I was the person who accused Michael Trevino of cheating because Robic and his crew couldn’t believe that he was still up with Robic half way into the 2004 solo RAAM. I was a writer/reporter who was deputized as a temporary official by race director Jim Pitre because there were no other officials around. I realized I made a big mistake, and am sorry for it. Human beings make mistakes, and most of these do not cost you your life, but Robic made one that did when he was flying down a gravel/dirt road with sharp turns at high speed on his mountain bike, and was hit and killed head on by an automobile one year ago in September, 2010. Dani Wyss proved twice (in 2006 & 2009) that Robic was indeed beatable! Although an pneumonia caused Robic to quit in Colorado in 2006, he was healthy when Wyss rode all the way across the county close to Robic in 2009. Robic & crew had gotten so used to Jure starting out so hard and fast that he would open up this huge time gap to allow him relatively easy victories in 2004, 2005, 2007, & 2008. So Robic & crew must have been CRAZY to suddenly find themselves in a situation they had never been before in 2009 with Wyss. As a 5 time solo RAAM winner, Robic is the greatest RAAM rider ever, but it must have eaten away at him that he was never able to break Pete Penseyres’ solo RAAM speed record of 15.4 mph set in 1986.

Danny Chew,
two time (1996 & 1999) solo RAAM winner
Million Mile Man
690,000 miles into the life long goal!

1) He didn't get any advantage from it. There would be no problem, if Jure got a fine, as he did a wrong thing. But there was no need for the penalty from RAAM. But, ok, let's say it is fair, that he got the penalty, shall we?

2) Again, he didn't get any advantage, but let's say rules are rules, shall we? No problem.

3) He was behind the other racer for 30 miles. He was respecting the rule for 30 miles (!) and officials have not done anything. By RAAM rules, the slower driver should have gone off the road at one of the ramps, that are only 7 miles apart. He failed to do so for 4 times. Finally officials drove to the slower driver, it seems they decided to do something about this obvious problem. The offical care then gave some signals to Robic and they thought it was a sign that they can pass. All clear? But ok, let's say rules are rules and even if you get signals from the officials, you still shouldn't obey them.

4.) What does that have to do with anything? Remember, rules are rules, correct? They showed the videos to officials and they were just laughing and chose to only arrogantly wave with their hand. Would be interesting to hear how you can explain this?

Also, there are more youtube videos, he also clearly crossed double line. What is important here is, that not only these two cases should receive a penalty, but they were done by clear intention to cheat. Wyss is a cheater, look at the DOUBLE cross of red lights and one U turn. He KNEW he was cheating, he WANTED to cheat. He is a cheater. Can you honestly say that he didn't have an intention to cheat there? Can you honestly say, that officials didn't give him a penalty because… because… I can't even find a reason, that would sound reasonable enough.

5) Yes, Robic has been tested many many times in his career, all of course negative. If I am not mistaken, there were some tests also on previous RAAMs. Robic was also physically tested and the tests were not supernatural. He wins by superb mental preparation and because his body is used to working better with no sleep.

6)To all people talking about spying… it is something that is going on on RAAM for many years. Robic also had spies following him, in fact, he got some penalties on previous RAAMs because of the spies. There is nothing wrong with that, in fact RAAM even encourages this in their rules, Public Reporting is the title of the rule (or something close to that meaning, can't remember now)

Sincerely,
Lou Lamoureux

.. which brings me to this…

This years RAAM started out with a witch hunt to dethrone Robic and to encourage his competition.. read the pre-race articles…

As far as pissing at the start line… how many of us out there are going to run to the Port A potty and miss our race start, emotions are high, physiology takes over, I bet EVERY racer and race official has stopped on the road to take a piss or "other"… As far as returning to the "point of departure" the you tube video has the reporter waiting on Robic to return to the point of departure and stated that he did return…..? Another you tube video shows what "seems" to be Wyss making a right turn on red only to do a U turn and re enter back on to the course… see for yourself… thats makes 2 violations on his part… going of course without calling in and doing a u turn at a busy intersection…

the red white an blue… damn here we go, showing our "better than you card"by accusing the country instead of the character… I crewd for the Danes and raced against the german and the slovenian… the only difference was the language, at about 120 miles into it we're ALL getting our ass kicked… this race is about the human element and how we fucking adapt… not about international – sociological differences.. be safe on the road everyone