RAAM: Strategic Lions beating record schedule, still behind rivals

The Strategic Lions are 1325 miles into Race Across America and they’re on course to beat the record for the gruelling 3000 mile endurance race - but they’re still in third place behind their main rivals.

The British team, who set off on Sunday, are already 30 minutes ahead of their time for the same point in the 2011 race, which they won, but this time the American teams Via Sat and Team 4Mil are way up ahead.

Team ViaSat are two hours ahead of the Lions, with Team 4Mil just 40 minutes up the road in second place.

The 30 minute lead over last year’s time is psychologically important for the Strategic Lions though, as they missed out on the all-time RAAM 8-man relay record last year by only 11 minutes.

But it seems everyone’s stronger; Team 4Mil are over 3 hours faster than last year at this stage.

The race, beginning on Oceanside, California, and ending up at the opposite coast in Maryland, has already taking in 115-degree temperatures in Arizona. Today will see them cross Kansas and enter Missouri, desperately trying to close the gap on Team ViaSat and Team 4Mil.

Swiss riders are dominating the other categories, with Trix Zgraggen in the lead for the solo ladies under 50, and Reto Scoch up ahead in the men’s under 50. Both still have a thousand miles to cover though.