2003 Furnace Creek 508 Webcast

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Hope Springs Eternal

As two-person teams made rider changes around noontime, temps began rising into the 80s. No shade was visible for dozens of miles. Virtually devoid of trees, the desert valley floor was marked with sagebrush and telephone lines—and little else. Mountains on the horizon offered hope (and sometimes fear) of things to come.

Here in Tumbleweed City, the grasses are brown and the riders look pretty. Just under 50 miles into the two-person team race, most of the competitors still look fresh. Gradually, their crews will see a change that transforms smiling, happy people into gobs of goo.

Team Auk, a father/son team from suburban Portland, Oregon rides amongst the leaders. 18-year old Brad Raddcliffe smiled as his dad Randy took his pull.

Just 4 miles ahead, the desert native riders of Team Mountain Goat, Matthew Innes and Dan McGehee, relished their lead as the windmills of Tehachapi came into view. Matt and Dan almost certainly felt at home amidst the sand and sagebrush. Perhaps only the almond farms seemed foreign to them.

- Greg Pressler