Canadian cycling duo places 1st in Race Across America

A Canadian cycling team earned top billing at a 3,000-mile event known as Race Across America (RAAM).

Paul Millar and Hannah Spence finished the gruelling endurance race after eight days, two hours and four minutes. Their journey took them from Oceanside, Calif. across the United States to the finish line in Annapolis, Md.

Millar and Spence, competing as Team Coast 2 Coast, topped the two-person mixed bracket. As well, their time was faster than their two-person male counterparts.

"It's quite an accomplishment to have beaten the men's teams for sure," crew chief Mark Keating told CBCSports.ca.

"We had two very strong riders in their own rights. They also managed the conditions that we had extremely well."

Keating was in charge of crew, equipment, vehicles and logistics for the duo. He previously worked with Spence when she was crew chief of Millar's four-person team in 2014. Spence, a duathlete and three-time RAAM crew chief, transitioned to the role of competitor for the first time.

"I kept having to actually physically look at myself on the bike. I was constantly catching glimpses of myself as a rider and it was just a very surreal experience," Spence, who is originally from Wales, told CBCSports.ca. 

"I always held these riders, these competitors on a bit of a pedestal over the last 10 years. So to actually be one of those riders was very surreal."

Millar finished RAAM for the fifth time, his second in the two-person category. He has also raced in the eight, four and solo events. According to Keating, Millar uses each racing opportunity to promote a charitable cause.

This year, he chose Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation, a "natural fit" according to Keating since Spence is employed as an event coordinator at the foundation.

A gruelling trek

The intensity of this race cannot be understated.  In addition to pedalling nearly non-stop through 12 different states (the race had two separate Maryland legs), cyclists are subjected to a litany of injury and health concerns.

"This race is a combination of riders obviously being extremely fit, extremely trained, able to endure long hours in the saddle, whatever weather conditions might be thrown at them," Keating said.

"On the back end it's a crap-ton of logistics to keep that train moving"

That includes dealing with flat tires and the occasional wildlife encounter. There was an incident in Colorado where a vehicle driving near the team struck an elk.

"We were required to stop, morally and legally required to stop, to make sure the other driver was safe," Keating said.

The team's car wasn't damaged and no passengers were hurt, but it did delay Millar and Spence. Keating reached out to RAAM to notify them about the accident, and their time was later credited with the 24 minutes they spent assisting.​

"Quite an endeavour," Keating said.