20th Race Across America (RAAM)

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

2001 Results Results Next Day's Results

The Lion Sleeps Tonight

by Jim Pitre

On the road between Hansen and Burley, Idaho, Wolfgang Fasching rides past the official's vehicle, turns his head and raises his right hand to his mouth in an exaggerated yawn. "Despite his machine-like cadence for the last 34 hours, he is human. He is tired. Or he has a sense of humor. Or both."

Three hours earlier, he passed the Stinker List Country Store, temporary home for the cruise of Stefan Lau and Allen Larsen, in second and third place, respectively. Larsen's crew was ecstatic with their rider's progress.

"We knew Allen could do this," one of Larsen's crew said. "He is very hard on himself. He went into Race Across Oregon hoping he could finish, and he won by two hours. Last night he slept for an hour and a half at Unity. We had planned to stop earlier, but he was too excited. We were just chit-chatting on the radio and he seemed so happy."

Meanwhile, in the Lau RV the mood was relief. "Our night was terrible," said Crew Chief Wolfgang Kratzer. "It was very hard to get him up the hills throughout the night. We had to shout at him to stay out of the middle of the road and to stay awake. It was difficult for him to listen to us."

Lau, who turned 36 on Sunday (some birthday celebration!), received hot drinks, massage, and motivation, Kratzer said. "We just told him to go on, kept telling him he was in second. The whole crew was surprise at how strong he was because just two (out of seven crew) really knew him before the race: his girlfriend, who is a psychologist, and his physician, who coached him in Race Across Europe."

Kratzer was unsure of the condition of the finger Lau injured in yesterday's fall, because of Lau's general agony last night, culminating in a 30-minute break. "It's better with gloves because sweat does not get into the wound, "Kratzer said. "Tonight, on his first real rest of his race, we will put disinfectant fluid on it."

Lau plans to sleep from 2:00a.m. to 4:00a.m. Tuesday morning. Kratzer was doubtful of Lau's chances to win the race "if Fasching can go on like this." However, Lau's crew sought chinks in the armor when Fasching peddled past Stinker Bliss. "He was shocked to see our motor home," Kratzer said. "He must have thought Stefan was right behind him because before we had had the motor home, van and rider together."

Fasching has shown no weakness. But now, at 1:00 am Tuesday RAAM time, the lion who has devoured 741 miles and the soles of several riders, sleeps.

Results - as at day 2

Men's Solo
                           miles completed   to finish
1 Wolfgang Fasching                   986.6     2005.3
2 Allen Larsen                        879.1     2112.8
3 Fabio Biasiolo                      879.1     2112.8
4 Rob Kish                            879.1     2112.8
5 Stefan Lau                          879.1     2112.8
6 Fredi Virag                         813.4     2178.5
7 Mark Patten                         813.4     2178.5
8 Ish Makk                            813.4     2178.5
9 Guus Moonen                         813.4     2178.5
10 Michael Lau                        813.4     2178.5
11 Arend-Jan Koning                   813.4     2178.5
12 Sam Beal                           741.4     2250.5
13 Franz Venier                       741.4     2250.5
14 Ricardo Arap                       656.9     2335.0
15 Byron Rieper                       656.9     2335.0
16 Wolfgang Kulow                     614.8     2377.1
17 Jack Vincent                       571.1     2420.8
 
Women's Solo
 
1 Sandy Earl                          656.9     2335.0
 
Tandem Mixed
 
1 George Thomas & Terri Gooch         741.4     2250.5
 
Two Person Men's
 
1 Team Clif Bar                        96.8     2895.1
2 Leader Bike USA                      96.8     2895.1
3 Team Millennium/IRSA                 96.8     2895.1
 
Four Person Men's
 
1 Team RAF/BAE SYSTEMS/CG              96.8     2895.1
2 Team San Diego                       96.8     2895.1
3 Team Swiss Academic Skiclub          96.8     2895.1
 
Four Person Women's
 
1 Team ZISVAW                          96.8     2895.1
 
Four Person Mixed
 
1 Team No Limits                       96.8     2895.1
2 The Twin PAC                         96.8     2895.1