ANNAPOLIS, Md., June 24, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Allegiant Cycling Team finished first in the 2011 Race Across America (RAAM). After five days, 11 hours and 17 minutes of cycling, the four-man team crossed the finish line at 1:25 a.m., missing the record set in 2004 by three hours and beating British cyclists, Team Feat – Data Techniques, by more than two hours.
Allegiant Air Cycling Team co-founders Andy Bestwick and Tony Gebbia were joined this year by Bob McCall and Mauricio Prado. The team started the 3,000-mile bicycle race on June 18 in Oceanside, Calif., and finished in Annapolis, Md.Considered among the toughest endurance events in the world, RAAM offers long-distance cyclists the opportunity to challenge themselves while raising thousands of dollars for charity.
"As a competitor in last year's race, I can attest to the dedication, hard work, grueling days and utter satisfaction our team experienced this year. I am thrilled for them and look forward to beating our record next year," Maurice J. Gallagher Jr., Allegiant Chairman and CEO said.
More than 1,500 cyclists have completed RAAM since its first edition in 1982. Past winners have completed the course in approximately nine days as a solo rider and six days as a team effort, sometimes with as little as two hours of sleep per day.
The Allegiant Cycling Team is still collecting donations for the Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Greater Las Vegas. Check out www.rmhlv.com/allegiant.html, or www.facebook.com/pages/Allegiant-Air-Cycling for more information.
Allegiant, travel is our deal.
Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Company (Nasdaq:ALGT) is focused on linking travelers in small cities to world-class leisure destinations such as Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix-Mesa, Orlando, Fla., and Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fla. Through its subsidiary, Allegiant Air, the company operates a low-cost, high-efficiency, all-jet passenger airline offering air travel both on a stand-alone basis and bundled with hotel rooms, rental cars and other travel-related services. In 2010, Allegiant was ranked number one for low-cost carriers in Aviation Week's Top Performing Airline study and ranked 25 on FORTUNE magazine's Fastest-Growing Companies list. Receive breaking news from Allegiant by visiting Allegiant's Facebook Fan Page at www.facebook.com/Allegiant or follow Allegiant on Twitter at twitter.com/allegiantair.
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About the Race Across America (RAAM)
The Race Across America, known as the "world's toughest bicycle race", set over 250 competitors on a 3,000-mile route stretching from Oceanside, California to Annapolis, Maryland. Athletes race continuously day and night, on their own power or sharing the challenge with a team, and a crew of 8 -15 people following in support cars with food and supplies for the race. These courageous adventurers brave heat, wind, thunderstorms, altitude, the dark of night, fatigue, and sleep deprivation, cross two major mountain ranges, and raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity.
For more information and race updates, see http://www.raceacrossamerica.org.
About Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Las Vegas
Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®) of Greater Las Vegas is a non-profit, 501 (c) 3 organization that provides temporary housing for families who travel to Las Vegas to receive medical treatment for their children. Since 1974, Ronald McDonald Houses around the world have been providing a comfortable, supportive environment where families can sleep, eat, relax, and find support from families in similar situations.
RMHC of Greater Las Vegas also works to better the lives of children and their families in Southern Nevada by creating, seeking out and supporting programs that directly improve the health, education and well-being of children. Through Lunch is On Us, the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile and the RMHC Scholarship program, RMHC of Greater Las Vegas helps thousands of children every year. Contact us at (702) 252-4663 or visit us online at www.rmhlv.com.