RAAM Update: Robic and Buatois extend leads

By Vic Armijo

Solo men

There’s an old Race Across America adage that says “the race starts at the Mississippi River.” Indeed, RAAM history shows many epic battles that didn’t begin until then. But if that is truly the case this year, then male solo leader Jure Robic is starting his last third of the race with a 5 1/4 hour head start over second place racer Gerhard Gulewicz.

While the RAAM leader board shows only a 3 1/2-hour advantage for Robic, RAAM officials issued the Slovenian a time credit of 1 hour and 57 minutes to make up for time lost when he was stuck behind a flooded road in Kansas. There’s also the matter of a 15 minute penalty assessed in Kansas — RAAM rules state that a rider must either check in at a time station or phone in to RAAM headquarters to report whereabouts every six hours. Robic’s crew was first issued a warning for this back in Colorado when their rider took an unheard of (for him) two-hour sleep break. But when a second infraction occurred Monday, the penalty was assessed.

Meanwhile Gulewicz, who sported some fresh but minor abrasions on his left knee Monday, holds a nine-hour advantage over American Kevin Kaiser, with Australian Matthew Warner-Smith riding just over an hour behind in fourth. Early Tuesday morning Warner-Smith showed impressive form as he took advantage of a very slight downgrade in Missouri to power along at over 30 mph.

In the early days of this 29th Annual RAAM, Mark Pattinson seemed intent on repeating his second place ride of 2008, his rookie year. But he’s now back in sixth, suffering from a case of “Shermer’s Neck,” that is, the inability to hold up his head due to severe fatigue of his neck muscles. This common RAAM ailment is named for Michael Shermer, one of the early RAAM racers who had the distinct honor of being the first to suffer it. Pattinson was seen early Tuesday morning wearing a soft neck collar of the type used by people suffering from whiplash.

“I just wish I could see past my front wheel,” he lamented, “I can’t raise my head up enough to see ahead.” Which isn’t to say that Pattinson’s hopes for a top finish are over. Many riders have continued on and done well in spite of neck fatigue, most notably Alan Larsen who went on to win. Larsen however resorted to a sort of back-pack device that had a brace to suspend the head in the right position to see the road. Perhaps Pattinson’s crew will fashion something similar for him.

Solo women

With her race nearly two-thirds over, French recumbent rider Barbara Buatois continues to hold front position, and most notably has been passed only by Robic and Gulewicz. While it is true that the women had a one-day head start on the solo men, in each year of this staggered start the top five men have passed the leading woman long before this stage — usually in Colorado or Kansas.

During her pre-event interview back in Oceanside, Buatois said her goal was merely to finish. When asked half way through this race if that meant that she’ll be back for a second time she laughed and replied through her interpreter, “Perhaps. We shall how the future goes.”

Second place is still held by South African Michele Santilhano, about 11 hours behind Buatois. Santilhano has been very focused and serious this year, in contrast to her more easy going demeanor last year when she pulled out in Arizona. Italian Sabrina is still in third, while Amy Xu has slipped passed the American recumbent rider Sandy Earl to take fourth.

Standings (as of 3:05 pm EST, June 15)
Solo women

• 1. Barbara Buatois (France)  1,894 miles        6 days, 21 hours, 18 minutes
• 2. Michele Santilhano (South Africa)  1,721 miles        6 days, 20 hours, 16 minutes
• 3. Sabrina Bianchi (Italy)    1,598 miles         6 days, 19 hours, 25 minutes
• 4. Sandy Earl  (USA) 1,598 miles        6 days, 21 hours, 34 minutes
• 5. Amy Xu (USA) 1,563 miles         6 days, 19 hours, 17 minutes

Solo men

• 1. Jure Robic (Slovenia) 1,970 miles       5 days, 17 hours, 18 minutes
• 2. Gerhard Gulewicz (Austria)  1,894 miles       5 days, 15 hours, 39 minutes
• 3. Kevin Kaiser (USA)   1,837 miles       5 days, 20 hours, 37 minutes
• 4. Matthew Warner-Smith (Australia)  1,788 miles       5 days, 18 hours, 37 minutes
• 5. Mark Pattinson  (USA)  1,788 miles       5 days, 20 hours, 36 minutes

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