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Leah Goldstein makes history by becoming first female cyclist to win Race Across America

The 52-year-old completed 'the toughest bicycle race in the world' in a time of 11 days 3 hours and 3 minutes...

Ultra cyclist Leah Goldstein has made history by becoming the first woman to win the brutal Race Across America

Leah Goldstein, 52, won the 3,000 mile (4,800km) long endurance race in a time of 11 d 3 h 3 m at an average speed of 11.8mph.

Leah previously competed in the event in 2019, when she won the women's solo category, breaking the previous record by 12 hours.

> Who is Fiona Kolbinger? The medical student who became the first woman to win the Transcontinental Race

This year's course, beginning in Oceanside, California, climbed 175,000 feet and crossed 12 states, before finishing at City Dock in Annapolis, Maryland.

Leah saw off fierce competition to take a historic victory at the race, which was first established in 1982.

During the race, the organisers posted on Facebook, giving an insight into the gruelling day to day life of the eventual winner.

They said: "Goldstein has reportedly changed her sleep schedule from what she did in 2019.

"Last time she alternated between taking a 90-minute and a three-hour sleep each night. This year she is sticking to three hours for a deeper REM cycle and that seems to be working better.

"She has chapped lips, saddle sores - all the usual things that come with RAAM. But aside from those expected issues, she seems to be holding strong."

Speaking at the finish, Leah’s teammate, Connie Cantrell, said: “Actions will always speak louder than words in my book.

"Make your actions speak volumes and don’t be afraid to calmly tell someone that their snap judgment in words is incorrect. Use your own words to spread kindness. Don’t let anyone’s words label you.”

Born in Canada, Leah was raised in Israel and she spent 9 years in the Israeli special forces before embarking on a career as a professional road cyclist.

Lead image credit: Tara Roberts/Moosey Productions

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13 comments

Avatar
brooksby | 3 years ago
3 likes
Quote:

Leah Goldstein makes history by becoming first female cyclist to win Race Across America

That's better, guys!  yes

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Simon E replied to brooksby | 3 years ago
1 like
brooksby wrote:
Quote:

Leah Goldstein makes history by becoming first female cyclist to win Race Across America

That's better, guys!  yes

Agreed.

In the same vein I see Cavendish's stage win didn't say "Cyclist claims Tour stage win after setbacks and rumours of retirement".

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peted76 | 3 years ago
2 likes

Got to love these human endurance records and wins.. knocking down walls, this is a good scalp for female equality!

Chapeaux!

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to peted76 | 3 years ago
0 likes

Although when Fiona Kolbinger won the TCR, wasn't there a few people posting on here that she is in the medical profession so must be using some new drugs being as she beat all those men.

 

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OnTheRopes | 3 years ago
1 like

Leah Goldstein makes history by becoming first woman cyclist to win Race Across America

is how it should read

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OldRidgeback | 3 years ago
2 likes

Chapeau - that's an amazing example of endurance cycling. And she's 52 too, so an additional chapeau for showing what us grey-haired folks can do...

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Rendel Harris replied to OldRidgeback | 3 years ago
0 likes
OldRidgeback wrote:

Chapeau - that's an amazing example of endurance cycling. And she's 52 too, so an additional chapeau for showing what us grey-haired folks can do...

I'm 52...and it shows what some grey-haired folks can do, not me! But absolutely chapeau, the numbers are flabberghasting.

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EddyBerckx | 3 years ago
4 likes

A quite ridiculous race...won by an amazing athlete!!

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Smultie | 3 years ago
5 likes

Wow, a cyclist, really?

Haha, why not write down her name?

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Mungecrundle replied to Smultie | 3 years ago
5 likes

Leah Goldstein makes history by becoming first woman to win Race Across America.

Agreed. I gave it a go and it wasn't that difficult.

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sizbut replied to Smultie | 3 years ago
1 like

Not just a cyclist, a female cyclist. That first sentence is not the finest example of pithy, precise, informative journalism.

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to sizbut | 3 years ago
0 likes

Although on all showing news (home, news, search) of the website (apart from the latest comments link), it always contains the second sub header with more details. (Not stating I don't agree the headline could have been better).

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Global Nomad | 3 years ago
8 likes

 ~chapeau....amazing effort and no doubt years of hard build up.....circa 400km/day for 11days...yikes

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