Ultracycling: Race Across America Qualifiers

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RAAM Qualifiers
Updated February 20, 2009

RAAM Qualified! RAAM Qualified plaque
awarded by the UMCA
to each rider who qualifies
for solo RAAM.

Solo and tandem ultra bicycle racers must qualify for the Race Across AMerica. RAAM qualifying races serve many purposes:

Qualifying solo and tandem racers to race in RAAM.

Earning the RAAM Qualified plaque, awarded by the UMCA to each rider who qualifies.

Earning points in the Ultracycling Cup to determine the best ultra racers of the season.

Demonstrating outstanding performance for the UltraCyclist of Distinction award, the highest honor an ultracyclist can earn.

Training to race in RAAM. Relay teams are encouraged to race the qualifiers. The most experienced solo and relay team riders usually do the best in RAAM.

Solo and tandem racers in the RAAM qualifying races must be members of the Ultra Marathon Cycling Association.
How to join the UMCA.

Complete roster of riders who have qualified for RAAM.

Tinker Juarez racing in the
Heart of the South 500.
Photo by Bryan Hallman

Qualifying for the Race Across AMerica
Policy on Qualifying for RAAM approved by the UMCA's Board of Directors, March 1, 2004.

Who must qualify for RAAM
Solo racers — must meet the qualifying standards (below) to race in RAAM.

Tandem bicycle racers — must meet the qualifying standards (below) to race in RAAM.

Relay team racers do not have to qualify in order to race in RAAM.

Divisions for Qualifying
To qualify for RAAM riders compete in divisions based on the following:

Gender Male Female

Age 18-49 50-59 60-69 70 and up

Bike Type Solo including single
speed & fixed gear Recumbent HPV Tandem

Racing age is determined by birth year; i.e., everyone born in 1958 races as a 50-year old in 2008.

Duration of qualification
An ultra racer is eligible to compete in RAAM for the three years following the year in which the ultra racer qualifies for RAAM.

If a racer is an official finisher of solo Race Across AMerica or tandem RAAM, then the racer is qualified for RAAM for life.

Qualifying Races
Questions? E-mail Sandy Whittlesey, the UMCA Chair for RAAM Qualifying raam-qualifying @ ultracycling.com

Download Policy on Qualifying for RAAM.
Download Policy on Sanctioning RAAM Qualifiers.

Resources
Training, Equipment & Nutrition: Articles to help you prepare to race in a RAAM qualifier or the Race Across AMerica.

RAAM e-mail list: Sign-up for the RAAM e-mail list.

Insider's Guides: Expert advice from veteran ultra racers on how to race each RAAM qualifier.

Crewing: Crewing with Fuzzy hands-on advice from Lee Mitchell, the most experienced crew chief in the sport. A good crew is essential to a successful ultra race!