2023 RAAM & RAW REGISTRATION

CLOSES MARCH 1!

Register Here: https://www.raamrace.org/register-instructions

Four Early Season Road RQs



Here are 4 early season road RQs – these are the first 2 road RQs of the 2023 season in the USA and the first 2 of the 2023 season in Europe.

Florida 500 (Jacksonville, FL) –

February 24, 2023

Alberto Blanco (USA) - Solo RAAM finisher (2011) – is the force behind the newest RAAM Qualifier. Riders start in Jacksonville, ride south past Miami and finish in Key West, a distance of 533 miles. The roads are flat and fast – starting at sea level and finishing at sea level – with a total elevation gain of a little over 3,000 ft. Florida has perfect cycling conditions in the winter, offering the mildest winters in the Continental US. This is the first RAAM Qualifier of the North American ultra-racing season. If you are looking for an early start to the ultra-racing season, this is for you.

More information … https://sites.google.com/view/florida500?pli=1&fbclid=IwAR3RxVw6jlJ1NWUS-1H6V-yOZYNjUWYJ_8iGhzZdhQRPpwLsHoCAr3fYhCc

Longhorn 500 (Fredericksburg, TX) – April 1, 2023

The Longhorn 500 is now part of Texas Hell Week – a Texas Hill Country tradition since 1993. TXHWK is comprised of 7 days of riding - 3 different rides each day (short, medium and long) – 21 rides to choose from. There are evening seminars. The week of riding is followed by 2 ultra-races – the Stampede 200 and the Longhorn 500.

The Longhorn 500 is a 500-mile RAAM Qualifier – open to solo and tandem riders as well as 2 and 4-person teams. Riders may ride with or without a support crew. Riders may qualify for Solo RAAM with or without a support crew. However, those planning to race RAAM are encouraged to ride with a support crew. The Longhorn 500 features 4 distinct progressively shorter loops: 235.4 miles, 131.6 miles, 86.9 miles and 47.5 miles. Each loop starts and finishes at Hermann Sons Lodge.

The Stampede 200 is a “double century” - open to solo and tandem riders. Bring your friends - ride individually or as a “team”. The Stampede 200 features 2 distinct loops: 101.1 miles and 102.7 miles. Each loop starts and finishes at Hermann Sons Lodge.

Register for the Longhorn 500, Stampede 200 or Texas Hell Week. Register for either the 500 or 200 and Texas Hell Week and receive a discount.

More about Longhorn 500 … https://www.raamchallenge.com/

Race Across Paris (Chantilly, France) –

April 19, 2023

Race Across Paris is part of the “Race Across Series” – organized by 2015 Solo RAAM finisher Arnaud Manzanini. Other events include Race Across France, Race Across Belgium and Race Across UK. All four events are RAAM Qualifiers. (More about these events in future RAAM Newsletters) Additional events are in the works.

This event incorporates the best cycling routes around Paris. Participants will experience the most beautiful roads of Ile-de-France and the neighboring regions. This event features a “compact” format which will provide riders a “taste” of the 2,500km Race Across France experience. Highlights include exceptional landscapes, history and the most beautiful monuments – Champs Elysee, Place de la Concorde, Place du Louvre, Place du Trocadero and Eiffel Tower. Riders will start and finish in Chantilly, north of Paris.

Riders can choose from 3 distances – 300km (with 2,000mt elevation gain), 500km (with 3,250mt elevation gain) and 1,000km (with 6,400mt elevation gain). The event utilizes 3 loops – the first is a 300km loop heading roughly south out of Chantilly into Paris; the second is a 200km loop heading roughly northeast out of Chantilly; and the third is a roughly 500km loop encircling Paris. All 3 loops start and finish in Chantilly. The 300km riders will ride the first loop; the 500km riders will ride the first and second loop; and the 1,000km rides will ride all 3 loops.

The event is open to solo riders as well as 2 and 4-person teams. The 1,000km is a RAAM Qualifier – to qualify for Solo Race Across America, solo riders must complete the 1,000km course in 3 days (without support).

More on Race Across Paris … https://paris.raceacross.cc/en/home/

Race Across Italy (Silvi Marina, Italy) –

April 29, 2023

This year will mark the 9^th edition of the Race Across Italy. The Race has become an ultra-classic – it marks the start of the ultra-road racing season in Europe. The energy and hard work of Paolo Laureti and Francesca Attili and their team have turned the Race Across Italy into one of the most popular ultra-road races in Europe.

This year's race field includes several Solo RAAM finishers.

Riders will start April 29 from Silvi Marina on the Adriatic Sea, cross over the Apennine Mountains – the “spine” of Italy – to the Tyrennian Sea and back. The route is an elongated figure-8 . The race is 775km (490 miles) with 10500mt (36,725 ft) of elevation gain. Participants will pass through several parks in the Apennines, including 2 major national parks (Parco Nazionale Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga and Parco Nazionale d’Abruzzo Lazio e Molise) and 2 regional parks (Parco Naturale Regionale Sirente-Velino and Parco Regionale del Matese). The route includes 3 classic Giro d’Italia climbs – Campo Imperatore, Valico del Macerone and Campitello Matese.

The Race Across Italy is a member of Ultracycling Italia and participates in the Ultracycling Italian Championship (UIC). Look for more about the UIC, as well as other Italian RAAM Qualifiers – Ultracycling Dolomitica and 24hr del Montello - in future RAAM Newsletters.

The race is open to solo racers as well as 2 and 4-person teams. Solo racers and 2-person teams may race with a support crew or self-supported. Solo finishers racing with or without a support crew qualify for Solo RAAM.

In addition, there are 2 more races – RAI 300 Sprint Challenge and RAI 2020. This is a great time of year for a bike race in Italy – there is little traffic and the prices are extremely low in the coastal resort towns. You will have an unforgettable experience.

RAAM President/CEO Fred Boethling has been to Race Across Italy twice and said, “I love this race. Paolo and Francesca are wonderful. The race is incredibly diverse. The terrain is spectacular. This should be on every ultra-racer’s bucket list.”

More on Race Across Italy … https://raceacrossitaly.com/