Philipp Kaider from Wolkersdorf im Weinviertel has won the Race Across America (RAAM) 2025. The 39-year-old ultra-distance specialist needed a time of 8 days, 22 hours and 32 minutes to complete the 4932.64 kilometre route from Oceanside in California to Atlantic City on the east coast. Kaider thus prevailed against the international competition and secured his victory six years after the last Austrian triumph with Christoph Strasser victory in the world's toughest cycling race. The Lower Austrian started on 10 June at 12:38 local time (21:38 CEST) on the Californian Pacific coast and led the race from the start. Despite extreme conditions with temperatures of over 42 degrees Celsius in the desert and days of rain in the second half of the race, Kaider never relinquished the lead until the finish. On the final kilometres, he was celebrated by his team of eleven supporters at the roadside before the official timing was stopped at the Surf Stadium in Atlantic City.
Successful race strategy and mental strength
Kaider, who started the race as a rookie, pursued a defensive strategy right from the start. Nevertheless, he was able to get to the front of the field and steadily extend his lead. After the Rocky Mountains, where the air was thin at an altitude of over 3300 metres, the Wolkersdorfer joked: "Now it's basically all downhill towards the Atlantic anyway". Despite increasing pain in his neck and knees as well as massive sleep deprivation, Kaider fought his way back into the race again and again. According to crew chief Dr Christian Kromoser, his mental strength and positive attitude were decisive factors: "We were aware of Philipp's weaknesses and always tried to keep a cool head and give him positive support, even if we sometimes didn't even know what else we could tell him to get him out of his mental slump."
Race Across America: Team performance as the key to success
The eleven-strong support team played a decisive role in Kaider's victory. Many of the team members were competing in an ultra-distance race for the first time. "We were a good match in terms of personalities. Everyone gave their best and fought for every second," says Kromoser. The good communication and coordination within the team made it possible to find solutions quickly, even in difficult phases.
Kaider's path to victory at the Race Across America
The victory at the Race Across America is the highlight of Kaider's career as an ultra-cyclist for the time being. The 39-year-old can already look back on numerous successes: he is a two-time 24-hour time trial world champion (2022 and 2024), winner of the Race Around Austria and the Race Around Lower Austria. In June 2023, he crossed Austria in a record time of exactly 19 hours, which earned him an entry in the Guinness Book of Records. Kaider also used his participation in the RAAM for a good cause. The kilometres he cycled will benefit the "Bines Radl-Challenge" donation project run by the aid organisation "Sonne-International". Every kilometre is converted into donations for the continued existence of the "Sonne Schools" in Bangladesh, where children receive free school lessons and hot meals.
Austrian podium at the Race Across America
Another Austrian, Lukas Kaufmann, took second place behind Kaider. The 31-year-old from Upper Austria reached the finish line after 9 days, 13 hours and 40 minutes. It was Kaufmann's second consecutive second place at the RAAM. Third place went to Lionel Poggio from Switzerland, more than a day behind Kaufmann.
Kaufmann struggles with sleeping tactics
Before the Race Across America, Lukas Kaufmann, Thomas Hölzl and physician Dr Jürgen Minar discussed sleep tactics for a long time. "We wanted to try out an alternative method with longer breaks than last year. Some of our longest sleep times this year were over three hours, compared to a maximum of 1:50 hours last year. We monitored Lukas with a new sleep cap that measures brain waves. But then we realised that he had to ride over an hour faster every day because of the longer breaks. Unfortunately, this tactic didn't work out. Otherwise, in terms of pure riding times, he wasn't much slower than last year and in the last few days he was able to make up time on Philipp," describes Hölzl, who adds: "We certainly lost five hours in this RAAM because of the first three days, the rest because of the failed break management. In terms of riding times, we weren't much slower than in 2024." Overall, Lukas' total sleep time over the past ten days was 15:30 hours, compared to 10:15 hours last year.
Kristian Bauer
Editor
