June 20, 2006 – The wind storms are over as all riders are across the Mississippi. RAAM multiple choice: Solos and teams decide between Attrition, Appalachians, or Finish Line.

Solo Enduro rider ROB LUCAS called RAAM HQ earlier this evening to announce his withdrawal (DNF) from the 2006 race due to his inability to make the race-mandated cutoff times. Rob was somewhere in near the Mississippi River and had completed nearly 2000 of the 3,043 mile course.

Solo Traditionl rider GUSS MOONEN had a wild ride near Time Station 42 in Troy, Ohio. The intrepid RAAM media staff reports that Moonen skirted past the Time Station with his RV on a road that ran parallel to the road the T.S. was on — and therefore did not technically pass the Time Station. The officials are waiting on a ruling.

The BEAVER CREEK/VAIL B2B DIVAS, the 4-person all-female team is reported to still be overcoming some middle-of-the-race accidents and weather-related problems. Tristen Grant was blown off her bike in the windstorms of Kansas and has also been recently treated for throat and lung problems by a doctor in Richmond, Indiana. Two other teammates — Linda Guerrette and Debra Decrausaz — collided with each other during an exchange in front of Time Station 26, the McDonald’s in Pratt, Kansas. Both riders went to the hospital with minor injuries and Steve Strecker, the amazing and enthusiastic owner of the McDonalds which has been offering free food to all RAAM riders and crew, went to the hospital to check on the riders and offer them a motel room and his services.

DANIEL WYSS continues his dominance over the Solo Traditional field and is expected to cross the finish line some time in the evening on June 20th. Wyss has reportedly only slept a total of 10 or so hours the entire race so far!

On the Solo Enduro side, JONATHAN BOYER, the first American to race in the Tour de France, continues to put his mark on the Enduro field, despite severely depleted neck muscles which have required a neck brace the last two days. An excellent climber, it will be quite a feat if Boyer is able to catch up to the lead Traditional rider Wyss… but don’t put anything past a competitor who knows what it’s like to race against the best riders in the world.

DINO NICO VALSESIA is now the third Solo Traditional rider to pass Solo Enduro race leader Jonathan Boyer, who was taking his last mandatory rest in Parkersburg, WV.


Solo Enduro rider KENNY SOUZA continues to battle early health problems and the RAAM course. Souza keeps motoring forward in his pursuit of the finish line and has made it to Indianapolis, IN.

Solo Enduro rookie TINKER JUAREZ has amassed a huge 55 hours and 47 minutes of rest through Time Station 43. According to his webblog (www.tinkerjuarez.com), Tinker has learned — sometimes the hard way — that it is the “adaptable” RAAM rider that is the rider who finishes RAAM. Tinker has forgone his usual chamois-less bike shorts for ones with a chamois, and has also been making other physical and bike changes as fatigue, weather, and “RAAM factors” dictate.

MARKO BALOH is afraid of doing anything to jinx his current RAAM. In the new Enduro field this year after two DNFs (in two attempts) as a Traditional rider, Baloh made it as far as West Virginia on his first attempt before pulling the plug. As Baloh nears this milestone again, his crew has said that this could be his last RAAM whether he finishes or not.

The clock is about to strike midnight once again in Atlantic City bringing to a close the 8th day of racing for the solos and the 6th day of racing for the teams.