From the RAAM site

Read on to see how Kevins Solid Performance and the Teamwork of the Majic 3 Crews are giving us all anail biting race to the end.

Ride Kevin Ride!

Gator

RAAM Daily Wrap-Up: Day 8

2,400 miles across America, and just seven minutes separate the two frontrunners in this enthralling RAAM.

RAAM – Solo Male
How on earth is this race so close? After almost seven days and 2,450 miles across America, Jure Robic and Dani Wyss are separated by just seven minutes; the deficit has tumbled from two hours. Over the last three days, Wyss has doggedly trailed Robic, now finally closing things down to this single-figure sum. There were reports that the Swiss rider had Robic actually in sight at some points in the day.

Robic pays the penalty
Moreover, at Time Station #51, when time penalties come into play, Wyss could well go into the lead. He has no time penalties, in contrast to the three Robic has collected, amassing an hour. In previous years, this wouldn’t matter much; in the enthralling 2009 race, it could be the difference between victory and defeat. So, while Robic technically leads the race as it goes through Ohio, he actually needs to put another hour into Wyss at least if he is to claim a fifth RAAM title.

Under great strain, both men have dropped to average speeds of 15.3mph, a touch below Pete Penseyres’s speed record. Every mile and every decision matters even more now. Robic and Wyss will be turning themselves inside out for the goal they want so badly; the world’s toughest and most painful bicycle race is going to get even harder for them, as it is now a 500-mile pursuit race.

Gulewicz riding strongly
Gerhard Gulewicz has actually been riding very well in the last two days, continuing his fine resurgence. Although he may be too far behind to challenge Robic and Wyss, he is certainly showing himself as a force to be reckoned with. His pacing has been spot-on; he has opened up more leeway on Marko Baloh in the last twenty-four hours. These four are well ahead – about 300 miles - of an eight-strong pack battling behind.

Kaiser on the up
Kevin Kaiser is a big mover in the bunch fighting for fifth. As others’ average speeds and concentration drop slightly into the sixth day’s racing, his speed has actually increased. As a result, the man who sat briefly as last-placed rider now lies fifth. This race is a marathon, not a sprint, and evidently Kaiser was just biding his time before making his move.

However, Jim Rees, Brasillian Claudio Clarindo, Daniel Rudge (another man who has ridden a finely-paced RAAM) and Ben Popp are all within five hours. Just under 1,000 miles from the finish, there are still a lot more shots to be fired in this battle.

Tomorrow…
Jure Robic may well try to make a move and increase his lead on Daniel Wyss, and then hold onto it through into the final day’s racing. He certainly has to try something in their neck-and-neck duel. Their battleground tomorrow will be the gentle rollers of Ohio before the last serious climb in the race, to Time Station #46 at Gormonia, WV. It could make the difference.

For the rest of the pack, it’s over the Mississippi and the 2,000 mile mark and into Indiana and Illinois. Now more than ever, it’s a case of staying focused and as comfortable as possible. By the end of tomorrow, the race will be two-thirds completed for all the male soloists.

1. Jure Robic (Slo) 2458.20 miles – TS #41 – 6d 16h 27m (15.32mph)
2. Dani Wyss (Swi) 2458.20 miles – 6d 16h 34m (15.31mph)
3. Gerhard Gulewicz (Aut) 2295.30 miles – TS #38 - 6d 16h 37m (14.29mph)
4. Marko Baloh (Slo) 2230.20 miles – TS #37 - 6d 15h 45m (13.96mph)
5. Kevin Kaiser (Usa) 1987.30 miles – TS #33 - 6d 19h 04m (12.19mph)
6. Jim Rees / Team Inspiration (Gbr) 1911.70 miles – TS #32 – 6d 11h 14m (12.32mph)
7. Claudio Clarindo (Bra) 1911.70 miles - 6d 15h 35m (11.98mph)
8. Daniel Rudge (Usa) 1911.70 miles – 6d 16h 36m (11.90mph)
9. Ben Popp (Usa) 1911.70 miles – 6d 16h 55m (11.88mph)
10. Christopher Gottwald / Miles for Mentoring (Usa) 1911.70 miles – 6d 18h 59m (11.73mph)
11. Richard Newey (Gbr) 1853.30 miles – TS #31 - 6d 13h 20m (11.78mph)
12. Michael Cook (Usa) 1853.30 miles – 6d 17h 29m (11.48mph)

DNFPeter Oyler (Can) 1614.50 miles – TS #27 – 4d 22h 51m (13.58mph)
DNFTony O’Keeffe (Can) 1576.30 miles – TS #26 – 5d 3h 01m (12.81mph)
DNFChristoph Strasser (Aut) 1471.50 miles – TS #21 – 4d 6h 43m (14.33mph)
DNFFranz Preihs (Aut) 1044.10 miles – TS #18 – 3d 11h 08m (12.56mph)
DNFJulian Sanz Garcia (Spa) 934.20 miles – TS #16 – 3d 01h 02m (12.79mph)
DNFJean Marc Velez (Fra) 934.20 miles - TS #16 - 3d 5h 42m (12.02mph)
DNFBill Bradley (Usa) 884.10 miles – TS #15 – 3d 22h 42m (9.34mph)
DNF Patrick Autissier (Fra) 563.00 miles - TS #9 - 2d 01h 59m (11.26mph)
DNF Scott Luikart (Usa) 396.70 miles – TS #6 – 1d 04h 39m (13.85mph)