This is nothing like the Tour de France. These bike racers are a different breed of cat. They are ultra marathoners and they are about to undergo 12 days (or less) of hell. On June 11 at noon EDT, the 2013 Race Across America began and several riders took off from the pier at Oceanside, CA and will not stop until they finish in Annapolis MD, 3000 miles away. Last year's winner, Reto Schoch of Switzerland did it in about 8 days, 6 hours. It's basically one long time trial. When they sleep, the clock keeps running. When Jure Robic of Slovenia won in 2004, it is estimated he slept a total of 4 hours during 8 days of racing.
While the race cannot be seen live even on the internet, the thing I check all day long during the race is the racer's listed progress on the leaderboard. All along the course there are timestops where the riders must check in with race officials. As of right this very second, the leaders of the race have passed the 342 mile time stop in Salome, AZ. Currently, the 2011 winner in the male under 50 category, Christoph Strasser of Austria, is leading the 2012 winner (Schoch) by about 42 minutes. In the women's category, six-time winner Seana Hogan is leading the pack even though she competes in the 50-59 category. Maria Parker is in second place even though she rides a recumbent bicycle.
Different breed of cat. They can race in teams and rotate riders or simply race in the solo category. They need to have a chase vehicle and they need to obey the rules of the road like stopping at stop signs. They raise money for charity. They even have their own disease. I'll explain after the squiggle.
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