The Race Across America (RAAM) bicycle race will be traveling through Blanchester again this year.

Solo and team cyclists participating in RAAM are expected to arrive in Blanchester on Wednesday, June 16. A station has been set up on the McDonald’s parking lot on West Main Street in Blanchester.

Tina Fischer, who is assisting in the local planning, said the first riders are expected to arrive between 4 and 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Doug Phillis is captain of the Blanchester time station. Also assisting is Amy McFadden.

“You can see projections of the arrival times of races by visiting www.ohioraam.org,” Fischer said.

The Blanchester planners also manage the Oxford station.

Solo and team cyclists participating in the “World’s Toughest Bicycle Race,” began leaving the starting point in Oceanside, Calif., on June 8. The women solo riders started the race, followed by 60-plus men, solo men and teams.

The 3,000 mile race will end in Annapolis, Md.

Fischer said a number of local businesses, organizations and schools have signed on as supporters of the race and have provided goods and services for the event. “We invite anyone to become a part of this race by volunteering to staff the local time station, become a RAAM photographer, help supply the volunteers with snacks and lots of coffee,” Fischer said. “Staffing the time station is easy and great fun. Veterans will be on hand to train and assist.”

The toughest endurance event in the world, RAAM offers long-distance cyclists the opportunity to challenge themselves to the height of their abilities. Winners complete the course in approximately nine days as a solo rider and six days as a team effort, sometimes sleeping as little as 2 hours per day. Participants brave the desert, plains and mountain weather, lead a crew in a mini-organization of support and raise thousands of dollars for charities around the world.

“RAAM unites people of all backgrounds, nationalities and cycling histories in an adventure that challenges them to the core of everything they are,” said Fred Boethling, who purchased rights to the race in 2006, after becoming the oldest man to successfully race RAAM solo across the country. “It’s man against the elements, the road, and ultimately, him or herself.”

Athletes race continuously day and night, on their own power or sharing the challenge with a team and a crew of 8 to 15 people following in support cars with food and supplies for the race. Riders 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 go to www.ohioraam.org or follow it on Twitter at ohioraam.org.