Welcome to the RAAM Newsletter! The place for the most up to date and comprehensive information about ultra-bicycle racing and much more. |
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2022 Race Across the West and Race Across America...40 Years!
Most travel restrictions have been lifted – 2022 registrations are up significantly from 2021. The 2020 races were cancelled due to COVID. The 2021 races took place as scheduled but participation was down sharply owing to international travel restrictions. We have been anticipating a return to normal. The 2022 RAAM/RAW race field features 234 racers from 19 countries. There are both familiar faces and first-time racers.
In the RAAM race field, Nicole Reist (SUI) and Team Bemer (USA) will generate a lot of attention. Reist is a 2-time Solo RAAM winner (2016 and 2018). In 2018 she finished 3rd overall with average speed of 12.79 mph. Only Christoph Strasser (AUT) (15.94 mph) and Ralph Diseviscourt (LUX) (13.43 mph) were faster. Only 4 women have exceeded Reist’s 2018 speed – Seana Hogan, Muffy Ritz, Susan Notorangelo and Elaine Mariolle (all USA). Without a doubt, Reist will be looking to break the women’s RAAM speed record set by Seana Hogan in 1995 – 13.22 mph. Team Bemer (USA) holds the overall RAAM speed record – 24.91 mph set in 2018. That is mind blowing. It’s hard to imagine sustaining that effort for 5 days, 3 hours and 43minutes – 3,069.8 miles. But, they are back attempting to break that record. You know they have to be thinking about a “sub 5-day” ride. Another one to watch is solo racer Jean-Luc Perez (FRA). Perez was half of the 2-person French team, “Eat Well”, which in 2019 set the 2-person team speed record – 19.85 mph. We understand Rainer Steinberger (GER) is fast. Rupert Guinness (Aus) is one of the most recognizable names in cycling.
In the RAW race field, there are several riders of note - 7x Solo RAAM finisher Marko Baloh (SLO) and 2x Solo RAAM finisher Joe Barr (IRE). There is Solo RAAM finisher Herve Talabardon (FRA) - the oldest Solo RAAM finisher. Jen Orr (USA) is back – she is a force to be reckoned with – she won 2019 Solo RAW outright.
Going into the race, those are the obvious stories. But there are so many great stories. We’re looking forward to some great racing this year. The thing to remember is … “Hey, it’s RAAM - anything can happen!”
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Two Domestic Road RQs in the Pacific Northwest
There are two Road RQs in the Pacific Northwest – Race Across Oregon and Cascade Ultra - RAAM veteran George Thomas owns and directs both of them.
Few in the ultra-world have more experience than Thomas. He has raced RAAM solo, tandem and team. He has been RAAM Race Director and now serves as finish line announcer and emcee for the post-event celebrations. He was inducted into the RAAM Hall of Fame in 2014.
These days he races RAW and after finishing emcees the RAW post-event celebration. After that, it’s a quick trip home to Boulder to say hi to the family and it’s off to Annapolis to interview RAAM racers as they finish and emcee the RAAM post-event celebrations.
In addition, he also owns and directs a third RQ – Natchez Trace 444 - as well as three other Oregon events – Ring of Fire 6-12-24, Deschutes Double Century and Deschutes River Valley Time Trial.
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Race Across Oregon (The Dalles, Oregon) – June 16, 2022
In an effort to create a RAAM Qualifier that truly prepares racers for the rigors of RAAM, Thomas drew on his many years of RAAM experience. This year RAO will start July 16 in The Dalles, Oregon. The race is open to solo racers as well as 2 and 4-person teams. The Dalles is a very cool town – an outdoor sports mecca on the Columbia River.
Riders will start and finish at the Fairfield Inn & Suites in The Dalles. The course is an E-W oriented clockwise loop SE of The Dalles. The route - 500 miles with 37,650 ft of elevation gain – features steep climbs and descents.
Thomas refers to the region as, “The Oregon you’ve never seen”. The area lies east of the Cascades, in their “rain shadow”, which makes for warm, dry weather. The physiographic feature which dominates the region is the Columbia Plateau. The Plateau was formed 10-15 million years ago when lava flows from nearby volcanoes accumulated over some 60,000 square miles. Subsequently the thick lava beds were eroded by rivers in the region – the Columbia, Deschutes, John Day and others – leaving deep canyons. All of this combines to produce great weather and starkly beautiful terrain.
Thomas explains, “My goal was to design an event where participants would take on a difficult challenge, have an amazing time, have fun and leave with an appreciation for the sport of ultra-racing and a desire to do more.”
This year there will be a 260-mile race as well.
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Cascade Ultra (Arlington, Washington) – August 27, 2022
The Cascade Ultra has some history – several years ago the event was shut down. More recently Thomas took over with plans to re-launch the event. But, before he could do so, the COVID Pandemic intervened. This year, with COVID winding down and travel restrictions lifted, Thomas will re-launch the event. The Cascade Ultra will be back and better than ever!
The Cascade Ultra will take place August 27. The weather is great this time of year, high temps in the 80s and lows in the 50s. Rain is rare. Riders will start and finish in Arlington, WA at the Best Western Plus.
The course will be a 530-mile loop with 43,000 ft of elevation gain. Riders will cross the Cascade Range, passing through North Cascades National Park into the Okanogan River Valley and back. The route is still being worked on to ensure low traffic roads and excellent cycling. We will bring you additional information as the Cascade Ultra route is finalized.
We are very pleased that Thomas is re-launching this event. The northern Cascades are among the most beautiful mountain terrain in America.
Both the Race Across Oregon and Cascade Ultra RQs will be part of the Northwest Ultra Cup Series. Other events in the Series include the Deschutes River Valley Time Trials, Deschutes Double Century and Ring of Fire.
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Upcoming International Qualifiers -
Denmark and India
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Midt 24 (Snejbjerg, Denmark) – June 18, 2022
Midt24 is a 6-12-24 hour time trial which takes place the 3rd full weekend of June in the heart of the Jutland Peninsula in Denmark. This year’s race will take place June 18-19 at the Snejbjerg Hallerne, a sports complex located in the village of Snejbjerg, a western suburb of Herning. The town of Herning – with a population of 50,000 - is the administrative center of Herning Municipality. Herning is a cycling center, home to former professional road racer and Tour de France winner, Bjarne Riis.
The Midt 24 course is flat and fast. The event utilizes 3 loops: Day Loop is 41.72km with 185mt elevation gain; Night Loop is 13.78km with 49mt elevation gain; and Finish Loop is 3.45km with 15mt elevation gain. There are drafting and non-drafting divisions. The races are open to solo racers as well as 2 and 4-person teams. Men must ride 400 miles and women 370 miles in 24 hours to qualify for Solo RAAM.
The region is known for moors and agriculture. Participants will ride through lots of green areas, colorful fields and charming villages. Food will be served throughout the event. Camping is available at the venue.
If you are looking for a mid-June 24-hour race, this is the place to be!
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Newest RAAM Qualifier - Race Around Karnataka
The Race Around Karnataka (RAKA) is unique in several ways – it is India’s longest RQ; it was organized Dr. Srinivas Gokulnath, India’s first Solo RAAM finisher (2017); and it is the only RQ in the month of December. The route is a 2,240km (1,390mi) clockwise loop around the State of Karnataka. Riders start December 5, 2022 at Vidhana Soudha – home to the State Legislature - in central Bangaluru. The race is open to solo riders as well as 2 and 4-person teams.
Riders depart Bangalore heading S and W through Mysuru, gradually climbing to 1,675mt (5,500ft). At 380km (235 miles) they descend 1,525mt (5,000ft) over 9.6km (6mi) to the Coastal Plain. Riders cross the Netravathi River to Mangaluru. Here they follow the coast of the Arabian Sea N for 560km (350mi). At 920km (571mi) riders turn inland heading NE. They climb 610mt (2,000ft) over 16km (10mi) and continue NE to Bidar. At 1,460km (998mi) they head south toward Kolar and at 2,400km (1,500mi) SW back to Bangaluru.
Riders will experience the rich cultures and diverse landscapes of the State of Karnataka. The route passes through 16 Districts of the State with varying terrain – forest reserves, agricultural lands, river crossings, pristine coastal areas, and the dense rain forests of the Western Ghats (mountains).
Riders finish at Decathlon – a sporting goods mega store on Mysore Rd in SW Bengaluru. Total elevation gain is 15,800mt (51,800ft). Solo men must finish in 132 hours and solo women in 140 hours to qualify for Solo RAAM.
In addition, among other things, Dr. Gokulnath has served 16 years with the Indian Armed Forces, specializing in military medicine, aerospace medicine and high-altitude warfare. He is a TEDX speaker and author of the book “Let Go – The Trials & Triumphs of the FIRST INDIAN to Finish RACE ACROSS AMERICA”.
If you are looking for a totally unique “mid-winter” ultra-experience, we highly recommend this race. Whether you are trying to extend your 2022 season or trying to get a jump on the 2023 season, check this event out.
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NO STAGES PODCAST with Team Love Sweat & Gears
Welcome to the No Stages podcast hosted by Rick Boethling, RAAM Executive Director and George Thomas, RAAM Announcer, Racer and RQQ Director.
Every Monday at 7pm Mountain Time we do a live Zoom interview, which we encourage people to join and ask questions. The recorded podcast is also posted on the RAAM website the next day.
NO STAGES PODCAST WITH
TEAM LOVE SWEAT & GEARS
Monday May 9, 2022
7:00 pm US Mountain Time
We’ve seen many iterations of Love Sweat & Gears over the years in RAAM and RAW. The team is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization as well as a bicycling team competing in ultra events. They have supported many charitable organizations over the years. For 2022 they have four amazing athletes (left to right: Karin Gardner, Lori Klabunde, Kilee Harmon, Melanie Carvelle) out to conquer RAAM in support of Gaia Home. An enclave of residential units and community spaces, Gaia Home will be one of the first dedicated homes of its kind in the state of North Dakota with qualified medical care specializing in the end-of-life journey.
Join our hosts Rick Boethling and George Thomas as they introduce our friends at home to this year’s team. It all happens as a Zoom Meeting. Viewers are asked to mute their microphones. Questions can be asked using Zoom’s chat feature. The Link and passwords appear below.
Can’t make that time? The interview will be recorded and a link will be shared here on the following day.
Meeting ID: 832 0669 8056
Passcode: 586645
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Time To Get Some Style...
You know you want some new gear to kick off your new year right. Many of the items have been recently marked down! Take a look at the many great items we have in the on-line RAAM Store. We have jerseys, clothing, DVD's, books, posters and so much more!
We also have a limited number of past years RAAM & RAW finisher's jerseys (2007-current). Of course, we'll only sell them to verified finishers. All of the years and sizes available are available on the Store.
Deals from our Sponsors:
Rudy Project VIP:
HERE’S HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN ACCOUNT TO GET UP TO 35% OFF OF RUDY PROJECT GEAR (including single vision prescriptions):
- enter your info + code: RAAM
NIMBL: 20% Off of the Best Percussion Massager on the Market!
Use the Code: RAAM for a great discount on the lightest, quietest percussion massager on the market. It is an amazing tool for pre- and post-race massage. It is the ultimate piece of gear missing from your race kit. Visit their website from more details: NIMBL
Spiegel Bikes: RAAM, RAW or WTTC SPECIAL EDITION CUSTOM FRAMES
And now YOU can get one too! We’ve worked closely with Spiegel to take the personalizing even further, along with their names, past RAAM finishers, or category winners can also have “Finisher” or “Winner” plus the year and their finish time on the top-tube too. “Winner” or “Finisher” status is subject to verification. Check them out on the RAAM Store: SPIEGEL FRAMES
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RUDY PROJECT
In 1985 Rudy Barbazza created Rudy Project in Treviso Italy with a firm conviction to improve the performance of athletes all over the world. Technically Cool: the two words that best sum up this Vision; the two words that best express the DNA of each and every design carrying the name Rudy Project. Rudy Project works in cooperation with athletes from all fields, listening to what they want and what they need.
HERE’S HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN ACCOUNT TO GET UP TO 35% OFF OF RUDY PROJECT GEAR (including single vision prescriptions):
- enter your info + code: RAAM
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News
RAAM Acquires Silver State 508 Recently, the management of Race Across America, Inc. and its affiliate, Team Get Outdoors, LLC (TGO), announced they have acquired the Silver State 508 – formerly known as the Furnace Creek 508. The 508 is the oldest RAAM Qualifier. The event was created in 1983 by the godfather of ultra-cycling, John Marino. Chris Kostman took control in 1990. Through innovation, aggressive marketing and hard work, Kostman grew the event 10-fold. After 27 years at the helm, he sold the event to CCSD Sport Event, a Southern California event management company. Earlier this year, the Race Across America, Inc. executive management team expressed an interest, an agreement was reach with CCSD and ownership passed to TGO.
Look for a feature article in a future RAAM Newsletter
New RQ - Race Around Karnataka The Race Around Karnataka (RAKA) is the newest RAAM Qualifier. The event will take place December 5, 2022 in Karnataka, a state located in SW India. Riders will start/finish in Bangaluru. The route circumnavigates the State of Karnataka in a clockwise loop - 2,240km (1,390mi) with 15,800mt (51,835ft) of elevation gain. RAKA will be India’s longest RQ. The race was conceived and designed by Dr. Srini Gokulnath, India’s first Solo RAAM finisher.
See separate article in this RAAM Newsletter.
Texas Ultra Spirit Postponed The 2022 Texas Ultra Spirit will take place this autumn. The race operator is seeking another venue.
2022 RQ Calendar As of this date, there are 48 events on the 2022 RQ Calendar. We continuously update the Calendar. We are in the process of updating the event descriptions. Not all of the events are listed on the Calendar. We will run feature articles on all of the RQs approximately two to four months before the event. Please remember, always check the individual event websites for current information.
Results
Longhorn 500 (Fredericksburg, Texas) – April 2, 2022 …
Top male was Phil Fox (USA) who finished the 503-mile course in 35h:55m (14.1 mph). Dorina Vaccaroni (ITA) was the top woman and 2nd place finisher overall in 39h:28m (12.8 mph). Chris Davies (USA) won the 50-59 age group, finishing in 39h:48m (12.7 mph).
Revolve 24 (Talim Bend, South Australia) – March 26, 2022 …
James Hayden (AUS) finished first overall with 816.75km (34 km/hr). Top female was Sabine Bird (AUS) with 668.25km (28km/hr).
Race Across Italy (Silvi Marina, Italy) – April 2, 2022 …
Race Across Italy was halted due to an accident.
Race Across Paris (Chantilly, France) – April 28, 2022 …
Eric LeBlacher (FRA) finished first, covering the 1,000km course in 39h:39m:22s (25km/hr). Rounding out the podium was Andre Bizeul (FRA) and Marco Rieder (SUI).
Events Coming Up
Following are the events coming up in the next 8-10 weeks:
Road Race RQs
Joe Barr 500 (Derry/Londonderry, Ireland) – May 7, 2022
Race Around Denmark (Aarhus, Denmark) – May 22, 2022
Race Around Neiderosterreich (Weitra, Austria) – May 27, 2022
Race Across Germany W-E (Aachen, Germany) – June 10, 2022
B-Hard Ultra (Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina) – June 10, 2022
Race Across America and Race Across the West (Oceanside, CA) – June 14, 2022
Race Across France (La Touquet, France) - June 18, 2022
Race Across the Alps (Nauders, Austria) – June 24, 2022
Time Trial RQs
24 Hours in the Canyon (Canyon, TX) – June 4, 2022
24hr del Montello (Volpago del Montello, Italy) – June 4, 2022
Midt 24 (Snejbjerg, Denmark) – June 18, 2022
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Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter! If you have any questions, comments or concerns please contact us at -info@raceacrossamerica.org
Tailwinds,
Race Across America Staff
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