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They’re going a lot faster than I cycled across America, but passing to the south of Kansas City - about now - should be a team from Ireland in the Race Across America 2008.

The teams left Oceanside in California on June 11th and should be reaching the east coast somewhere in Maryland about a week later. (the individual race started 3 days earlier). The race is conducted more as a time trial than a road race, so it won’t look anything like the Tour de France.

Back in the day when I told friends that I was planning to cycle across America, being racing cyclists they assumed I was talking about entering the RAAM. And they thought I was the mad one.

Travelling through both Kansas and Missouri, I reckon the nearest the RAAM teams get to KC might be Fort Scott. Among the teams competing is Ireland’s Avonmore Navan team.

On December 15th 2007, Sports Psychologist and personal trainer Alan Heary asked the question……What would happen if he took a group of leisure cyclists and fitness enthusiasts and gave them access to the best coaches trainers, and facilities normally only available to Irelands elite and challenged them to complete the toughest cycle race in the World – The Race Across America (RAAM).

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You can read more on Irish Cycling:

After auditions and fitness tests were conducted with over forty applicants only thirteen were chosen to take part in the project. The following five months consisted of gruelling training in sometimes freezing and stormy conditions over punishing terrain cycling at night as well as day. This pushed them to physical, mental and emotional fatigue.

Only four were finally selected for Ireland’s Navan Avonmore team, which will be the Irish contingent in this year’s race. They are Stephen McManmon, Alan Duffy, Colm Laverty and Adrian McNally.

And you know what’s particularly odd about this Irish team entry? These lads have never raced before taking up this test.

And of course, there’s a blog. Or something resembling one:

After getting back from LA where we were all added as drivers for the RV, it was time to put the vehicles in shape and make sure that all safety equipment was ready for inspection. This was an all hands on deck moment, and we were all trying to get the magnetic amber triangles and safety lights on as quick as possible. On arrival by our two RAAM inspectors, we were just taping the flag with tie wraps and gaffer tape. Alan then had to bolt back to the accommodation to get his shoes as racers equipment was being checked also. He arrived back to the car park by the pier where the RAAM official’s were just signing off all the equipment. Once that was done the team presented the guys with key rings from Ireland and little leprechauns. As we pointed out to any shouts of bribery, by leprechaun dolls, we had passed our inspection before we gave them the gifts. But I am still not sure when Leprechaun Dolls or key rings with shamrocks became bribe-worthy currency.

There’s no great maps of the route that I could find without - which is very surprising so I probably didn’t look hard enough. But here’s one that’s handy for a quick glance. Just a quick glance mind you.

Check out the official RAAM site for more of this event where not too many people are stopping to smell the roses.

This entry was posted on Saturday, June 14th, 2008 at 7:26 pm and is filed under Sport. You can follow responses via my RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.