Twenty days from the start line, a training crash forced the toughest team decision of all — to stop, heal, and come back stronger.
The world's toughest bicycle race. RAAM is one of the most respected and longest-running endurance events. Riders cover roughly 5,000 km from the West Coast to the East Coast, climb over 53,400 m (the equivalent of climbing Everest more than six times), cross four time zones and twelve states, and must finish within twelve days riding day and night. Starting in Oceanside, California, the route crosses three major mountain ranges (Sierra, Rocky and Appalachian) and four of America's longest rivers before finishing in Annapolis, Maryland.
My tryst at RAAM. The team was fully ready for the ultimate challenge as Team Inspire India, with the aim of bringing home the Armed Forces Cup. We used Ultra Spice Race 2019 as a full simulation ride with the complete crew — and it marked me as the winner and new course-record holder over the 1,750 km Goa–Ooty–Goa route.
During the final spell of training in Borrego Springs, California, I broke my right collar bone during a ride on 20 May 2019 — just 20 days before the start. We had to forgo the event to heal the injury. It was a team decision, in the best interest of a full-fledged comeback.
Three months on, I was back in shape and, in October 2019, set the Kashmir-to-Kanyakumari record with a new crew — surpassing the existing milestone by almost two days and sparking the team for RAAM 2020. The pandemic then cancelled RAAM 2020, with entries rolled over; given continued international-travel restrictions, the team decided to postpone the solo attempt to 2022.
The scale of RAAM. The route spans roughly 5,000 km (3,000 miles) from Oceanside, California, climbing about 53,300 m — the equivalent of summiting Everest more than six times — across four time zones and twelve states, finishing at City Dock in Annapolis, Maryland. It crosses three major mountain ranges (Sierra, Rocky and Appalachian) and four of America's longest rivers (Colorado, Mississippi, Missouri and Ohio), passing landmarks such as the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts and Monument Valley. Riders must finish within twelve days, riding day and night.
