TransAmerica race. Blue dot watching

[mrcharly-YHT]

Ah - that explains a lot. what a bummer.

[Jack_P]

Mike    2834
Jason  2753   so still 81 in it.
Ed       2589   

juliana is closing in now shes on the flat, go girl.

[mrcharly-YHT]

I can see her coming 4th overall, she is doing very well.

Some perspective on the scale of the race; there is currently 500miles between race lead and sixth place.

[SJR]

I streetviewed some of the roads through Kansas.  If I ever thought I'd fancy a go at this then I don't now.  I grew up in the Fens and I seriously thought that they were big, flat and featureless - albeit inspiring on a good day.  Kansas is like the Fens covering an entire country!  I'd be bored out of my tiny mind.

Big round of applause for Christoph Strasser in the 'other' US bike race.  16+mph for 7 days and a new RAAM record is truly astonishing.  His average over 7 days ain't much worse than mine in a 24hr TT.

[teethgrinder]

Looks like it'll be a nailbiter all the way to the end between Mike Hall and Jason Lane. Mike looks to have the upper hand but could easily lose it with a bit of bad luck.
My money* is on Mike but I don't think it a safe bet!
Juliana pretty much has the womens race.



















*If I had any.

[SJR]

I've been watching this and RAAM simultaneously.  By my calculation, feel free to correct, Mike has covered the same distance as RAAM in a time which would see him inside the 12 day cut off.  All of this UNSUPPORTED.  Awe inspiring.  There are many fully supported riders in RAAM who have not made or will not make that deadline.

[mrcharly-YHT]

It is.

I suspect that Mike wouldn't be a lot quicker if he were supported - going fast isn't his forte, he's very very good at sustained medium speeds and as tough as seasoned oak.

I really don't know how he finds the time to refuel. His lack of faffage is very impressive.

[SJR]

I'm glad to see Jesse move back into 4th.  He's battled well throughout.  Is it just my imagination or have places 7 & 8 been riding a tandem most of the way?

[mrcharly-YHT]

JB is now fifth.

[recumbentim]

Theres a lot of lumpy stuff to come in Virginia suppose anything could happen yet?

[Jack_P]

Well Saturday AM thats 2 weeks on the road when they get up.
Mike still hammering it but its still close enough with "only" a 120 mile cushion.
easy to forget the real gaps just looking at Blue dots 
Mike  3546
Jason 3428
Ed 3172
DC and JS both holed up at Marshfield  but its hotting up behind them Italiens Paolo Laureti and Giorgio Muraah are putting in a late shift and closing in only 17 miles back.
The fight for 4th place is Hot.

250+ miles a day for Mike thats just awe inspiring.

[Jack_P]

Looks like Mike had an early stop last night about 9pm and is now back on the road at 3am, is that a sign of a good last rest and he's on a non-stop ride to the finish from now on?
so how many miles has he got left?
Also Juliana and Jesse rode through the night together (3am there now) looks like they are covering 4th as much as possible.

[mrcharly-YHT]

Jason seems to have stopped.

Mike is 140miles ahead. Barring accidents, it doesn't look like Jason can catch him now. Less than 300miles to go.

What an epic battle. I'd love Juliana to come 4th.

[mrcharly-YHT]

Juliana battling hard for 4th place.

[Jack_P]

Mike wins at 9.40pm on day 18 I think
The battle for 4th still raging.
That final state looks tough, seems to be reflected in riders speeds slowing up, Mike reported cooking temperatures too.