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2020 RQ Calendar - 53 Races in 18 Countries
2020 will mark the 39th year for the Race Across America - The World''s Toughest Bicycle Race. RAAM is open to solo racers as well as 2, 4 and 8-person teams. Solo racers must qualify by completing a RAAM Qualifier (RQ). No qualification is required for teams.
Whether trying to qualify for Solo RAAM, working on developing your ultra-bicycle racing skills under race conditions or simply looking for the next great ultra-bicycle racing experience, there are now 53 opportunities in 18 countries - 31 road events (36 races), 15 time trials and 2 fixed-distance races run on time trial courses. These races will test your limits. Following are the 2020 RAAM-sanctioned RQs:
RAAM Qualifiers - Road Races
All racers are on the course at the same time competing against each other as well as trying to complete the course within a pre-determined time. Solo racers finishing within the time cut-off qualify for Solo RAAM. Courses may be a single large loop, point-to-point or a combination. Climbing, overall difficulty and time cut-offs vary. Racers must have a support crew to qualify for RAAM.
Ultra Spice 1000 and 1750km (Goa, India - January 23, 2021)
RAAM Challenge Texas (Castroville, TX - March 28, 2020)
Race Across Italy (Silvi, Italy - May 1, 2020)
Race Around Denmark (Horsens, Denmark - May 19, 2020)
Joe Barr 500 (Londonderry, Ireland - May 22, 2020)
Race Across Germany W-E (Aachen, Germany - June 5, 2020)
B-Hard Ultra Race (Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina - June 6, 2020)
Glocknerman Classic (888km) and Ultra (1000km) (Graz, Austria - June 10, 2020)
Romantika Uz Beas (Ushiarpur, India - June 13, 2020)
Race Across the West (Oceanside, CA - June 16, 2020)
Race Across America - 2- and 4-person Teams (Oceanside, CA - June 20, 2020)
Dolomitica (Sarmede, Italy - July 3, 2020)
Race Across Germany N-S (Flensburg, Germany - July 3, 2020)
Race Across Oregon (The Dalles, OR - July 17, 2020)
Race Around Austria (St.Georgen im Attergau, Austria - August 10, 2020)
Tortour (Schaffausen, Switzerland - August 13, 2020)
Race Across France (Cannes, France - August 14, 2020)
Baltyk-Bieszczady Tour (Swinoujscie, Poland - August 21, 2020)
Race Around Ireland and Irish Ultra Challenge (Trim, County Meath, Ireland - August 22, 2020)
Race Around Aomori (Aomori, Japan - August 22, 2020)
Hoodoo 500 (St. George, UT - August 28, 2020)
Great Himalayan Ultra (Leh Ladakh, India - September 4, 2020)
Cascade 500 (Arlington, WA - September 12, 2020)
Silver State 508 (Reno, NV - September 18, 2020)
Bonneville 808 (Mt. Tremblant, Quebec, Canada - September 18, 2020)
Natchez Trace 444 (Nashville, TN - October 2, 2020)
Race the Pearl (Dondra, Sri Lanka - October 2, 2020)
Shivalik Signature (Chandigarh, India - October 3, 2020)
No Country For Old Men - 383 and 1,000-mile (Alpine, TX - October 24, 2020)
BDO Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge (Lake Taupo, New Zealand - November 14, 2020)
Deccan Cliffhanger (Pune, India - November 28, 2020)
RAAM Qualifiers - Time Trials
All racers are on the course at the same time competing against each other as well as trying to compile as many miles as possible within 24 hours. Solo racers achieving a pre-determined mileage standard qualify for Solo RAAM. That standard varies depending upon the course. Courses are comprised of loops with support from a fixed location.
Pace Bend Ultra (Spicewood, TX - February 1, 2020)
Sebring 24-Hour (Sebring, FL - February 8, 2020)
Revolve24-Bend Motorsports Park (Tailem Bend, SA, Australia - March 21, 2020)
Bessie''s Creek 24 and Gulf Coast 511 (Brookshire, TX - April 2, 2020)
Fulton Epic Challenge (Canal Fulton, OH - May 1, 2020)
Texas Ultra Spirit (Fayatteville, TX - May 8, 2020)
24 Hours in the Canyon (Palo Duro Canyon, TX - May 30, 2020)
Midt24 (Snejbjerg, Denmark -June 20, 2020)
24 Hours del Montello (Treviso, Italy - August 1, 2020)
Helnaes 24 (Ebberup, Hallerne, Denmark - August 15, 2020)
Mid-Atlantic 12/24-Hour (Washington, NC - August 15, 2020)
IL24TE (Urim, Israel - September 16, 2020)
Revolve24-Brands Hatch (London, England - TBD)
Texas Time Trials 24-Hour and Tejas 500 (Glen Rose, TX - September 17, 2020)
6-12-24 Hour World Time Trial Championships (Borrego Springs, CA - October 9, 2020)
Two of the races - the Bessie''s Creek-Gulf Coast 511 and Texas Time Trials-Tejas 500 are fixed-distance races on time trial courses. Three of the 24-hour time trials utilize world famous motorsports circuits: Sebring 24-Hour (Florida), Revolve24-Bend Motorsports Park (Australia) and Revolve24-Brands Hatch (UK).
We will profile each of the races in the RAAM Newsletter 8-12 weeks before the event. Dates are based on most recent information and should be confirmed with event management.
For more information: WEBSITE
How To Qualify: WEBSITE
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the past couple of years we've witnessed incredible performances. In 2016, Sarah Cooper won Race Across the West (RAW) overall with a record setting performance. Also in 2016, Lael Wilcox won the unsupported ride, Trans Am, overall. Nicole Reist won the women's division of RAAM in 2016 and 2018. In the 2018 race Reist finished 3rd overall and pushed a record pace for most of the race. Also in 2018, both Seana Hogan and Kathy Roche-Wallace broke the 50-59 record.
But, 2019 may be the most compelling year so far in women's ultra-racing. Nicole Reist has continued her dominance by winning the women's division in Glocknerman, Race Across France and Race Around Austria, setting records along the way. This year RAAM featured the largest solo women's field in the history of the race, including 4 former winners. Daniela Genovesi and Leah Goldstein came in 1st and 2nd respectively (4th and 5th overall). Seana Hogan became the first 60+ solo woman to finish RAAM. This year in RAW the solo women's field recorded a 100% finish rate. Jen Orr won RAW overall. Fiona Kolbinger won the Transcontinental Race in Europe overall and missed the overall record by a mere 3.5 hours.
top notch field of racers every year and to provide the best possible race for them to showcase their talent.
(Leadership Challenges), Jimmy Riccitello, Dex Tooke (although Dex will return to racing RAAM in 2020) and the list goes on. A couple of new faces in the crew world are Shane Traughber and Jamie Tracy. Traughber is a nutritionist based in Austin, Texas and has been a familiar face at more and more ultra-races. Jamie Tracy, the husband of Christie Tracy, is relatively new to the world of ultra, but both are making quite a splash in the race world. Christie on the bike and Jaime behind the scenes. Jamie, while focused on crewing for Christie, is always quick to help in a pinch and more than generous with his time and skills.
Ultra-Cycling Forum is a great place to seek advice on just about anything - equipment, logistics, vehicle set-up, strategy, etc. You need some crew or a teammate to race with, you can find that, as well. The people that are around the ultra-world are very helpful and accommodating.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the largest state park in California, second largest in the nation. The area is easily accessible San Diego and Los Angeles, from several major airports. With a population of only 3,500, the roads are low traffic, safe. There are no stop lights!
Holzer (USA) Will be competing with standouts Donna Phelan (USA) and Andrea Bess (BRA). Top-to-bottom these will some of the most competitive fields we have seen at the WTTC.
they don't have time splits on a website or live tracking and they don't have an OFCL or DNF attached to them. When you combine all of those things races take on a whole different feeling. And, if you are in a race that has a crew, a training ride doesn't have the possibility of letting your crew down, let alone yourself.
things you will never feel doing training rides or race simulations, and they are important to understand if you want to succeed.
create pieces that give character and awareness to the daily experiences from drinking from a mug, eating out of a bowl, hiding keepsakes in a jar, and so many more.
Travel is always tricky. Figure out the best and most cost effective way to schedule it. Is driving to an event the best or flying. Where is everyone coming from? What kind of support vehicle do you need? It might be cheaper to rent at home and drive. Verify the rental vehicle you will be receiving at check-in, don't get surprised at arrival. Booking air travel is also tricky. Be careful booking through discounters that have non-refundable tickets or that have no customer service. What may seem like a savings may cost you later on. Also, booking air tickets way in advance is not always an advantage. Most of the best deals are usually found 2-3 months prior to your trip, not 6 months. Be prepared for changes, they happen. 
race. Monica Storhaug Bernhoft (NOR) set a new course record and took home first place honors for the women. She successfully beat out the 2017 and 2019 RAAM women's solo champions, Sarah Cooper (USA) and Daniela Genovesi (BRA). This race marked Cooper's return to racing and she kept it very close until the end.
overall title and set a new course record.She was closely chased by WTTC rookie, Paolina Allen (CAN).
Severin Zotter (AUT) (2015), Reto Schoch (SUI) (2012), Dani Wyss (SUI) (2009 and 2006), Allen Larson (USA) (2003), 3-time winner Wolfgang Fasching (AUT) (2002 and 2000), and Andreas Clavedetscher (LIE) (2001). Robic has passed away, and Schoch, Wyss, Larson, Fasching and Clavedetscher are no longer racing.
place finishes, and David Haase (USA) with 4 sub 10-day rides including two 2nd place finishes and one 3rd place finish. Relative newcomers include previous winners Bischoff and Zotter, both with sub 10-day rides, and Ralph Diseviscourt (LUX) with one sub 10-day ride and 2nd place finish and Jakob Olsen (DEN) with a sub 10-day ride and a 3rd place finish. While these are the racers most likely to win the men's solo race in the absence of Strasser, none have as yet registered for the 2020 race.
she finished with an average speed of 11.02 mph and 2018 with a speed of 12.79 mph. The improvement has been dramatic. In 2018 she finished in 9d:23h:57m, the first sub 10-day finish by a woman in more than 2 decades. That was the 6th fastest average speed by a woman in history. Only 4 other riders posted higher average speeds - Seana Hogan (USA) (13.23 mph in 1995 and 13.2 mph in 1994), Muffy Ritz (USA) (13.09 mph in 1995), Susan Notorangelo (USA) (12.93 mph in 1989) and Elaine Mariolle (USA) 12.84 mph in 1986).
She will be pushed by RAAM veteran Leah Goldstein (CAN). Goldstein won RAAM in 2011 with an average speed of 11.13 mph. She finished 2nd in 2019 with a speed of 11.83 mph. She has been training hard and believes she will improve upon her 2011 and 2019 times.
John and Nancy Guth are back with their 4-person team Beau, Babe & Friends. The Guths may be some of the most recognized faces in ultra-racing and never fail to put forth a great race. We will also see the first team from Finland, the Fintastics, this year. The Opportunists, fronted by Chris Huffman, have been one of the top fundraising teams for the past few years and have bettered their race performance every year. Karsten Hoffman (team faelles4loekkefonden) and Gerry & Steffi Steinberg (Team Steinberg Coaching) are bringing a ton of experience from across the pond along with the rookie team from Norway, E2-TEAM. Team Fat Chance from the USA is returning to hopefully tip that 19.99mph average into the 20s this time around.
number of 20 RAAM finishes.Team Viasat one of the pioneers of the 8-person division is back after taking a year to do Race Across the West which pitted their California office against their Colorado office. A true corporate battle for the win with California taking the top honors. They are joined by two rookie teams, Team Suicide Prevention and Team Canada.
Silvi, Italy - May 1, 2020 - 
Ohio on May 1, 2020. The town is located immediately SW of Akron, Ohio. The event has been organized by Maria del Pilar Vazquez, a cycling coach and ultra-racer. She has crewed for other ultra-racers and will be competing in the 2020 Race Across the West.
approximately 25 miles SSE of Amarillo and 14 miles E of Canyon. Palo Duro Canyon is the most spectacular and scenic feature in the Texas Panhandle. The Canyon floor lies 800 feet below the surrounding Llano Estacado.
Horsens, Denmark - May 19, 2020 - 
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