STA, 19 June 2022 - Slovenian ultra-distance cyclist Marko Baloh, 54, has won the Race across the West in the US, which he took part in for the third time, clocking in 59 hours and 29 minutes.
The 1,497km race had more than 16,000 metres of climbing, running along the same route as the first part of the Race Across America (RAAM).
In a statement, Baloh said that apart from winning the race and setting a record in the 50+ age group, the goal was to get as close as possible to the average speed he achieved when he first won it in 2014 (28.9km per hour).
While the first two goals were achieved, Baolh said the third was not within his reach due the extreme heat.
He held on to his lead on the third and final night of the race in the solo competition, winning the stage at the same time as Team Alaska, which won the team category.
Baloh decided to take part because the Red Bull Trans Siberian Extreme race from Moscow to Vladivostok was again rescheduled while organising participation in RAAM in such a short time was not feasible.
He is happy with the result and with the fact that he managed to keep in touch with the competition at RAAM, which bodes well for the rest of the season and for next year. After three years of waiting, he will join in 2023 the Red Bull Trans Siberian Extreme.
