Kitty Goursolle (USA) opened the doors for women racers in RAAM in 1983, the second year of the race. Since then women have played an important role in the evolution of the sport. Pat Hines (USA) and Shelby Hayden-Clifton (USA) tied for the first official finish in 1984. From the mid-80's through the 90's RAAM legends Susan Notorangelo (USA), Seana Hogan (USA) and Muffy Ritz (USA) dominated the racing scene. Hogan and RItz played out one of the greatest rivalries in the sport. Both raced at record setting paces. Hogan still holds the overall record and Ritz holds the rookie record. Hogan also went on to win RAAM 6 times and most recently set the 50-59 age group record. Cassie Lowe (AUS) brought in the new millenium as the first non-American to race. It took seven more years to see the first woman  to race under a Europeon flag, Hana Ebertova (CZE). Cat Berge (SWE) raced in 2005, but as an American. Since then women from around the globe - Brazil, South Africa, England, France, Italy, Israel, Canada, Switzerland, Austria, etc. - have raced and won multiple RAAMs. The next generation of women looks to be as strong as they are diverse in backgrounds. Here are a few notable names to watch in the coming years.

Sarah Cooper (USA) Cooper burst onto the ultra-racing scene with some dominant performances. She not only won but chased the overall podiums at some of the biggest races in the US, including Furnace Creek/Silver State 508, Hoodoo 500, Texas Time Trials and others. At the Texas Time Trials she was the first person to break 400 miles. She also went on to take the overall win at Race Across the West (2016) and become a RAAM winner in 2017. Since then she has stepped to the other side of ultra-racing taking on the role of race director. Her two new races the Spotted Horse and Iowa Wind and Rock. After a tough year of injuries, surgery and recovery, we hope to see her back racing soon.

 

Nicole Reist (SUI) Reist was the RAAM Rookie of the Year with her win in 2016, and followed it up in 2018 with one of the best RAAM performances by a female racer. Her time of 9d 23h 57m was the fastest time by a woman since 2001, and put her in 3rd place overall. Just this past month, Nicole won the inaugural Race Across France with a time of 5d 8h 23, only an hour behind the overall winner.

 

Jasmijn Muller (UK) British cyclist Jasmijn Muller won last year's 24-hour race in the 6-12-24 Hour World Time Trial Championships, riding 433.2 miles equaling the record distance set by Seana Hogan, but just 49 seconds slower   She also won in 2017 the UK 24 Hour National Championships, the Revolve 24 at Brands Hatch, and the Cycling Zandvoort in the Netherlands. She will not be returning to Borrego Springs this October for the 2018 6-12-24 Hour World Time Trial Championships, but we hope to see her next year.

 

Elin Starup (DEN) RAAM welcomes Danish racer Elin Starup, who will be making her rookie attempt at winning the 2019 Race Across America. She qualified for RAAM at the 2018 Race Around Denmark, posting a time of 93h 52m 55s. Elin is also an accomplished Ironman triathlete.

 

Chieko Ozawa (JAP) RAAM also welcomes Chieko Ozawa from Japan for the 2019 Race Across America. She qualified at last year's 6-12-24 Hour World Time Trial Championships by racing 414 miles, one of only three women to exceed 400 miles at the WTTC.

 

Christie Tracy (USA) Relatively new to the ultracycling scene is Christie Tracy from Austin, TX. A regular at the Driveway Series, a weekly crit series organized by Andrew Willis and Holland Racing (which also puts on the 6-12-24 Hour Pace Bend race and the Texas Time Trials), Christie has been adding ultra races to her busy race schedule. In 2017, she won the 200-mile race at RAAM Challenge Texas, and followed it up by winning the 12-hour race at the 6-12-24 Hour World Time Trial Championships in 2018. She will be defending her title at this year's WTTC in Borrego Springs.