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Jure Robic from Slovenia has crossed the finish line to win the Race Across America's signature solo division in a time of 8 days, 19 hours and 33 minutes. Robic completed the 3,046 mile course in non-stop racing with an average speed of 14.38 mph. Look for an additional feature on Robic's third RAAM victory, and the anticipated additional solo finishers later today.
In RAAM's relay Team Division action from yesterday:
TEAM TYPE 1- Monitored by Freestyle has won Team RAAM 2007
Arrived Atlantic City - Monday, June 18, 2007 - 9:13 am
Congratulations to Team Type 1 - Monitored by Freestyle, who not only won the 8 Person Team division, they also earned the distinction of the fastest team in RAAM 2007.
The racers are: Phil Southerland, 25, Atlanta, GA USA, Andrew Mead, 29 Philadelphia, PA USA, Matthew Vogel, 31 Davis, CA USA, Nathan Bartels, 25 West Des Moines, IA USA, Robert Schrank, 39 Gurnee, IL USA, Bob Heyer 42 Issaquah, WA USA, Monique Hanley, 29 Yarragon, Victoria AUS and Joe Eldridge, 25 of Memphis, TN USA. Team Type 1- Monitored by Freestyle completed the 2007 RAAM course maintaining an average speed of 22.42 mph in a time of 5 days 15:43. Last year Team Type 1- Monitored by Freestyle finished with an average speed of 22.36 mph, so you can see that as well as being fast, they are amazingly consistent.
Team Type 1 is comprised of eight men and women with diabetes, who are out to prove that people with diabetes can do the same activities as healthy individuals, and sometimes, they can do it better. In fact, they are also doing some very important clinical testing on blood sugar-monitoring equipment that will benefit all athletes. The team has a beautiful website
http://teamtype1.org/ for those of you that wish to learn more about this dynamic group of athletes.
BEAVER CREEK - CATLIN WINS 4 MAN RAAM 2007
Arrived Atlantic City - Monday, June 18, 2007 - 11:50 am
Zach Bingham, Jimi Mortensen, Michael Janelle and Nat Ross are celebrating their back to back victories in the Race Across America. This year they completed the course in 5 days 18:22 for an average speed of 21.99 mph. Last year the men were marginally faster winning RAAM in 5 days 16:01 with an average speed of 22.37.
Early in the race, we spoke with Zach Bingham and he told us that he was thriving on the competition with Team Psycho. He said that it was a pleasure to race against such fine competitors. These 4 mountain bike pros from Colorado embody the competitive spirit of RAAM - racing, for the sake of racing. Congratulations to these ambassadors of RAAM for another outstanding effort and victory.
TEAM PSYCHO TAKES 2nd PLACE IN 4 PERSON
Arrived Atlantic City - Monday, June 18, 2007 - 3:15 pm
The 4 man "Team Psycho" came in second place in their division in RAAM 2007. They chased Beaver Creek - Catlin Team coast-to-coast, to finish with a blazing average speed of 21.46 mph in 5 days 21.48. Rookie RAAM riders David Nerrow, Alec Petro, David Dornaus and Jeffrey Henderson were the unexpected surprise in RAAM this year. Usually, the logistics of moving a relay team across the country at top speed is rife with mistakes by a rookie team. However, Team Psycho came to RAAM prepared, and then adapted to the ever-changing conditions of a RAAM crossing with great flexibility.
David Nerrow had a slightly different take on things, he said, " Beaver Creek dangled a great carrot for us to chase". And they never lost their sense of humor, - while accepting their accolades on stage Nerrow further commented, " we have four bikes for sale, we will never ride them again". I guess they got "RAAMed". Congratulations to these outstanding racers and, what surely must have been a spectacular crew, for an impressive debut in RAAM's most competitive division.
Team Donate Life - Grace Valley Completes RAAM!
Arrived Atlantic City - Monday, June 18, 2007 - 8:19 pm
Congratulations to Team Donate Life - Grace Valley, who placed 2nd in this year's RAAM 8 Person Team Division. Finishing in a time of 6 days 02:56 and averaging a speed of 20.71mph were riders Dwight Morejohn, Marc Friedheim, Adam Abildgaard, Rick Neptune, Ronald Lewis, Justin Morejohn, Steve Jackura, Greg Chapla and Dwight Morejohn. This 8 person team of 7 rookie riders and 1 returning RAAM veteran have trained together for many years. The entire team (riders & crew) attend Grace Valley Christian Center, a non-denominational church located in Davis, CA. Together they have raised over $50,000.
Team Donate Life - Grace Valley proved to be another team which surprised RAAM fans with a group of predominantly "weekend warriors" that demonstrated a respectable chase to the national class athletes on winning Team Type 1. Other highlights of the Team Donate Life - Grace Valley squad were a father / son duo (Morejohn) and the use of a classic 1961 Cinelli racing bicycle. Who says you need the latest equipment to be competitive?
Team Donate Life is dedicated to raising awareness to encourage people across America to sign up on their own state's organ and tissue donor registry; to find out about your state's registry, go to:
www.donatelife.net. More than 97,000 Americans are on the waitlist for the gift of life; one-third of them will die as they wait. TDL cyclists also encourage fundraising for organ transplant research and public education efforts, as well as forming cycling communities to raise community awareness. To learn more, go to: www.teamdonatelife.com.
Cheniere's Making Cancer History Team - 3rd Place
Arrived Atlantic City - Monday, June 18, 2007 - 11:33 pm
Cheniere's Making Cancer History Team has finished in 3rd place in the 8 Person Teams. Racers Kirk Gentle, David Wyninger, Oswaldo Henriquez, Robert Ethridge, Chris Frost, Meg Gentle, Brian Jones, and Steve Baker finished in 6 days 06:11 and maintained an average speed of 20.26 mph.
This team demonstrated all that is grand about RAAM - Fast cycling, sportsmanship, and partnership with a charitable cause. Steve Baker, a member of their team said that he has been a competitive athlete for 35 years and has never experienced an event that has the level of camaraderie as RAAM. Meg Gentle placed info about individuals living with cancer on everyone's bicycles to remind them why they were racing. Cheniere's Making Cancer History Team - captained by Kirk Gentle and his wife Meg, who raced last year for the same cause: the MD Anderson Center in Houston, a children's hospital. They are riding in honor of Emily Parker, 11, who had her leg amputated because of NF (neurofibromatosis). Cheniere's Making Cancer History Team has raised over $400,000 in three years.
http://teammakingcancerhistory.org/default.shtml
We can't say enough about these amazing, selfless individuals. Bravo and congratulations on an exceptional performance on and off the bike!!
ViaSat finishes 4th in 8 Person Teams Divison
Arrived Atlantic City - Monday June 18, 2007 - 11:51 pm
In the 8 Person Team Division Team, ViaSat, 8 men from San Diego area, rode for USO San Diego, which helps all armed service men and women ViaSat finished a very close race in 4th overall spot, just 14 minutes behind Cheniere's Making Cancer History Team. Team Via Sat managed to keep a 20.23 mph average pace from coast to coast. ViaSat not only raced well they gave the world a glimpse of live RAAM with their live satellite feed which helped people gain a better sense of RAAM. Brad Exmeyer, one of ViaSat's racers told the crowds gathered at their finish line reception that he flies about 50,000 miles a year but the country is a lot prettier at 20 mph. Please visit their amazing site. http://www.viasat.com/raam/
Team North Coast Cycling reaches the Boardwalk
Arrived Atlantic City - Tuesday, June 19, 2007 - 2:39 am
The 5th 8 person finisher, Team North Coast Cycling reaches the Boardwalk. Pete & Jim Penseyres' now have 13 RAAM finishes between them. All team members go to the North Coast Church in Vista, CA where the team is raising money for North Coast Community Service. Team North Coast was the most diverse in age ranges of all teams. They had members in their 20's through 60's. All the "youngsters" on the team relished the opportunity to participate in RAAM with the legendary Penseyres brothers to show everyone the ropes.
Pete said he enjoyed living vicariously through the younger people on the team. He said they split their team in half for 12 hour shifts. Pete & Jim agreed it was the most fun they've had in all of their many RAAMs. On the finishing stage, Jim said, "As we get older and older, we need to find younger and younger people to stay fast." Jim also shared why he, and many newcomers, are learning about team RAAM, "You can't get in trouble in just 30 minutes. The speed is brutal, but with the chance to share the workload among teammates, the overwhelming nature of RAAM becomes manageable."
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