Cycling races of 200, 400 miles start and end in Marble Falls
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
MARBLE FALLS — The Race Across America Cycling Challenge Series begins March 28 at Johnson Park in Marble Falls.
It’s the fourth year the Texas Series will be based here.
“We found our home in Marble Falls,” race director Jon Reiling said. “Number one, its proximity to Austin and cycling, and the people (in Marble Falls) are so welcoming. (The Marble Falls/Lake LBJ) Chamber of Commerce was so willing to work with us. And you can’t beat the beauty of the Hill Country.”
The race remains an endurance cycling series, but now the only categories for distances are 200 and 400 miles. Athletes can still compete solo or on two- or four-person teams. RAAM used to have race distances of 30, 60 and 120 miles in addition to the 200 and 400 miles.
“What we do best is put on the best endurance race,” Reiling said. “People who are riding (the 200- and 400-mile) distances are using that as qualifiers for Race Across America.”
Those who want to participate in the ultimate RAAM must compete in a cycling challenge series. The Texas Series is one of five that includes Oceanside, California; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota; Steamboat Springs, Colorado; and Columbus, Ohio.
The Texas courses cover various parts of the Hill Country, including Bandera, Fredericksburg, Kerrville and Boerne.
Reiling said RAAM is trying to tempt cyclists who ride 60-100 miles to race its series, noting those distances are stepping stones for endurance cycling.
“Almost anyone can ride 200 miles,” he said. “People come from all over the world. It compares to climbing Mount Everest.”
The 400-mile race begins at 5 a.m. with the 200-mile race starting at 3 p.m. It’s a 24-hour race, with riders returning to Johnson Park at 1 p.m. March 29.
The 200-mile route will take riders from the park by way of Avenue J, Yett Street, Avenue H and First Street onto U.S. 281 South and then to FM 2147 East. From there, it goes to CR 404 and CR 408, traveling past Spicewood and taking backroad highways. It continues down to Comfort and Kerrville before circling back up to 281 and Johnson Park.
The 400-mile takes the same route locally and goes out as far west as the Nueces River before heading back on Texas 41 East north of Kerrville, and taking several highways and smaller roads back to Marble Falls.
For detailed route maps click here for the 200-mile race and here for the 400-mile race.
jfierro@thepicayune.com