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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6-12-24 HOUR WORLD TIME TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
ALMOST SOLD OUT!
Less than 5 spots in the 24 and less than 15 in the 6- and 12-hour.
Register Here: https://www.24hrworlds.com/
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SILVER STATE 508 and MOTHERLODE 200
REGISTRATION IS OPEN NOW!
Register Here:
https://www.the508.net/
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VRAAM RETURNS IN A NEW FORMAT!
REGISTRATION IS OPEN!!!
https://my.raceresult.com/240442/
Get $10 off the entry fee for vRAAM for Memorial Day Weekend. Use the Discount Code MEMDAY when registering. This will be good from Friday, May 26th through Monday, May 29th
On 13th June, TOEC, in collaboration with Race Across America, will be hosting a 12-day EPIC race across the 12 states visited by the real world RAAM. Riders will start in Oceanside, California on the West coast, navigate canyons, climb mountains, cross raging rivers and eventually, lay their cap down at City Dock in Annapolis on the East Coast.
This near 800km virtual race, presents an epic challenge and a fantastic taste of what the real world race entails.
Hosted on our partner platform, @wahoorgt, each day a 40m-mile section of the real world route will be faithfully recreated via RGT's magic roads. So trust us, Wolf Creek Pass in Colorado really does feel like Wolf Creek Pass!
Head to the event page on our website for all the details and to get yourself signed up!
https://theonlineeventscompany.com
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TWO UPCOMING 2023 SUMMER DOMESTIC RQs | |
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Race Across Oregon (July 15, 2023 - The Dalles, Oregon
George Thomas, in an effort to create a RAAM Qualifier that truly prepares racers for the rigors of RAAM, drew on his many years of RAAM experience. Thomas has raced RAAM and RAW, and is the announcer at the finish in Annapolis. This year RAO will start July 15 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.
The course is an E-W oriented clockwise loop SE of The Dalles. The route - 500 miles with 37,000 ft of elevation gain – features steep climbs and descents. There is also a 260-mile race.
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 will mark the 25th year Race Across Oregon has been a RAAM Qualifier - come on out and support this event!
More information … https://www.raceacrossoregon.com/rao.html
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Mann Powered 380 (August 12, 2023 - Cumming, Iowa)
The Tour of central Iowa is a multi-distance, multi-surface bicycle event that takes place in beautiful south central Iowa. Riders will start and finish at the Cumming Tap, a popular restaurant/pub in the small town of Cumming, Iowa, southwest of Des Moines. The event will take place August 12-13, 2023. The event is brought to you be Relentless Events, comprised of RAAM veteran, Sarah Cooper, Steve Fuller and Dori Jansma.
There will be something for everyone serious about cycling – a 40-mile fun ride, 100km and 200km gravel races and the ultimate challenge, the Mann Powered 380. The Mann Powered 380 is a RAAM Qualifier. The race is a mixed surface 380-mile non-drafting race with a 38-hour time limit. The route is roughly 70% gravel and 30% pavement. The race can be ridden with or without a support crew. The race honors Joe Mann, an endurance racer, a friend to many in the RAAM community, and a member of Cooper’s support crew on her 2017 Solo RAAM win. Mann passed away in 2019.
Last year’s Mann Powered 380 overall winner was Heather Poskevich (USA) who covered the 380-mile course in 28h:50m (13.16 mph). She will be among this year’s Solo women’s field at RAAM.
In addition to the Tour of Central Iowa, Relentless Events operates Iowa Wind and Rock, Spotted Horse Gravel Ultra and Iowa Gravel Classic. We have great respect for Cooper as both a racer and event operator. The Mann Powered 380 is the first mixed surface RAAM Qualifier. We are really looking forward to this event.
We have long sought an RQ located in the Midwest. Come experience the small town charm of Cumming and no traffic roads of south central Iowa.
More About the Mann Powered 380 … https://tourofcentraliowa.com/
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VOLUNTEER AT THE RAAM OR RAW FINISH LINE
Want to be part of the race and see the action up close? Race Across America and Race Across the West are looking for volunteers to help out at the finish lines in Annapolis, MD and Durango, CO. Duties can include assisting with set-up/tear-down, helping guide racers to the final finish line, handling out metals, and communicating with Race HQ. Volunteers will receive a RAAM t-shirt and also be eligible for a discount in other select RAAM-produced events.
Full details and links to sign-up can be found on our websites:
RAAM - Annapolis, MD (June 23rd-26th): https://www.raamrace.org/finish-line-volunteers
RAW - Durango, CO (June 15th-17th): https://www.raceacrossthewest.org/finish-line-volunteers
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DO GOOD THINGS...
Life Sports Foundation - Official Charity Partner of RAAM
We are excited to be working with Life Sports Foundation again this year. Please donate to help support their mission.
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/RAAM?utm_source=copyLink&utm_medium=one_page&utm_content=campaign/RAAM&utm_campaign=pfp-share&utm_term=d98bb029e60e43ffbf14db46db70e385
Our Mission is the enhancement of Life "through" Sports.
Life Sports Foundation is dedicated to helping people of all abilities who are facing physical, situational, or medical challenges to enrich their lives through sports. We provide opportunities for enhanced athletic lifestyles through endurance events, specialized equipment, training, competition expenses, and education. We also fulfill our mission by supporting programs and other non-profit organizations that help others live their lives to the fullest. We believe that ALL Lives are made better through healthy exercise and event comradery.
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THE RACE SEASON IS HERE...
TIME TO GEAR UP!
Get your NEW MERCH for RAAM, RAW the 508, the WTTC and TEXAS. All of the new gear from this year is now live on the Store. Pick up your 40th Anniversary RAAM swag! 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!
Once items are sold out, they are likely sold out for good, so don't wait.
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.
Visit the Official Store Here
Deals from our Sponsors:
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
Infinity Seat: $50 Off
Use Code: RAAM$50
Infinity Bike Seats are based in Southern California – the largest market for all forms of world class cycling - road, mountain, triathlon and gravel. They offer a complete and innovative line of bike seats for all types of riders with innovative design and superior customer service.
For More Information: https://infinitybikeseat.com/
For a $50 discount use code: RAAM$50
D-CURVE OPTICS: 50% Off
Use Code: RIDES50
Headquartered in the music and outdoor mecca Denver area since 2016, D•CURVE creates and markets original, premium, great-looking outdoor eyewear and gear at a modest price. The company utilizes creativity, ingenuity, and exacting detail in crafting unique products, while promoting a healthy, active, outdoor lifestyle. Known for its dedication to innovation, D•CURVE provides active sport and outdoor lifestyle consumers a superior product that matches their personality, taste, and needs.
For more Information: https://dcurve.com/
For a 50% discount use code: RIDES50
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Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County
The Finish Line of Race Across America
https://www.visitannapolis.org/
Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County is the organization that promotes many of the things to see and do in the historic town that hosts the Race Across America finish line.
There are many great reasons why we moved the finish line to Annapolis, Maryland way back in 2008. This historic colonial-era town has a history and charm like few places in the United States. And it wasn’t just for the beautiful setting for the finish line and stage and the end of City Dock overlooking Chesapeake Bay—this part of Annapolis is a fascinating and fun place for our racers and crews to enjoy themselves and unwind after their arduous 3,000-mile journey.
Mere steps from the finish line on City Dock are numerous restaurants along the waterfront that offer everything from hot dogs and ice cream, to some of the best sea food and high-end fare imaginable. Looking for libations? There are more pubs and taverns than even the most celebratory RAAM racers and crews will have time to visit during their stay. Most of those bars also offer great food, and many have live music.
A popular attraction is nearby “Ego Alley,” a narrow waterway alongside City Dock that is lined with expensive boats that parade through the waterway on evenings and weekends. The walkway alongside is a great place to rest on a bench to relax and watch the boats and people go by.
Also nearby are the Market House, harbormaster's office, work boats, tour boats, pleasure craft, and visiting ships. Sightseeing cruises and water taxis leave from the dock regularly. The Historic Annapolis Foundation (HAF) also offers several other walking tours, all of which begin at HAF's Museum Store at 77 Main Street at City Dock. Additionally, near the City Dock visitors can tour the historic Naval Academy and learn about this lasting military institution.
Whether your focus of your time in Annapolis is relaxation, nightlife, or history, you’ll find outlets for all of these, and will quickly understand why we chose this wondrous place as the final time station of RAAM.
https://www.visitannapolis.org/
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News
More 2024 event dates have been announced Many RAAM Qualifying events have already posted their 2024 start dates, including the following:
Ultra Spice (Goa, India) – January 21, 2024
Florida 500 (Jacksonville, FL) – February 23, 2024
Romantika Uz Beas (Srinigar, Jammu and Kashmir, India) – March 11, 2024
Texas Hell Week - Longhorn 500 - Stampaede 200 (Fredericksburg, TX) – March 24, 2024
Race Around Denmark (Aarhus, Denmark) – May 7, 2024
Maybe you should be thinking about your plans for 2024 – we certainly are!
Complete RQ Calendar here … https://www.raamrace.org/qualifying-races
Results
Race Across Belgium(Braine-Al’Alleud, Belgium) – May 11, 2023 Damien Vuillier (FRA) finished first in 44h19m (22.6 km/h); Tim DeWitte (BEL) finished 2nd in 48h47m (20.5 km/h); and Bastien Bodnar (FRA) finished 3rd in 51h:06m (19.6 km/h). Congratulations!
More … https://belgium.raceacross.cc/en/race-across-belgium/
Race Around Denmark (Aarhus, Denmark) – May 15, 2023 There were 4 ways to qualify for Solo RAAM – 1600 and 800, each with Supported and Unsupported categories. Riders experienced typical Danish spring weather – cool, breezy and sunny.
There was an epic battle for the top spot in the 1600 Supported category. David Rihtaric (SLO) finished first overall, covering the 1607.77km course in 69h:30m (23.13 km/h). Nicole Reist (SUI) finished 2nd overall/first among women in 70h:57m (22.67 km/h). Reist is a 3x Solo RAAM winner (2016, 2018 and 2022). Ditte Friis (DEN) finished 3rd overall and 2nd among the women in 89h:57m (18.88 km/h).
John Mulvey won the 1600 Unsupported category in 76h:20m (21.06 km/h). Karsten Falk Lantau (DEN) won the 800 Solo Supported category covering the 809.57km course in 32h:4m (25.25 km/h). Andreas Markussen won the 800 Unsupported category in 33h:30m (24.17 km/h). Congratulations to all!
More … https://racearounddenmark.org/
Events Coming Up
Following are the events scheduled for the next 10 weeks of the 2023 racing season:
Race Across Germany W-E (Aachen, Germany) – May 26, 2023
24 Hours in the Canyon (Canyon, Texas) – June 3, 2023
B-Hard Ultra (Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina) – June 9, 2023
RAAM-RAW (Oceanside, CA) – June 13, 2023
Race Across France (La Touquet, France) – June 22, 2023
Race Across The Alps (Nauders, Austria) – June 23, 2023
Race Across Germany N-S (Flensburg, Germany) – July 7, 2023
Ultracycling Dolomitica (Sarmede, Italy) – July 14, 2023
Race Around Poland IWarsaw, Poland) – July 15, 2023
Race Across Oregon (The Dalles, OR) – July 15, 2023
Midt 24 (Snejbjerg, Denmark) – June 17, 2023
For the complete 2023 RQ Calendar: https://www.raamrace.org/qualifying-races
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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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