20th Race Across America (RAAM)

Portland, Oregon to Pensacola, Florida. June 16 - ?

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Results

Defining Disaster

By David Jacobson

Dave Green's crash outside Kim at 17:55 was no disaster for the RAF/BAE Systems/Cap Gemini Team. Disaster is what they will see in the distinctly possible event that the Royal Air Force sends them to Afghanistan.

In terms of a RAAM disaster, however, Green's crash qualifies. He suffered abrasions on his left fingers and right shoulder, hip and elbow, which may be broken. "The problem was the strong wind," Green said as his crew iced and sanitized his wounds in the RV en route to the hospital in Springfield.

"The scout vehicle had said the tracks were coming and I slowed down, but I was leaning into the wind. I went down on one side and the bike flipped over and I skidded on my helmet for awhile."

While Green was quick to blame himself, riders must be aware of the tracks, which are very poorly kept and run diagonally across the road. Other than describing his injury, the only words Green uttered were regrets for causing his team members to be called back on shift just 20 minutes after completing an eight hour stint.

"Just dress me up and get me back on my bike," he said. At the hospital, Green was extending his elbow, he said, without pain. Early indications are that Green will be able to remount, keeping alive RAF hope of breaking its RAAM 4-man team record. Even with three riders, RAF could win its division, as it leads SAS by about 200 miles.

The steady crosswinds blew throughout eastern Colorado, ignorant of the Oklahoma border. Wolfgang Kratzer, Crew Chief for Stefan Lau, said he had called President Bush to ask him to turn off the wind. The remark raised a laugh from Lau as he remounted after a brief roadside chat with his crew.

Lau, in fourth outside Kim, continues his pursuit of Allen Larsen, who is almost exactly 48 miles ahead, having checked into Boise City 17 minutes before Lau hit Springfield. Meanwhile, Rob Kish held a 61-mile advantage over Larsen, checking into Guyman, Oklahoma, two minutes before Larsen hit Boise City. Finally, Wolfgang Fasching was through Mooreland at 19:20, putting him less than 120 miles behind the frontrunner.

Not that RAAM has lacked drama, but today it rose to a new level.

Results - as at day 4

Men's Solo
                   Time Section    Time   Distance covered To go     Average speed
1 Wolfgang Fasching           27     19:25     1598.8     1393.1     15.02 miles per hour
2 Rob Kish                    24     15:58     1434.0     1557.9     13.93
3 Allen Larsen                24     19:30     1434.0     1557.9     13.46
4 Stefan Lau                  23     18:12     1386.8     1605.1     13.18
5 Arend-Jan Koning            22     17:37     1328.8     1663.1     12.70
6 Fredi Virag                 22     18:53     1328.8     1663.1     12.55
7 Ish Makk                    21     14:08     1281.3     1710.6     12.67
8 Mark Patten                 21     16:45     1281.3     1710.6     12.35
9 Franz Venier                21     17:15     1281.3     1710.6     12.29
10 Guus Moonen                21     17:16     1281.3     1710.6     12.29
11 Sam Beal                   21     19:28     1281.3     1710.6     12.03
12 Michael Lau                20     13:26     1211.0     1780.9     12.06
13 Byron Rieper               18     18:04     1082.2     1909.7     10.30
14 Wolfgang Kulow             17     19:05     1048.6     1943.3      9.88
15 Ricardo Arap               16     11:32      986.6     2005.3     10.01
DNF Fabio Biasiolo            18     12:52     1082.2     1909.7     14.26
DNF Jack Vincent               9     18:20      571.1     2420.8      9.96

 
Women's Solo
 
DNF Sandy Earl                16     13:47      986.6     2005.3      9.79

 
Tandem Mixed
 
1 George Thomas & Terri Gooch 20     17:35       1211     1780.9     11.58
 
Two Person Men's Team
 
1 Team Millennium/IRSA        13     16:39      813.4     2178.5     16.06
2 Team Clif Bar               13     18:33      813.4     2178.5     15.48
3 Leader Bike USA             12     16:14      741.4     2250.5     14.76
 
Two Person Mixed Team
 
1 Team Two Roads              12     19:23      741.4     2250.5     13.89
 
Four Person Men's Team
 
1 Team RAF/BAE SYSTEMS/CG     18     16:35     1082.2     1909.7     21.39
2 Team Swiss Academic Skiclub 16     17:26      986.6     2005.3     19.18
3 Team San Diego              15     16:52      938.6     2053.3     18.45
 
Four Person Women's Team
 
1 Team ZISVAW                 14     19:31      879.1     2112.8     16.43
 
Four Person Mixed Team
 
1 Team No Limits              14     17:35      879.1     2112.8     17.04
2 The Twin PAC                13     19:19      813.4     2178.5     15.26