The RAAM blog
We had the chance to speak to Alberto a few days after his epic Race Across America 2011...
Alberto Blanco (USA) took fourth in this 30th Race Across America, and was honored as RAAM Rookie of the Year, but if RAAM had a “Human Drama Award,”...
“Wait, isn’t this the RAAM Leaderboard from a couple of days ago?” I thought this afternoon when I took a peek...
While Christoph Strasser continues on through west Virginia, exciting things are happening behind him...
Ever get back from a few hours on your bike and feel a little neck stiffness?
The 29 year old RAAM rookie continues to impress. By the end of day one he established himself as a front runner and hasn’t been...
Amazingly, 29 year old Blanco is very new to all this, having done his first endurance cycling event just last year...
Finally the Race Across America started at the beach of Oceanside, California...
Alberto and his team members have arrived in Oceanside, California. Everyone is very busy with the preparation...
Facts
RAAM - An Epic Event
RAAM has a rich and storied history. In 1982 four individuals raced from the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles to the Empire State Building in New York City. Covered by national television, the race captivated the public's imagination. Teams were added in 1994 and quickly became the most popular and fastest growing segment of the race. Relay team racing made the event accessible to any reasonably fit cyclist.
RAAM is a Race
Unlike the three great European Grand Tours (Tour de France, Vuelta a Espana and Giro de Italia), RAAM is not a stage race. RAAM is one continual stage, similar to a time trial. Once the clock starts it does not stop until the finish line. RAAM is about 30% longer than the Tour de France. Moreover, racers must complete the distance in roughly half the time allowed for the Tour. Racers must traverse 3000 miles across 12 states and climb over 170,000 vertical feet. Team racers have a maximum of nine days and most finish in about seven and a half days. Teams will ride 350-500 miles a day, racing non-stop. Solo racers have a maximum of 12 days to complete the race, with the fastest finishing in just over eight days. Solo racers will ride 250-350 miles a day, balancing speed and the need for sleep.
More information: www.raceacrossamerica.org
The racer Alberto Blanco
Why did you decide to participate at the "Race across America" event?
I feel I'm ready mentally and physically, I like to compete and like extreme challenges. I can't think of anything more extreme than doing RAAM 8 to 10 day riding your bike non-stop 20 to 22 hours a day, rain or shine, sleeping only about 2 hour a day, it doesn't get any better than RAAM (or worse).
How do you prepare yourself for this event?
Doing long overnight rides of up to 450 miles. My weekly average is 600 to 700 hundred mile on the long weeks and 100 to 150 miles on rest weeks, I usually take a rest day after 10 days where I don't ride my bike at all and just do some stretching to allow my body to recover from all the training.
I do a lot of my riding at night time when my family is in bed, I would also commute to work 45 miles one way and the then 45 miles on the way home, some days I would leave the house earlier to put in 60 miles and then ride some more in the afternoon.
Who will support you during the race?
I'll have a crew of 5 people,
One doctor
Two drivers
Two navigators
We will have to shifts, a night shift and a day shift so two people rest while the others are on shift; they follow this routing 8 am to 8pm day shift and 8pm to 8am the night shift across the country.
You will raise money for the Davis Phinney Foundation, please tell us more about it.
By being out there supporting this foundation we plan to raise awareness for this disease that affect so many people worldwide. Cycling has been shown to improve the systems of Parkinson's, so we plan to encourage PD patients to get on a Bike and exercise.
There is no prize money in RAAM so I don't earn any money and even though it cost a lot to do this race, the experience of going through this for me and the people involve in helping achieve my goal is something money can't buy.
Money is nice but it could only take you so far.
What is your biggest fear?
I am not afraid. I have respect for the race, and believe in being well prepared mentally and physically for anything that RAAM could throw at me.
What is the first thing you will do after the race?
Go for a bicycle ride with my daughter.
What is your favorite quote?
It ain't over until is over.
Racing for Charitable Causes
Alberto Blanco would like to use the 2011 Race Across America as a platform to help raise money for the Davis Phinney Foundation. More information: www.davisphinneyfoundation.org