Race Across America update – Monday morning

By Steve Medcroft, Special to VeloNews.com

Monday, June 16th

As the sun came up on the second day of the Insight Race Across America on Monday, the lead solo racers have already passed the time station in Congress, Arizona, 336 miles into the race.

Riders weathered temperatures reaching beyond 110 degrees across the Southern California desert before making it into the steep, but cooler, roads of Arizona.

By Monday morning there was a battle developing at the front of the race for the lead. Through Sunday night, the number one position on the road changed hands several times as four riders, Rob Kish, Marco Baloh, Allen Larsen, and Jure Robic try to remain in contact with each other. Marco Baloh, the RAAM rookie from Slovenia, was setting the early pace for the veterans but he needed a couple of short rest stops over night for bathroom and massage. Rob Kish’s steady, relentless pacing is keeping Baloh firmly in check.

The Solo Race:
Sunday’s solo starters had a challenge to beat cycling master John Howard to the El Centro time station. Robic took the prize when he led the field after Howard had to stop, citing the heat.

Team Competition:
The team crews and racers began to stir at dawn Monday in anticipation of their 1p.m. start. Expect a blazingly fast first 120 miles as teams try to secure an advantage on the road to gain a mental edge over every other team. Although the heat will do team racers no favors, they only need to endure it for five or six hours Monday before the sun will dip and take temperatures down with it.

The Road Ahead:
The leaders of the solo field are expected to move across Arizona and possibly into New Mexico over the next 24 hours. Look for them in Heber and Show Low, Arizona Monday then Springerville and Pie Town, New Mexico through Monday night.

With a later start time than the solo field, the lead teams should work their way out of California by Tuesday morning as their pursuit of the solo field begins in earnest. Look for them to begin passing the tail end of the solo field starting late Tuesday. Team riders should be around Glamis, California, by Monday evening.

Race Notes:
The race has claimed its first victim. Race headquarters in Atlantic City reported that solo rider Freddy Virag was pulled from the race by his crew after it became clear that he was seriously suffering from dehydration.

For timing’s sake, all race timing is based upon the Eastern Standard Time Zone, where race timing headquarters is located. All racers and crews, regardless of where in the country they are and what their location’s local time is, will have their watches and clocks set to Eastern time. Which is true for the standings as well.

Current Standings:

Solo Men(Checkpoint at 336.7 miles)
1. Allen Larsen – 6:06 a.m.2. Marko Baloh – 6:35 a.m.3. Rob Kish – 6:48 a.m.4. Jure Robic – 7:29 a.m.5. Marcel Knaus – 7:49 a.m.6. Mark Patten – 8:14 a.m.

(The following riders had not reached 336.7 by 9:00 a.m. Their last check point was at 276.8 miles)
7. Dino Nico Valsesia – 3:40 a.m.8. Terry Lansdell – 4:00 a.m.9. Martin Lorenz – 4:16 a.m.10. Rick Ashabranner – 4:38 a.m.11. Keith Krombel – 4:39 a.m.12. Fabio Bisaiolo – 5:11 a.m.13. Ish Makk – 5:34 a.m.14. Paul Bonds – 7:30 a.m.15. Beny Furrer – 8:30 a.m.

(last checkpoint at 219.8)
16. Attila Kilda – 2:20 a.m. Solo Women
(Checkpoint 276.8)1. Rebecca Smith – 8:29 a.m.