Bicycle racers to arrive in Fort Scott this weekend

Participants in the Race Across America will be arriving in Fort Scott beginning Sunday when the first competitor is expected to check into the Fort Scott time station.

Now in its 33rd year, solo competitors began the race Tuesday and teams start today at Oceanside, Calif. The race is expected to conclude as the last team arrives June 23 at Annapolis, Md., according to a RAAM press release.

While the race has allowed participants to travel through numerous states over the years, this year's route will go through 12 states: California, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvannia and Maryland, with 54 time stations.

The first woman solo competitor is expected in Fort Scott at approximately 1:37 p.m. Monday, and the last at 8:17 p.m. Tuesday. The first men's solo competitor is expected to arrive at 5:55 a.m. Sunday and the last at 8:29 a.m. Tuesday.

The teams are divided into three groups. The first eight-racers team is expected in Fort Scott at about 2:26 p.m. Tuesday. The first four-racers team at 5:56 p.m. Tuesday and the first two-racers team at 7:15 a.m. Wednesday. The last of all the teams is expected in Fort Scott at about 4:11 p.m. Friday.

The competitors will be accompanied by their support crews.

RAAM is an annual event that has been held every year since 1982. Cyclists from around the world

compete to see who will be the fastest to pedal 3,000 miles coast-to-coast across the USA. The winning solo riders will cross the country in less than 9 days, cycling more than 300 miles per day, and teams will do it in 6 days, riding over 500 miles per day, the press release states.