In the previous Newsletter we focused on Solo RAAM. This time around we'll look at Team RAAM. Team racing is the fastest growing component of RAAM.

The big story in team racing this year would seem to be the all out attack on two important records - the 2-person overall record set in 2006 by BodyXchange/Garden Pathways (USA) (19.58 mph over a 3,043-mile course) and the 4-person overall record set in 2004 by Action Sports (USA) (23.06 mph over a 2,959-mile course). Both records have been targeted for several years. One record fell and one did not.

But, there are other great stories, including 6 record breaking performances. Three of this year's racers achieved major milestones - two joined the group of riders who have raced in all four divisions (Solo, 2p, 4p and 8p) and one became the only rider to hold 5 RAAM records. There are other stories as well, including teams overcoming major obstacles, great team battles and the presence of a host of high profile athletes.

A Brief History of Team Racing

The first teams to race RAAM were 4 faired recumbents (HPVs) in 1989. But, team racing was not formally introduced until 1992. The first 4-person team raced in 1992; the first 2-person team raced in 1997; and the first 8-person team raced in 2003. Team racing has become very popular.

Teams have higher finish rates and the bigger the team, the more likely they are to finish. The historical Solo finish rate is 59%, 2p teams 80%, 4p teams 95% and 8p teams 99%. On the other hand, the larger the team, the more difficult it is to get the team to the start line. The race presents unique challenges for both solo and team racers and crews. Serious problems for solo racers can knock them out of the race, while teams can make adjustments, keep moving forward and finish the race.

As team racing matures, the racers and crews are becoming increasingly more knowledgeable with respect to logistics and race strategy. As a result more and more teams are getting things dialed in and speeds are going up. Established records are being broken with increasing frequency.

Team racing has become an increasingly important aspect of RAAM. Today teams comprise approximately 50% of the race entries and 80% of total race participation.

The 2014 Team Races

Solos and teams may experience dramatically different weather owing to there being several days difference in their start times. But, this year solos and teams had more or less similar conditions. Temperatures in the Desert SW were hot, but weather conditions overall were ideal for racing.

2-Person Teams.This year equaled our largest 2p team field - both 2007 and 2014 had 13 teams. This year the field was extremely competitive. Nine countries were represented in the 2p division (Austria, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and USA).

Several teams were aiming for the BodyXchange/Garden Pathways record - Heinemann XP Team (Axel Fehlau and Anders Asberg) (Germany), Biking Vikings (Hans Nygaard and Michael Ebsen) (Denmark) and Flying Cyclasana Beasts (Joel Sothern and Kurt Searvogel) (USA). Heinemann and the Vikings were racing in the under 50 age group while Cyclasana was racing in the 50-59 age group, but you wouldn't know there was a difference. Cyclasana led most of the way to Colorado. The Vikings were the first into Durango, held their lead across the Rockies, into Trinidad and out onto the Plains. But, as they approached Kansas, they encountered problems and retired from the Race. Cyclasana held the lead most of the way from there to Mt. Airy. Three minutes separated Cyclasana and Heinemann at Mt. Airy. But, Heinemann pulled out the win.

The Vikings, Cyclasana and Heinemann were all on pace to break the 2P record. While the Vikings pulled out, both Cyclasana and Heinnemann broke the overall 2P record, and both ended up setting records - Heinemann set the under 50 age group and overall record at 19.65 mph and Cyclasana set the 50-59 record at 19.59 mph. It's only a matter of time before someone breaks the 20 mph barrier.

This was Joel Sothern's 5th RAAM and his 5th record setting effort. He is the first person in RAAM history to set 5 different records - 4p male 60-69 (2010), 2p male 60-69 (2011), 2p mixed under 50 (2012), 2p mixed 50-59 (2013) and 2p male 50-59 (2014). Sothern actually held all 5 records ... briefly. Equipe Hubert Schwarz 60+ crossed the finish line 4h:24m after Cyclasana, breaking Sothern's 4p male 60-69 record.

UltraHandbikeDuo (Thomas Fruehwirth and Manfred Putz) (Austria) finished with an average speed of 15.61 mph. That surpassed the overall handcycle record of 14.91 mph established in 2009 by the 4p Team Can Be Venture (USA/Germany).

In the under 50 age group Friends of Freedom (USA) placed second with 18.66 mph and Data Techniques powered by Networks Centre (UK) third with 18.37 mph. In the 50-59 age group Team CANAM (Canada) placed second with 16.74 mph and Cykelmagneten Sweden (Sweden) third with 14.97 mph.

The 2-person mixed team, Father/Daughter (Beny and Corrine Furrer) (Switzerland), overcame difficulties to win the under 50 mixed division with an average speed of 15.32 mph. Beny Furrer lost his arm in a motorcycle accident many years ago. Furrer is a 3-time RAAM vet, finishing Solo RAAM in 2003. This year their follow vehicle was hit from behind by a truck in Columbus, Indiana. The impact pushed their vehicle into the rider - Beny's daughter Corrine - injuring her. Two crew members were injured as well. Fortunately, the injuries turned out to be minor and they completed the race. Team Albers benefitting NFFF (USA) came in second with 14.45 mph.

4-Person Teams. The 4p division typically draws the biggest race filed - this year was no exception with 29 teams from 10 different countries (Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, UK and USA).

In the under 50 age group Legends of the Road (Dave Zabriskie, Dave Mirra, Ben Bostrom and Micky Dymond) (USA) and Innovation Africa (Kurt Broadhag, Andre Gonzales, Tony Restuccia and Chris DeMarchi) (USA) fought an epic battle in their quest to break the 2004 Action Sports record. Both teams were very strong. Zabriskie, a recently retired professional bike racer, was the first American to win stages in all 3 European Grand Tours; Mirra is the most decorated X Games athlete of all time; Bostrom is an AMA Superbike, Supermoto and Supersport champion who, after retiring from professional motorcycle racing, became a professional MTB racer; and Micky Dymond is a 2-time AMA professional motocross champion and one of the pioneers of motocross freestyle. All four Innovation Africa riders are experienced road cyclists - DeMarchi and Rusticcia are both Cat 1 racers and Broadhag and Gonzales are both Cat 2 racers. The competitive spirit runs deep!

Early in the race lead changes were frequent. By the time the teams reached Utah, Legends had settled into first. They held onto their lead for most of the remainder of the race, although the two teams were never far apart - at the half-way point they were 37 minutes apart, 31 minutes at the Mississippi River, 9 minutes at Athens where the Appalachian climbing begins, 7 minutes going into the Cumberland to Hancock section and 56 minutes at Mt. Airy. Legends ended up winning with a speed of 22.93 mph. Innovation Africa was second with 22.74 and 4athletes powered by Stenger Bike (Peter Smeets, Fredrik Fuest, Frank Vytrisal and Robert Dicks) (Germany) third at 22.47 mph.

The 2004 Action Sports record remains intact ... for now. Comparing times and distances, Legends and Innovation Africa were in a virtual dead heat with Action Sports. Legends, Innovation Africa and Stenger Bike are all capable of beating the 2004 Action Sports record.

In the 50-59 category Heilbronn (Edwin Schlaegel, Reiner Fritz, Erwin Bootsmann and Erwin Hickl) (Germany) finished first with 20.54 mph, followed by Forever Ghost (Stephan Loew, Ralph Zimmermann, Markus Imhof and Thomas Dommermuth) (Germany) 20.13 mph and Make it Happen (Dennis Mizerski, Andy Dickison, Mark Herbst and Paul Millar) (Canada) 19.53 mph.

Equipe Hubert Schwarz 60+ (Hubert Schwarz, Janusz Piatkowski, Hans Schuhbauer and Hans Glatt) (Germany) won the 60-69 category and established a new record - 19.08 mph.

Hubert Schwarz (Germany) and Paul Millar (Canada) join Kirk Gentle (USA) in being the only 3 riders who have raced and finished in all 4 divisions - solo, 2p, 4p and 8p.

Crataegutt Seniors (Austria) won the 70-74 category with 17.57 mph.

Two all-female teams, Team Phenomenal Hope (Anne-Marie Anderson, Patricia George, Ryanne Palermo and Stacie Truszkowski)(USA) and HausInvest - German Frauleins (Kerstin Feist, Kathrin Schlieter, Genia Schaeferhoff and Anika Schmidt) (Germany) put on a great show. Over the first 2,300 miles the lead changed many times. The two teams were never more than 30 minutes apart. Coming into Athens, Ohio the Frauleins began to increase their lead. The Frauleins finished with an average speed of 17.48 mph and Phenomenal Hope with 17.23.

Stand Up 2 Cancer/BMS (USA) won the 4p under 50 Mixed division with a speed of 21.17 mph. Team Skipper won the 4p 50-59 Mixed division with 18.06 mph and Fuzzy's Friends the 4p 70-74 Mixed division with 14.5 mph. Both Stand Up 2 Cancer and Fuzzy's Friends are new records.

8-Person Teams.The 8p division is always fascinating in its diversity and many great stories. This year the 8p team division was won by Intrepid Fallen Heroes (USA) with a speed of 21.27 mph, followed by Team Exede By ViaSat (USA) with 20.53 mph and Georgia Chain Gang (USA) with 20.10 mph.

Intrepid Fallen Heroes - 8 New Yorkers - used RAAM to raise over $650,000 for veterans with Traumatic Brain Injuries. Perennial participant ViaSat changed its approach to the race. After achieving their goal of setting the 8p record in 2012, they took a year off, re-focused on putting together a competitive all-employee team, and returned in 2014 to take 2nd place. Jerome Rossetti of Georgia Chain Gang made a marriage proposal to team mate Lisa Wilson on stage after finishing this year's race - she accepted. Congratulations! Although participants come from all over the world, and fans from over 100 countries followed this year's race, local teams are always in the mix. This year Team Friends Foundation - all Annapolis residents - raced and raised money for those in need through 4 charity partners - Boys & Girls Clubs of Annapolis, The Light House, The Summit School and the Anne Arundel Medical Center Foundation.

The Michael Matthews Foundation (UK) was comprised of a Swede, a Frenchman and 6 Britons, including Pippa and James Middleton, siblings of Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge. The Foundation was started by James Matthews in honor of his brother Michael, who in 1990 after becoming the youngest Briton to have summited Mt. Everest, lost his life on the descent. The high profile group of friends participates in challenging events worldwide to raise money to fund education for disadvantaged children. According to their website, their next project is the Bosphorus Cross Continental Race - a 6.5km swim from Asia to Europe. We wish them the best of luck.

The Mogliano Hill Fighters (Sweden) is comprised of 2 Swedes, 4 Britons and 2 Americans. Both of the Americans are well-known to RAAM management as they are friends and fellow Boulder residents. Ryan Van Duzer is a popular TV personality and Michael Brown a well-known adventure film maker.

Congratulations to all of the 2014 Team RAAM finishers and their support crews.

If you missed it, click here to read the 2014 Race Recap - Part 1 of 4 (The Solo Race).

Part 3 (Race Across the West) and Part 4 (Awards) are coming soon.