Last year’s Rookie of the Year, Jure Robic is one of the favorites in the solo division. A soldier in the Slovenian armed forces, Robic is a machine on the bike, taking the same pain that brings other riders to their knees and using it as a source of motivation. For him, winning the race means training for extreme sleep deprivation and conquering the demons that torment all RAAM riders.
Mike Trevino
Winner of the prestigious Badwater Ultramarathon, San Diego’s Mike Trevino has proven himself as runner, but is still looking to establish himself in the competitive world of ultracycling. Brimming with confidence, his bold strategy of staying on the bike for over forty straight hours to start the race puts him in a battle for the lead, but it also paints a target on his back, and controversy erupts just as the leaders make their final push for the finish line.
David Haase
RAAM rookie David Haase, the owner of a bike shop in his native Wisconsin, took on a second job delivering newspapers to help train his body for sleep deprivation and raise extra money to pay for the race. What he lacks in experience, he makes up for in determination, competitiveness, and swagger. Riding for the memory of a friend and fellow cyclist killed while riding, he has one simple goal for RAAM: to win.
Randy Van Zee
Two things keep Randy van Zee pedaling despite the brutal challenges of RAAM: family and faith. A self-described “old fart from Iowa who loves to ride,” Randy van Zee represents the never say die attitude that is essential in RAAM. Regular calls from his family back home provide a crucial support system that pushes him onward even as his body slowly breaks down over the course of the race.
Andy Lapkass
A personification of the adventurous spirit of RAAM, Colorado’s Andy Lapkass lost his toes to frostbite during an attempt to climb Mount Everest. Undaunted, he turned to endurance cycling as a new way to test his limits. With his wife Abby and a supportive crew cheering him on, every crank of the pedals pushes him closer to the ultimate goal of reaching the finish line.
James "Rocket" Rosar
James “Rocket” Rosar is the ultimate RAAM underdog. He has a tiny crew, minimal sponsorship, and only a single spare set of tires to get him all the way across the country. But Rosar presses on, despite an endless series of setbacks that range from the absurd to the heartbreaking, in hopes of accomplishing his dream of finishing RAAM.
Team Action Sports
Composed of savvy RAAM veterans, Team Action Sports is the favorite in the 4-person team division. They are driven by team leader Kerry Ryan, a strong tactician who brings an almost military sense of discipline and precision. Equally strong in both mountains and flatlands, Team Action Sports is determined not only to win but also to beat the all-time RAAM speed record and collect the prize money that comes with it.
Team Vail
The 4-person Team Vail Go Fast rides for the memory of fallen teammate Brett Malin, who was killed in the previous year’s race when he was struck by a truck in New Mexico. With Malin’s father and brother on the support crew this year, it is an emotional return to an event that can bring tragedy as well as glory, and the urge for redemption guides their charge to Atlantic City.
