Race Across America 2009...Comes to Annapolis

For the second year, the finish line of the Race Across America (RAAM) is at the City Dock in Annapolis and it sounds like they are doing some good things to make it a bit more spectator friendly this year. The race starts in Oceanside, CA on June 16th.

The finishing period of the 3,000 mile race is between Friday June 26th and Monday June 29th, and as you can imagine the racers are spread far and wide during that period. The eight-person teams generally finish first, followed by the four-man, two-man and then the solo riders. For 2009, rather than the riders coming into the finish at 3am and then never being seen again, they are proposing to have a set schedule for the finishing ceremonies. The riders will still come in at all hours of the day but then they will come back later in the day and be given a proper finishing ceremony, hopefully in front of more than one man and his dog. The set schedule should invoke more people to come down and see the event as well as learning more about the race and cycling in general.

The RAAM website is here and no doubt they will be looking for volunteers to help with escorting riders into the City, as they did last year.