Eight days into the 2026 Race Across America (RAAM), defending champion Philipp Kaider has opened a commanding lead as he closes in on a second consecutive victory. The 40-year-old Austrian passed through Parkersburg, West Virginia, on Tuesday afternoon 23 June, leading the 4,938-kilometre transcontinental race by approximately 500 kilometres over his nearest rivals. With approximately 1,000 kilometres remaining, Kaider appears firmly on course to defend his title.

Kaider is averaging 27.5 km/h across the entire race, including rest stops — one kilometre per hour faster than his winning pace in 2025.S The race for second place is heating up, with three riders separated by less than 30 kilometres. 2024 RAAM champion Allan Jefferson from Australia leads, followed closely by Austrian Thomas Mauerhofer. Swiss ultracycling newcomer Michel Bucheli sits close behind, having discovered the sport only in 2023 after a remarkable personal transformation from a lifestyle of excess to elite competition. All three projected to reach Parkersburg on Wednesday afternoon 24 June local time.

In the team division, one of the race’s most compelling stories centres on Team Skipper and Californian Joe Petersen, 68, competing in his record 20th RAAM. The team had planned to enter the 70-plus age division, but a pre-race injury changed those plans when their 73-year-old rider was chased off the road by a dog during training, breaking several ribs and forcing his withdrawal.

Yet all was not lost.

At the last minute, a remarkable replacement stepped forward to help — and to provide two powerful legs. Team Skipper added Matthew Lefthand, 34, a Guinness World Record holder in ultracycling. The cyclist from Ogden, Utah, was the first to cover over 1000 virtual kilometres in 24-hours when he recorded 1046.23 kilometres on Zwift in 2025. His addition lowered the team’s average age to 60.2 years, moving them into the 60-plus division — a category arguably better suited to their renewed ambitions. As of Tuesday afternoon, Team Skipper sat second among the four-person teams — just 30 kilometres behind Team Murcal.

RAAM organisers have set up a live tracking map that allows fans to follow the location of all competitors. At his current pace, Kaider is projected to reach the finish line in Atlantic City, New Jersey, late on Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.

Photo Credit: Facebook/kkcycling.at

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