In 2009, the Race Across America, often referred to as 'The Toughest Race on Earth,' evolved into the most intense battle in the history of the men's solo division. In a race featuring previous RAAM champions, Slovenian Jure Robic and Dani Wyss from Switzerland soon took control at the front of the race.

Dani Wyss adopted a race strategy of 'hunting Robic.' For thousands of miles, he became Robic's shadow. A shadow that transformed into a monkey and latched firmly onto Robic's back. This seemed to be a predetermined race strategy, and it made sense. Robic had almost always established huge leads, so to have a rider keep him within striking distance was new territory for him.

Under the sun and stars, across deserts, over mountains, and across an entire nation from the Pacific to the Atlantic, two men fought with everything they could muster to reign supreme. As the competition escalated, the pressure mounted, and you could almost feel the tremors of shifting tectonic plates. But would the volcano blow?

Finding himself outside his comfort zone, pushed past the brink of exhaustion, Robic lost focus and failed in a spectacular fashion. Others followed suit, including Robic's race crew, media crew, and RAAM race management.

Along the way, I made my mistakes too. Like everyone else involved, I was hoping to find a way back to sanity.

Things got ugly and uglier while Robic searched for his sanity; Dani Wyss just kept shadowing him, like a silent killer, waiting for the lava to flow—the exact perfect moment to emerge from the shadows and claim his victory.

Unfortunately, that never happened.

Ultra-endurance bicycle racing is for hardened athletes. Athletes with spectacular fitness and physical capacity, but mental focus is often the difference-maker, and in 2009, this was never more clearly displayed.

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