally gave up his position at the geographical head of the race. After a day and a half of holding fastest woman Janet Christiansen at bay, he was passed in Pagosa Springs by Race Across the West leading male two-up RAO-GVHBikes. They were miles from their race finish, in Taos, NM. Jure Robic also roared by over the course of the day.

Danhaus has been riding with great consistency. Averaging 11.7mph, he is going faster than several men twenty years his junior.

1. Paul Danhaus (Usa) 1044.10 miles – TS #18 – 3d 17h 15m (11.70mph)

RAAM Four-Person Male
The four veterans that comprise Great Grand PAC Masters are continuing to make good time across the West. Almost 1,000 miles in and heading into New Mexico, their average speed is a touch over 14mph. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: amazing pace, amazing men.

1. Great Grand PAC Masters 934.20 miles – TS #16 - time unavailable on leaderboard

Race Across the West
The toast of the 2009 Race Across the West are the two-up teams. The first, and thus far only, RAW competitors to finish are male pair RAO-GVHBikes. However, the four-up teams and female two-up will be at the finish in the next hour or so. Indeed, over the coming twenty-four hours, almost all the competitors will cross the line in Taos after 1,044 exhausting miles.

RAW – Men’s Solo
Though the mountains are hurting, Dallas Morris continues to put time into Joe Mann. The Canadian’s average has slowed to 12mph but he’s now just 200 miles from Taos – the metaphorical home straight is just around the corner. However, he needs to keep holding off Mann, who is around four hours behind and has apparently been repeating to his crew: “I understand why firearms aren’t allowed to be carried during the race”: a timely reminder of just how draining this undertaking is.

Meanwhile, third-placed man Mike Wilson abandoned early yesterday, unable to keep going through Arizona as the climbs reared their ugly heads. Best wishes to Wilson, who rode strongly for almost two days.

1. Dallas Morris (Can) 814.00 miles – TS #14 – 2d 19h 46m (12.01mph)
2. Joe Mann (Usa) 719.10 miles – TS #12 – 2d 10h 30m (12.29mph)
DNF Mike Wilson (Usa) 491.10 miles – TS #8 – 1d 17h 50m (11.74mph)
DNFTim Richardson (Gbr) 346.30 miles – TS #5 – 1d 03h 15m (12.71mph)

RAW – Women’s Solo
The women’s race is still very tight. Leslie Holton is sounding focused on her Twitter, despite the fact her crew’s main SUV was hit by another vehicle! After suffering through Arizona, she took a well-earned rest upon entering Utah. The next day is no easier though, as the Rockies provide a tough test.

Holton leads Jennifer Swaney by around six hours. Since taking an early lead, Swaney has slowed considerably.

1. Leslie Holton (Usa) 679.50 miles – TS #11 – 2d 18h 02m (10.29mph)
2. Jennifer Swaney (Usa) 634.80 miles – TS #10 - 2d 18h 21m (9.57mph)

RAW - Men's Solo 50-59
DNF Gary Johnson (Usa) 437.90 miles - TS #7 - 1d 11h 50m (12.22mph)
DNF John Caton (Usa) 346.30 miles - TS #5 - 23h 39m (14.64mph)

RAW – Women’s Solo 50-59
DNFLinda Guerette (Usa) 232.60 miles – TS #3 – 15h 50m (14.69mph)

RAW – 2-Person Male
RAO – GVHBikes are the first champions of the 2009 Race Across the West. The pair, George Thomas and Tom Letsinger, hit the finish line in Taos, NM, at the 1,044-mile point, in 2 days 10 hours and 56 minutes. That’s a superb average of 17.72mph. A look at their time also strongly suggests that they did not sleep once. Next stop, RAAM 2010?

Meanwhile, their only rivals, Team Wisconsin, abandoned early into day one.

1. RAO – GVHBikes 1044.10 miles – TS #18 – 2d 10h 56m (17.72mph)
DNF Team Wisconsin – TS #6 – 1d 2h 14m (15.12mph)

RAW – 2-Person Female
Team Project Athena continue to roar towards Race Across the West victory in Taos. Despite slowing over the Rockies, they lead rivals Team Fitista – who have shown great resolve to fight back – by four hours with just the finish line, fifty miles away, to come.

1. Team Project Athena 983.20 miles – TS #17 – 2d 17h 58m (14.90mph)
2. Team Fitista 934.20 miles – TS #16 – 2d 16h 58m (14.28mph)

RAW – 4-Person Male
The best battle of Race of the West belongs to the two 4-person male teams. Sixty miles from the finish in Taos, Wildcats Four Brett led Bicycle John’s by just 1 hour 05 minutes. It is going to be very tight, but after pushing the pace through TS# 16 and TS#17 at Chama and Antonito, the Wildcats should have done enough to take the win.

1. Wildcats Four Brett 983.20 miles – TS #17 – 2d 17h 55m (14.92mph)
2. Bicycle’s John 983.20 miles – 2d 19h 00m (14.67mph)