New entries heat up the solo category

Fabio Biasiolo, 46, and Stephen Bugbee, 55, just confirmed their presence here in Brazil.

First timers here, but with large ultra experience, the cyclists will taste the beautiful and challenging race course.

Fabio, from Italy, won the Denver to Aspen Classic (200mi) in '00 and '01. Did for 4 years ('90 to '93) the Italian MTB Championships, the Europe MTB Cup and the World MTB Championships. In 1995 he did the Giro D'Italia in one stage, over 1.700 km, Fabios's first Ultracycling race ever, finishing 3rd overall and first Italian.

From 1997 until 2007, he's raced RAAM for 11 times, finishing 5th for two times ('98 and '99 - in less than 9 days); 3 times he was on the podium (third places in '00, '05 and '06).

Just 20 days after RAAM in '06 he rode the 1001 mile (the Giro D'Italia in one stage), finishing 2nd overall. Still in 2007 he did the Tour de France in one day with a Le Monde and LE Temps journalist (most important french and flemish newspapers), under the support of the AFLD (french agency against doping) and the University of Toulose (France) to show up that it is possible to ride the Tour de France at a good pace without any doping. He averaged 30 km/h!

Stephen, from Western Massachusetts competed the RAAM in 2008 and was 5th overall in the North American 24 Championships.