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RAAM: Robic's in trouble

Four-time Race Across America winner Jure Robic is looking rather vulnerable going into what likely is the final day of racing for the two leaders in the men's under-50 division.

Robic arrived in in Grafton, W.Va., at midnight EDT Wednesday, but Dani Wyss arrived in Grafton just five minutes later.

Given that Robic already has amassed an hour in penalties -- two 15-minute penalties and one 30-minute penalty -- while Wyss has no penalties, Robic is going to have to ride strong and hard today to defend his title.

Robic is projected to cross the finish line in Annapolis, Md., at 8:30 p.m. EDT today, with Wyss projected at finishing at 8:35. That, of course, means Wyss, a Swiss rider, would win the men's solo division because of Robic's time penalties.

Over on the women's side, Brazilian Daniela Figueiredo Genovesi and American Janet Christiansen are dueling out. Both made it through Illinois on Wednesday. Genovesi arrived in Sullivan, Ind., at 10:26 p.m. CDT Wednesday, while Christiansen arrived at 11:14 p.m. Genovesi has 30 minutes of penalties, compared with none for Christiansen.

There are plenty of competitors and teams still making their way through the St. Louis region. One solo male and one solo female competitor have yet to reach the Mississippi River near Alton, Ill., while there were 24 teams that still were either at or still approaching the river.

My hat's off to anyone who's able to ride for so long in such oppressive heat and humidity levels we've had the past few days in the St. Louis area. My hat's also off to the volunteers at the time stations and elsewhere who are putting in long hours for the cause.

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