Philipp Kaider, from Lower Austria, has already covered two-thirds of the route, having cycled 3,300 kilometres. On his time trial bike, he is tackling these enormous distances and is aiming for his second victory in the race across the USA. He is currently finding the mornings difficult, whilst in the afternoons and evenings he finds his rhythm and maintains a consistently high pace.
A difficult start at the halfway point of the RAAM
On Saturday morning at 09:51 local time, Kaider reached the halfway point of the RAAM 2026 route after covering 2,469 kilometres. It was an emotional moment, blending relief at having covered that distance with the realisation that the same route still lay ahead of him. The start of the day following his sleep break proved problematic. Stefan Krejcza from the day shift reported that the rider initially had trouble finding his bearings. The morning was also a struggle before last year’s winner got into his stride.
Physical problems require treatment
The 40-year-old is experiencing discomfort due to prolonged sitting and tension in his neck and shoulders. An additional stop was necessary to provide him with physiotherapy. The support team has given the all-clear and describes the situation as stable and well under control. Kaider is consistently carrying out his exercises on the bike throughout the ride. He coped well with the endless straights in Kansas. He describes the conditions at RAAM as favourable, as he can keep his head down and ride fast in an aerodynamic position. He says it’s like indoor training, only outdoors.
From Kansas to Missouri
Kaider and his team have left Kansas behind and reached Missouri. The landscape is much greener, and typical brick buildings characterise the appearance of many towns. Even the place names sound different to those in the western states. For the first time, spectators are appearing regularly along the route to cheer on the rider from Lower Austria. The team reports that this support gives him an extra boost and creates some lovely moments for him.
Kaider is familiar with Missouri from last year. The hot and humid terrain means you have to carry your momentum up the opposite hill. He has a less pleasant memory associated with this stretch of the route: from Missouri to Ohio, the air is thick with the smell of roadkill – armadillos, possums and other animals lying by the roadside.
Music as a companion on the RAAM
The crew has started selecting songs for him based on specified themes. There has already been intense discussion about the musical selection. For Kaider, music is an important part of his long days in the saddle at RAAM 2026. He used to play bass himself back in his wild days, when the weekend started on a Wednesday and ended on a Sunday, and he was still a chain smoker. Despite all the challenges, the mood within the team remains positive.
Thomas Mauerhofer in the chase at the RAAM
The Live Tracker shows the Austrian Thomas Mauerhofer currently in second place, some 400 kilometres behind. That looks like a solid lead – but predictions are difficult in ultracycling. This is particularly true because Mauerhofer had to take breaks due to the weather, as his support team reported on Instagram: “We’ve had a few problems since last night. Severe thunderstorms and strong headwinds sapped a lot of energy. We changed our tactics – weathering the worst of the storm, recharging our batteries, relaxing our muscles and getting back into full swing as soon as possible. The after-effects of the 2018 accident took their toll, which meant we had to make a few extra stops for treatment.” In 2018, Mauerhofer competed in the Race Across America (RAAM) for the first time. Whilst on course for a medal, he was seriously hit by a car. The impact resulted in a fractured cervical vertebra.
A little further back in the race is Pawel Nowak, who became known as the cycling priest.
Kristian Bauer
Editor
