TYLER, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Race Across America Powered by Trane (RAAM) – the world’s toughest and longest-running transcontinental cycling race – has crossed the finish line after an unrelenting 3,000 miles. Trane, a leading global provider of indoor comfort solutions and services and a brand of Ingersoll Rand (NYSE: IR), commemorated its 100th anniversary by aligning its reputation for unstoppable reliability with the world’s most unstoppable athletes as RAAM’s first-ever presenting sponsor.
“The synergistic relationship between RAAM and Trane has been a great fit. RAAM racers truly embody the spirit of the Trane brand,” said Scott Martin, vice president of marketing for Ingersoll Rand. “We are proud to have been a part of this amazing race as part of our centennial celebration.”
Beginning in Oceanside, Calif., more than 300 cyclists raced 3,000 miles to the RAAM finish line in Annapolis, Md. Traveling alongside was the Trane Endurance Team made up of two college students who won a national competition to serve as Trane brand ambassadors. Throughout the race, they cheered on racers, delivered Trane gear to spectators and registered fans to win prizes as part of Trane’s “100 Years, 100 Prizes” sweepstakes.
The Trane Endurance Team also awarded four racers and teams with Trane Unstoppable Awards for unbelievable endurance on the race course. Award recipients were:
- Gary Feldstein, who completed RAAM’s Race Across the West (RAW), which runs 860 miles long from Oceanside, Calif. to Durango, Colo., in three days, 19 hours and 27 minutes even after suffering from food poisoning at the start of RAW.
- Maria Parker, the first female, solo finisher. Maria managed to completed RAAM in 11 days, 20 hours and 54 minutes despite witnessing her support crew van being totaled within the 600 miles of the race.
- Team Melanoma Exposed, a four-person team that was quickly reduced to a three-person team after one team member hit a deer on his bike, sustaining severe injuries. The team completed the race in six days, 10 hours and 40 minutes.
- Team Mira RAAM Quebec, an eight-person, amateur team equipped with off-the-shelf bikes and a skeleton support crew, that crossed the finish line in eight days and 14 hours.
Overall RAAM winners include Austrian cyclist Christoph Strasser, who won the solo, male, under-50 division by finishing in a record-setting seven days, 22 hours and 52 minutes; and Love, Sweat & Gears, which won the female, four-person team, under-50 division with a time of six days, 18 hours and 55 minutes.
To learn more about the Trane Endurance Team’s travels, visit Facebook.com/Trane. To see a list of all Race Across America Powered by Trane finishers, visit www.ridefarther.com.
About Trane
Trane, a brand of Ingersoll Rand (NYSE: IR), advances the quality of life by creating and sustaining safe, comfortable and efficient environments. Our people and our family of brands—including Club Car®, Ingersoll Rand®, Schlage®, Thermo King® and Trane® —work together to enhance the quality and comfort of air in homes and buildings; transport and protect food and perishables; secure homes and commercial properties; and increase industrial productivity and efficiency. Trane solutions optimize indoor environments with a broad portfolio of energy efficient heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems, building and contracting services, parts support and advanced control. Ingersoll Rand is a $14 billion global business committed to a world of sustainable progress and enduring results. For more information, visit ingersollrand.com or trane.com.
About RAAM
RAAM and SOUL EVENTS are world leaders in the sport of endurance bicycle racing. The team is responsible for the Race Across America (RAAM), the world’s premier ultra-endurance bicycle race, a 3000-mile coast-to-coast race across the USA, as well as the Race Across the West (RAW), an 860-mile race across the Western US, the RAAM Cycling Challenge Series, and the 6-12-24 Hour Endurance Time Trail World Championships. In addition, they offer seminars on endurance bicycle racing and sanction endurance races worldwide. For information, visit www.raceacrossamerica.org.