Daily Wrap-Up

RAAM Daily Wrap-Up: Day 13

The RAAM is over; the last competitors reach the finish in Annapolis.

RAAM Solo Male

RAAM finishes
The 2009 Race Across America is over. After 3,021 miles, every competitor has crossed the finish line in Annapolis. The banners are being taken down, the long-awaited pints are being drunken; normality is being resumed for the mentally and physically-exhausted warriors of the road.

Sixth for solid Rees
As envisaged yesterday, nobody could knock Jim Rees out of sixth spot. The solid Briton crossed the line after ten days, twenty hours and fifty-two minutes for his best RAAM result to date, after 18th in 2007 and ninth last year. Supporting Team Inspiration, he has ridden consistently over the course, always there or thereabouts in the top ten.

Clarindo clinches seventh
One and a half hours later came Claudio Clarindo, bettering his 11th place from 2008. I will reiterate that it has been some year for Brazil in this race. Alongside Clarindo’s result, they can laud Genovesi’s solo female victory and Vencendo Desafios Team Brazil’s strong fifth in the four-up competition.

Newey fights off Popp for eighth
RAAM solo rookie Richard Newey fought off a fellow race virgin, Ben Popp, to secure a fine eighth-placed finish. The Briton crossed the line sixty-two minutes ahead of his rival, who briefly was as high as fifth after Christoph Strasser’s mid-race withdrawal. Both men have acquitted themselves superbly over the last eleven days, coping with the myriad tests this gruelling challenge has thrown at them.

Rudge and Cook finish their races
Americans Daniel Rudge and Michael Cook crossed the finish to take tenth and eleventh respectively. Both have fought the rigours of the race excellently. With his finish, Rudge banishes the disappointment of last year’s DNF, showing that he has learnt from his mistakes.

1st Dani Wyss (Swi) 3021.30 miles – FINISH – 8d 05h 45m (15.28mph)
2nd Gerhard Gulewicz (Aut) 3021.10 miles – 8d 22h 54m (14.06mph)
3rd Marko Baloh (Slo) 3021.10 miles – 9d 21h 44m (12.71mph)
4th Christopher Gottwald (Usa) 3021.10 miles – 10h 12h 46m (11.95mph)
5th Kevin Kaiser (Usa) 3021.10 miles – 10d 17h 03m (11.75mph)
6th Jim Rees (Gbr) 3021.30 miles – 10d 20h 52m (11.58mph)
7th Claudio Clarindo (Bra) 3021.30 miles – 10d 22h 25m (11.51mph)
8th Richard Newey (Gbr) 3021.30 miles – 11d 0h 10m (11.44mph)
9th Ben Popp (Usa) 3021.30 miles – 11d 1h 12m (11.39mph)
10th Daniel Rudge (Usa) 3021.30 miles – 11d 5h 23m (11.22mph)
11th Michael Cook (Usa) 3021.30 miles – 11d 12d 5m (10.94mph)

DNFJure Robic (Slo) 2966.70 miles – TS #51 – 8d 2h 40m (15.24mph)
DNFPeter Oyler (Can) 1614.50 miles – TS #27 – 4d 22h 51m (13.58mph)
DNFTony O’Keeffe (Can) 1576.30 miles – TS #26 – 5d 3h 01m (12.81mph)
DNFChristoph Strasser (Aut) 1471.50 miles – TS #21 – 4d 6h 43m (14.33mph)
DNFFranz Preihs (Aut) 1044.10 miles – TS #18 – 3d 11h 08m (12.56mph)
DNFJulian Sanz Garcia (Spa) 934.20 miles – TS #16 – 3d 01h 02m (12.79mph)
DNFJean Marc Velez (Fra) 934.20 miles - TS #16 - 3d 5h 42m (12.02mph)
DNFBill Bradley (Usa) 884.10 miles – TS #15 – 3d 22h 42m (9.34mph)
DNF Patrick Autissier (Fra) 563.00 miles - TS #9 - 2d 01h 59m (11.26mph)
DNF Scott Luikart (Usa) 396.70 miles – TS #6 – 1d 04h 39m (13.85mph)

RAAM Solo Female
Janet Christiansen was the second solo female into Annapolis, almost ten hours after her great rival Daniela Genovesi. The fatigues of 3,000 miles of racing took their toll on the hardy American, as she fell off the leading pace she had maintained for two-thirds of the race. Nevertheless, she can be proud of this finish, averaging 10.35mph.

And it is with great regret that I must report Ann Wooldridge as a victim of the time cut-off. The Briton, a long-time member of Gloucester RC, fought tooth-and-nail to stay in the race after sustaining several injuries crashing into a drainage ditch in Montana. Unfortunately, she narrowly lost out to the time limit, being ruled an official DNF in Rouzerville, PA, a mere 140 miles from the finish.

Despite this, Wooldridge fought on to finish “unofficially” in Annapolis and to secure the fastest crossing for a 50+ woman.

In this whole race, from all the categories, her story has been one of my favourites. I admired her quiet tenacity and focus while riding, while the fact she is a fellow Brit also helped to endear her to me; I was really hoping she would make the finish, against the odds after her nasty tumble. After coming so close to an “official” finish in Annapolis, we dearly hope she returns in the future to banish any unfortunate memories from this year’s race!

1st Daniela Genovesi (Bra) 3021.30 miles – FINISH – 11d 17h 08m (10.75mph)
2nd Janet Christiansen (Usa) 3021.30 miles – 12d 03h 54m (10.35mph)

RAAM Solo Female 50-59
DNF Ann Wooldridge (Gbr) 2889.90 miles – TS #49 – 12d 16h 23m (9.49mph)

RAAM Solo Male 50-59
Dominique Briand has won the solo male 50-59 category. Last man standing for France, he rode with great consistency, his average speed barely changing in the final ten days. He can be immensely proud of this performance, averaging 11.05mph.

1st Dominique Briand (Fra) 3021.30 miles – FINISH – 11d 09h 24m (11.05mph)
DNF Hermann Bachmann (Swi) 1614.50 miles – TS #27 – 7d 03h 35m (9.41mph)

RAAM Solo Male 60-69
1st Paul Danhaus (Usa) 3021.30 miles – FINISH – 11d 10h 48m (10.99mph)

RAAM Teams

RAAM 8-Person
The last eight-up team out on the course finished their race at lunchtime on Sunday. The Caledonian Chain Gang averaged 16.11mph. Consisting of a team of Scottish friends, they’ve definitely earned their pint at the finish line.

1st Team Type 1 (Usa) 3021.30 miles - FINISH – 5d 9h 5m (23.41mph)
2nd Team ViaSat (Usa) 3021.30 mles – 5d 15h 53m (22.23mph)
3rd Team Donate Life – Give Hope (Usa) 3021.30 miles – 6d 04h 48m (20.30mph)
4th Team Donate Life – Liverators (Usa) 3021.30 miles - 6d 17h 56m (18.66mph)
5th Bike M.A.D (Gbr) 3021.30 miles – 6d 21h 19m (18.28mph)
6th Team Vera Bradley (Usa) 3021.30 miles – 7d 1h 0m (17.88mph)
7th Team Type 2 (Usa) 3021.30 miles – 7d 7h 24m (17.23mph)
8th The Caledonian Chain Gang (Gbr) 3021.30 miles - 7d 19h 33m (16.11mph)

RAAM Open Open
1. Team JDRF (Usa) 3021.30 miles – FINISH – 6d 10h 04m (19.61mph)

RAAM 4-Person Male 50-59
1. Georgia Chain Gang (Usa) 3021.30 miles – FINISH – 7d 8h 06m (17.16mph)

RAAM 4-Person Male 75+
1. Great Grand PAC Masters (Usa) 3021.30 miles- FINISH – 8d 14h 49m (14.61mph)

RAAM 4-Person Male
German quartet Equipe Schwarz were ninth into Annapolis, finishing a healthy two hours ahead of Drew’s Crew. Both will be pleased not only to finish, but to make it inside the eight-hour barrier. Last but not least were Team Can Be Venture, averaging 15.02mph.

1st Team RANS (Usa) 3021.30 miles – FINISH – 6d 03h 40m (20.46mph)
2nd Team Strong Heart (Usa) 3021.30 miles – 6d 10h 30m (19.56mph)
3rd Austria Triathlon Team (Aut) 3021.30 miles – 6d 15h 07m (18.99mph)
4th OC Quattro (Usa) 3021.30 miles – 6d 16h 25m (18.83mph)
5th Vencendo Desafios Team Brazil (Bra) 3021.30 miles – 7d 8h 07m (17.16mph)
6th Team SaveBuzzardsBay.org (Usa) 3021.30 miles – 7d 8h 42m (17.10mph)
7th Berliner (Ger) 3021.30 miles – 7d 10h 23m (16.94mph)
8th Ari’s Angels (Usa) 3021.30 miles – 7d 14h 35m (16.55mph)
9th Equipe Schwarz (Ger) 3021.30 miles – 7d 21h 15m (15.96mph)
10th Drew’s Crew (Usa) 3021.30 miles – 7d 23h 18m (15.79mph)
11th Team Can Be Venture (Usa) 3021.30 miles – 8d 9h 06m (15.02mph)
DNF Team Surfing USA (Usa) 1911.70 miles – TS #32 – 3d 21h 51m (20.37mph)

RAAM 4-Person Mixed 50-59
1. Buchholz goes America (Ger) 3021.30 miles – FINISH – 6d 22h 46m (18.12mph)

RAAM 4-Person Mixed Under 50
1st All Wheels 4 Fibromyalgia (Usa) 3021.30 miles – FINISH – 6d 11h 16m (19.46mph)
2nd Team Human Science (Gbr) 3021.30 miles – 6d 23h 10m (18.07mph)
3rd Sami’s Team (Usa) 3021.30 miles – 7d 8h 41m (17.10mph)

RAAM 2-Person
Male Under 50
1st Adventures for the Cure (Usa) 3021.30 miles – FINISH – 7d 01h 33m (17.82mph)
2nd E-HUB TEAM (Slo) 3021.30 miles – 7d 9h 12m (17.05mph)

Male 50-59
1st Team Reaching Heights (Usa) 3021.30 miles – FINISH – 7d 10h 36m (16.92mph)

2-Person Mixed
British pair SpinVox Adventurers have done it! Comprising of Christina Domecq and Ian Rolls, the race’s only mixed pair started slow and tapped out a smooth and steady pace throughout, keeping to their limits well. Congratulations to them.

1. SpinVox Adventurers (Gbr) 3021.30 miles – FINISH – 8d 0h 46m (15.67mph)

A final thank you
So, that just leaves a final thank you to everyone in the RAAM family – and this is a huge thank you. Racers, crews, time station volunteers, media crew, sponsors, administrators, fans, families, friends: all of you have helped to make this a special race.

Let’s remember that, in the whole scheme of things, every single RAAM or RAW entrant this year is a champion – for pushing so hard, for achieving so much. Each and every one deserves our utmost credit and respect for what they have done.