A new RAAM graphic has been created. Maybe the new colors are more worldly as RAAM hasn't been a national phenomenon in quite a long while. 2011 will be represented by 18 countries as of February 2002. Unusual ones are India, Lichtenstein, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Bulgaria, and Korea!
There's five (5) solo women. WOW - women on wheels! 60 something David Jones will again cross solo! A couple crusty old Hoosiers, Steve Gerbig an Joel Sothern, are crossing, too.
Here are my favorites for solo men: (1) Marko Baloh - will take up the Slovenia slack. He just got the 24 hour record and looks to have the finances straightened out. He just has to get over those Rocky Mountains without medical problems. (2) Mark Pattinson - has had impressive finishes in the past years and always finishes strong. (3)Chris Gottwald - They say he's a rookie but I swear he rode in 2008 or 2009. From K-Zoo and works in Ft Wayne; he's as local a we can get.
And here's what will be missing.
Jure' Robic died last November hit by a car (naturally for us cyclists) while returning home from a mountain bike ride. He was the Lance Armstrong of RAAM. He will be sorely missed.
