Philipp Kaider continues to lead the world's toughest bike race!

Philipp Kaider continues to lead the world's toughest bike race!

Philipp Kaider, an Austrian ultra endurance athlete, leads at the "Race Across America" ​​(RAAM) at halftime. On June 15, 2025, he was able to further expand his leadership. Raam extends over almost 5,000 kilometers from the Pacific coast in California to the Atlantic coast in New Jersey, and is considered one of the toughest endurance races in the world. This event, which was first held in 1982, requires continuous cycling under extreme conditions.

Kaider, who started his competition on June 10, 2025, is supported by a mobile team that supports him in the strategic planning and monitoring of his medical values, such as electrolytes. The ABL90 flex plus blood gas analyzer from radiometer is used for this. He plans to cross the finish line with speed and resistance, whereby strategic decisions on sleep, nutrition and pace are decisive.

relaxation in the motel and weather conditions

After a hard day, Kaider and his crew took time to relax in a comfortable motel that offered amenities such as a shower and a soft bed. This break was necessary to regenerate the forces for the next stages of the race. Shortly after recovery, however, Kaider was faced with a violent monsoon rain that was an additional challenge for all participants.

Despite the restricted perspective, Kaider mastered the thunderstorm with flying colors. After changing the rain into dry clothes, the athlete treated himself to a short powernap when changing crew. Such recreational phases are essential to maintain the physical and mental strength that is required for success in a race like Raam.

raam: an important ultra-endurance bike race

The "Race Across America" ​​is not only a test of physical fitness, but also a test of mental concentration and strategic precision. For many participants, including Kaider, the RAAM is one of the biggest challenges in ultra cycling. The event will take place from June 10 to June 21, 2025 and attract both professional cyclists and newcomers.

The variety of racing disciplines offers opportunities for solo cyclists and for 2, 4 or 8-person seasons. To participate in RAAM, solo cyclists must have participated in at least one “RAAM qualifier” event, while there are no special requirements for relay participants. In addition to the RAAM, there are also alternative events such as the "Race Across the West" (RAW) and the new "Race Across the East".

Further information on the race and the current status can be found on the official raam-website .