Race Across America Riders Here This Week

Print

Published on June 19 2019 7:41 am
Last Updated on June 20 2019 9:52 am
Written by Millie Lange

The Race Across America is coming through Effingham this week.

The annual event features bicycle riders who come from around the world to travel 3,000 miles across 12 states. The teams have to go over three major mountain ranges and those include Sierra, Rocky and Appalachian.

Bicyclists include professionals and amateurs as well. The starting point was Oceanside, California and it finishes at Annapolis, Maryland.

Riders travel through landmarks such as the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts, Monument Valley, the Great Plains and Gettysburg.

You can travel as a solo rider, two-person team, four-person team or eight-person team in relay fashion.The riders began their trek June 11. This race is one continual race where team competitors usually finish the 3,000 miles in around 7 1/2 days. The fastest has been around five days.

Solo racers have a maximum of 12 days to complete the race and most will finish in around 11 days with the fastest coming in at under eight days. Racers range in age from 13 to 75.

Riders started arriving Monday in Effingham and will continue through Friday. Most of the riders will be passing through today and Thursday. They will arrive from the west on Route 40 and travel through Effingham on Fayette Avenue. They will leave Effingham on Illinois Route 33 toward Newton and on to Robinson.

If you'd like to meet riders and talk with their team, there is a Time Station stop at Effingham High School. If you'd like to volunteer to staff the station and help for the rest of the week, phone Mike Tipton at 217-821-0422.