Day Two of The Race Across America for Patrick Autissier was a more typical day on the racecourse. Patrick and the team were riding high on the emotions and success of Day One; however the true challenges of the Race Across America became obvious.
Patrick rode out this morning from Time Station 6 in Congress, AZ into the vast stretches of Arizona desert. Fortunately, the weather was unusually overcast for this part of the country, leading to a more mild 95 degree day, rather than the usually 110+ blistering heat. The course was difficult through the desert with many steep climbs: the first of which was the monstrous Yarnell Grade, 5 miles of steep winding switchbacks immediately North of Congress, AZ. The course took a detour heading toward Prescott, AZ as there was fresh oil being laid on the traditional course. The riders had to pass through the isolated and desolated towns of Skull Valley and Kirkland AZ before climbing another punishing climb up 2000ft to the tiny town of Iron Springs, AZ.
As Patrick arrived at Time Station 7 in Prescott, AZ tremendously fatigued from lack of sleep and the grueling climbs. However he pushed on after sleeping for only five minutes at the checkpoint. Going North from Prescott, the course took the rider and crew into the Northern highlands of Arizona as the evening progressed into a cold night. Patrick stopped to sleep two more times as the night went on, once in Williams, AZ and again in Flagstaff, each time for only two hours. As the morning came on Day Three, Patrick, feeling more rested returned to his bike once again. He has lost some valuable time and distance on many of the riders, yet he remains in position to get back into the pack.
The challenge over the next 24 hours will be for Patrick to make the first quarter cutoff time in Cortez, CO. He must pass Time Station 14 in Cortez, CO before Wednesday June 13TH at 14:00 EDT. The challenge for the crew will be to keep him positive, focused, and most importantly riding the bike onward.
Follow his progress online at www.raceacrossamerica.org and his own website www.patrickautissier.org. If possible, please contribute to his cause in the form of a donation.
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