Race Across America (RAAM)Portland, OR, USA, June 18-?, 2000Daily updates
Start listMen's Solo Division Name (Country) State (Age) Danny Chew (USA) Pittsburgh, PA (37) Rob Morlock (USA) Brookfield, CT (36) Rich Kondzielaski (USA) Yonkers, NY (45) Byron Rieper (USA) Overland Park, KS (51) Rieks Koning (Ned) Nyverdal, Netherlands (39) Keith Krombel (USA) Alexandria, VA (46) Mark Patten (USA) San Jose, CA (39) Martin Lorenz (Swi) Untersiggenthal, Switzerland (28) Reed Finfrock (USA) Springville, CA (53) Fredi Virag (Slo) Idrija, Slovenia (31) Andrew Otto (USA) San Francisco, CA (35) Pete Bajema (USA) Bellingham, WA (37) Jim Pitre (USA) Mesa AZ, (60) Harold Trease (USA) West Richland, WA (44) Fabio Biasiolo (Ita) Venezia, Italy (38) Michael Henriksson (Swe) Karlstad, Sweden (36) Herbert Meneweger (Aut) Anthering, Austria (36) Hansjoerg Franz (Aut) Going, Austria (25) Tom Buckley (USA) Keokuk, IA (44) Rob Kish (USA) Port Orange, FL (45) Terry Lansdell (USA) Charlotte, NC (33) Wolfgang Fasching (Aut) Deutsch Goritz, Austria (32) Women's Solo Division Cassie Lowe (Aus) Sydney, Australia (36) Tandem Mixed Katie Lindquist (USA) Plymouth, MN (35) George Thomas (USA) Corvallis, OR (37) 2 Person Team Dwight Bishop (USA) Butte, MT (44) William Maida (USA) San Jose, CA (49) 4 Person Teams (begin on Wed. June 21) Team Heart Daniel Dunn (USA) Golden Valley, MN (52) Tom Pettus (USA) Minneapolis, MN (50) Phil Murray (USA) Sunfish Lake, MN (55) Robert Mackie (USA) North Oaks, MN (54) Kern Wheelmen Joe Petersen (USA) Bakersfield, CA (42) Glenn Bunselmeyer (USA) (42) Chris Black (USA) (43) Keith Hock (USA) (30) Team Alaska Bob Voris (USA) Eagle River, AK (50) Jim Mendenhall (USA) Anchorage, AK (42) Peter Lekisch (USA) Anchorage, AK (59) George Stransky (USA) Anchorage, AK (56) Team Royal Air Force Paul Dotchin (GBr) RAF Bruggen, England Guy Lawton (GBr) Wolverhampton, England (31) Dave Green (GBr) Norfolk, England (36) Rich Berry (GBr) Wilshire, England (25) Andy McLean (GBr) (Reserve) Kings Lynn, England Steve Masters (GBr) (Reserve) RAF Bruggen, England HPV Trike Division TEAM iXL - Greenspeed Tim Skipper (USA) Castaic, CA (42) John Williams (USA) California Tom Hooker (USA) Port Orachard, WA (40) Barclay Brown (USA) Alpharetta, GA (41) Day 1 - June 18: Portland startThe event known as the longest and most grueling bicycle race in the world began at 7am Pacific Time with a 15 mile parade start through Portland. Racers are riding virtually non-stop 2,989 miles from Portland to Pensacola, Florida. The 27 riders that comprise the men and women's solo races, 2 person teams and tandem division are pedaling through Oregon towards Idaho. The 4 person teams will begin their race on Wednesday, June 21st. Ultracyclist Jim Pitre of Mesa, Arizona began his Race Across America on Saturday, June 17th, in a special "60 year old" division. He is approaching the third time station in Lone Creek, Oregon... 245 miles from the start. Day 2 - June 19: Into UtahDay 2 of the Race Across America is testing the mettle of the world's top ultracyclists. 27 riders are making their way through Idaho now and the leaders are heading into Utah in their non-stop journey from Portland, Oregon to Pensacola, Florida. In the first day of the race, lead rider Wolfgang Fasching from Goritz, Austria, set the pace for the fastest RAAM start ever, riding 501.6 miles in 25 hours and 32 minutes. Fasching, who won the 1997 Race Across America was still riding strong after a night without sleep, as observed by Race Director Lon Haldeman. Haldeman described the weather conditions for the first 24 hours as "near perfect" with no rain and temperatures ranging form 60-70 degrees. During the first 24 hours of the race, riders were treated to 10-20 mile per hour tail winds. But this new course is also fraught with challenge, as it winds through the mountains of Oregon 25,000 feet of vertical climbs. This course sets another record for the Race Across America... for the most climbing of the first day of any RAAM since the race started in 1982. With 20 racers chasing Wolfgang Fasching, here are the standings as of 4:42PM EST.
Standings - Day 2Rider Name Time Station # Time Station Miles into the Race Wolfgang Fasching 9 Bliss, ID 570.6 Martin Lorenz 8 Grand View, ID 501.6 Danny Chew 8 Grand View, ID 501.6 Herbert Meneweger 8 Grand View, ID 501.6 Tom Buckley 8 Grand View, ID 501.6 Fabio Biasiolo 8 Grand View, ID 501.6 Bishop & Maida 8 Grand View, ID 501.6 Rob Kish 7 Givens Hot Spring, ID 453.6 Rich Kondzielaski 7 Givens Hot Spring, ID 453.6 Pete Bajema 7 Givens Hot Spring, ID 453.6 Mark Patten 7 Givens Hot Spring, ID 453.6 Keith Krombel 7 Givens Hot Spring, ID Michael Henriksson 7 Givens Hot Spring, ID 453.6 Cassie Lowe 7 Givens Hot Spring, ID 453.6 Andrew Otto 6 Vale, OR 395.6 Reed Finfrock 6 Vale, OR 395.6 Harold Trease 6 Vale, OR 395.6 Rob Morlock 6 Vale, OR 395.6 Rieks Koning 6 Vale, OR 395.6 Hansjoerg Franz 6 Vale, OR 395.6 Terry Lansdell 6 Vale, OR 395.6 Fredi Virag 6 Vale, OR 395.6 Byron Rieper 5 Unity, OR 331.4 Lindquist & Thomas 5 Unity, OR 331.4 Jim Pitre* 9 Bliss, ID 570.6 *60 year old Jim Pitre is riding well averaging 12 mph from Portland to Bliss, Idaho. Having taken some sleep breaks since his June 17th, 10 am start, he is in his 3rd day of RAAM Day 3 - June 20: Woodruff, UtahWolfgang Fasching, of Goritz, Austria, holds a strong lead over the pack in the Race Across America 2,898 miles from Portland, Oregon to Pensacola, Florida. Fasching has ridden 878 miles to Woodruff, Utah in 48 hours, 5 minutes, averaging 18.26 miles an hour. The Austrian ultracyclist slept only one hour in the past two days. Race official Rob Warren reported that Fasching was riding well as he approached the mountains in Utah, east of Ogden. Rookie rider Byron Riper, of Overland Park, Kansas, has dropped out of the race, citing mechanical problems and fatigue. Riper's crew called race headquarters at 12:00 CST from the time station at Grand View, Idaho, 501 miles into the race. Riper reportedly said that the race was a good education and that he'll be back next year. This grueling event has often claimed a rider in it's first few days from either dehydration, muscle or mental fatigue. This year's Race Across America route, new for the year 2000, gives the skilled climbers the advantage. Historically, the Irvine, California to Savannah, Georgia route had the climbers holding back in the California desert heat, waiting to attack in the mountains of Colorado. But because of the new route, the climbers are claiming this race. Four of the five men in the lead are European racers, Wolfgang Fashing- Austria, Herbert Meneweger- Austria, Fabio Biasiolo-Italy, Tom Buckley, Keokuk, IA, Martin Lorenz-Switzerland. This European field will be tough to beat especially with more mountains to come in Colorado. Race officials are commending rookie Martin Lorenz for keeping up with the leaders in his first Race Across America. Cassie Lowe, representing the women's field, has checked through the Burley, Idaho time station, near the home of Muffy Ritz, a veteran RAAM rider herself. Cassie Lowe is averaging 14.2 miles an hour in her first Race Across America. Jim Pitre, 60 year old is now riding among the pack of solo riders. He started 21 hours ahead of the younger men. Jim is maintaining 280 miles per day, which race officials say is a very respectable distance. His coach, John Hughes, remarked this morning that Pitre is averaging far above what he had hoped to do.
Standings - Day 3Position Name Station # Station name Total miles Mph
1 Wolfgang Fasching 14 Woodruff, UT 878.0 18.26
2 Herbert Meneweger 13 Ogden, UT 812.0 17.10
3 Tom Buckley 13 Ogden, UT 812.3 16.64
4 Fabio Biasiolo 13 Ogden, UT 812.3 16.63
5 Martin Lorenz 12 Snowville, UT 740.3 16.16
6 Mark Patten 12 Snowville, UT 740.3 16.11
7 Danny Chew 12 Snowville, UT 740.3 16.04
8 Rob Kish 12 Snowville, UT 740.3 15.59
9 Pete Bajema 12 Snowville, UT 740.3 15.39
10 Reed Finfrock 12 Snowville, UT 740.3 15.26
11 Andrew Otto 12 Snowville, UT 740.3 14.91
12 Rich Kondzielaski 11 Burley, ID 655.1 15.44
13 Harold Trease 11 Burley, ID 655.1 14.98
14 Keith Krombel 11 Burley, ID 655.1 14.17
15 Michael Henriksson 11 Burley, ID 655.1 13.53
16 Rob Morlock 11 Burley, ID 655.1 13.45
17 Terry Lansdell 10 Twin Falls, ID 614.1 12.99
18 Rieks Koning 10 Twin Falls, ID 614.1 12.96
19 Hansjoerg Franz 10 Twin Falls, ID 614.1 12.53
20 Fredi Virag 9 Bliss, ID 570.6 11.92
21 Byron Rieper Did Not Finish
Female Solo Rider
1 Cassie Lowe 11 Burley, ID 655.1 14.02
Two Person Teams
1 Bishop& Maida 13 Ogden, UT 812.3 17.22
Tandem Mixed
1 Lindquist&Thomas 10 Twin Falls, ID 614.1 12.53
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