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Wyss wins RAAM

Boyer leading Enduro division

Published: Jun. 21, 2006

Atlantic City, New Jersey - Not even looking particulary tired from his 9 day, 11 hour and 50 minute crossing of 3043 miles from Oceanside, California, to Atlantic City, New Jersey, Daniel Wyss of Brig, Switzerland rolled across the finish line at 11:57 p.m. on June 20 to become the first rookie winner in the Solo category of the Race Across America since Jonathan 'Jock' Boyer in 1985.

Wyss won the Solo Traditional division, in which riders may stop as little - or as much - as they choose. Riders in the Solo Enduro division - currently led by Jonathan Boyer - are expected to finish around 11 a.m. Wednesday 21st June.

After a measured start out of Oceanside, Wyss soon began moving up through the field, and led the entire race, including all the Enduro riders, through Mexican Hat, Utah, 682 miles in.

Thereafter, the 36 year-old was involved in every fight for the Traditional division lead.

First he battled with Marcel Knaus who took the lead in Montezuma Creek, Utah. But he went past the police officer from Liechtenstein in between Pagosa Springs and South Fork in Colorado. Knaus never came back into contention and pulled out in Ulysses, Kansas, complaining of saddle sores.

Next came the challenge of fellow Italian, the ten-times RAAM starter Fabio Biasiolo. Biasiolo surged to the front between Trinidad and Kim, in Colorado.

Going through Illinois Wyss caught up to Biasiolo, but realized he had mis-timed his effort. "I went harder than I was comfortable with, and then I realized how hard the RAAM is to people who do this," Recalled Wyss at the finish.

Crediting his team for his win, Wyss described himself as the weak link in the chain.

His opponents might not have agreed. Wyss gathered his strength until 683 miles from the finish, and then powered passed Biasiolo before time station 42 at Troy, Ohio.

From that point on, Wyss extended his lead while Biasiolo lost second place to his compatriot Dino Valsesia.

Dr Christian Hoppe, Doctor to Wyss - and to 2001 champion Andre Clavedetscher - instructed Wyss to gain 15lbs prior to the race. "He needs this for fuel in the second part of the race," Explained Hoppe - who speculated that Biasiolo's problems may have stemmed from lack of appropriate fuel sources.

"We can get about 10,000 kilo-calories into Wyss each day, but he burns 17-18,000 kilo-calories. The body must make up this difference by consuming something, and if the fat is not available it will be muscle." Said Hoppe.

During his ride, Wyss consumed an all liquid diet composed of a product for cancer patients called Resource, a sweetened fat mixture, and a solution of water, salt and sugar. He slept on most nights for 80 minutes, with a 15-minute power nap during the day.