A Downhill Kind of Day

The 2010 Race Across America continued today, the sixth day for the women soloists and the fifth for the solo men.  It's also day two for the RAAM teams which left Oceanside in teams of two, four, and eight yesterday and are rocketing across the West, likely to catch the first solo racers tomorrow.  After climbing from the coast to the top of the Rockies, the solo racers have the opportunity for a little payback as the Time Stations from Kim, CO to Maize, KS are overwhelmingly downhill.  A total of about 350 miles of steady decline greet the riders, and not surprisingly the riders we caught up with were in a relatively good mood.

We first spotted Thomas Strebel as he rolled out of Trinidad time station with a smile and a wave. 
We caught up with Sabrina Bianchi next and she gave us her usual smile and told us things were going "pretty well" [translation from her Italian may be a little off]. 

Next up the road was the team of Julian Sanz.  He appeared to be moving along well and we exchanged a little rough Spanish that revealed he was feeling OK. 

Kevin Kaiser rolled along and gave us a quick roadside interview.  He told us he's feeling a lot better now that he was past the mountains.  When asked how he liked the cool weather, he told us that he was now "in my wheelhouse," and enjoying it immensely.  Kevin's had just a scant 5 hours of sleep since we left Oceanside, but it is definitely in his race strategy. 

Kaiser lost a spot overnight to Georg Payer of Extrem Sport Kohlbach, who looked cool and stoic as we passed.  The Austrian has looked solid and business-like the entire race.

We caught up with Rob Morlock who, if you'll recall yesterday's photo of the day, was seen powering through the mighty dust storm on the road to Alamosa, kitted out with a surgical mask.  In his moving interview, he told us he was happy to be out of that dust storm and the fog, rain, and wet roads he faced yesterday after the headwind killed his anticipated mileage.  As he gnoshed a banana, a rare departure from his usually liquid diet, he told us he'd wanted a shave, but his crew talked him out of it.

Rob indicated that he slept a little longer than he'd intended (still a scant 90 minutes) as a result of the tough conditions, but was feeling good again.  Morlock was outfitted in tights and arm warmers and when asked whether he was liking the unseasonably cool temps said he was, and that what he was wearing was usual Connecticut-weather garb for cycling. 

Rob also shared some interesting tales of the fatigue-induced hallucinations he's starting to experience, ranging from moving roadside plants to "elf shoes" on the side of the road.  He asked us to tell him what was happening at the front of the race and the battle that was developing.  He was all smiles as moved on in search of more interviews and photos.

We were fortunate enough to pull up to Matthew Warner-Smith and team with the RV and chase vehicle pulled off the road after a quick fuel and rest stop.  Warner-Smith was just heading out on the road again.  He looked extremely comfortable and confident as he rolled away, joking with his team over his shoulder as he pulled out onto the tarmac.  We talked a little bit with his crew and they were very impressed with how well their rider was faring so far.  We said our goodbyes and pushed hard to catch back up to him. 

Warner-Smith was flying along on a nice-looking Cervelo R4 standard road bike with carbon fiber wheels.  His mechanic keeps his machine looking and sounding great and his crew keeps him in all-white kit that never seems to look dingy.  If I could get a grip on his collar, I'd be willing to bet it's neatly starched…

Matthew was kind enough to grant us an interview in transit and besides looking strong he comes across as extremely comfortable and confident.  When asked about the appalling conditions yesterday, he replied that yesterday was "pretty ordinary."  His crew told us that he was talking about a big steak in Annapolis, but when asked what he was craving, his response was a more focused ask for "a stronger tailwind."  Despite riding strongly to this point, he related to us the same wisdom that many veterans share: this race doesn't even start until we get to the Mississippi.  We look forward to seeing him uncork it; as it should be impressive.

Cloudy skies and cool temps gave way to broken clouds and warm temperatures as Warner-Smith rolled through Pritchitt, CO.  The storm that has been dogging the lead riders as they moved across Kansas revealed itself on the horizon in Walsh, KS, where we found some local cycling talent.  By Manter, KS, light drizzle and fog obscured the road and cooled the air once again.  The rain appeared patchy at best with bright white grain elevators bathed in sunlight dominating the otherwise gray skies.

Michelle Santilhano was not looking completely comfortable when we caught her on the run-in to Ulysses, KS.  Her team car was up ahead and she was riding alone.  She gave us a wave, but was not in the mood to talk with us.  I later spotted her passing out hotel just past TS 23 in Ulysses, KS as I was unloading gear and she gave me a wave, indicating that she is still very much mentally sharp and in the race.  I was quite a way from the road and was impressed that she even recognized me at that distance, but I guess a 420mm lens is probably the dead ringer...

As we rolled into TS23 in Ulysses, KS Mark Pattinson's (third place overall male RAAM solo) RV and part of his crew were awaiting his arrival.  However, the railroad construction on the route force Mark and follow vehicle around the time station at the McDonald's.  We raced ahead to capture some images and an interview as he charged ahead, making a run on Gerhard Gulewicz's second place.  The usually enigmatic Pattinson was in a good mood, though wrapped in a Balaclava against the unseasonably cool weather and rains that dotted the route through Kansas.

Our plan is to stay put tomorrow at this nice hotel to take advantage of the power availability, wicked-fast internet connection, and proximit to the time station to stream video and let some of the riders farther back in the pack to pass us.  Lasted RAAM 2010 individual standings and team standings are updated in real time as the riders pass the various checkpoints.  More coming to you soon!