Sheufelt top women’s solo rider in Race Across America
After riding her bike literally across America, you figured Janice Sheufelt of Juneau would be exhausted.
But apparently she was just getting started.
The 47-year-old pulled away on the final day of the 33rd annual Race Across America, winning the women’s solo division in 11 days, 18 hours, 2 minutes.
Sheufelt finished about 180 miles ahead of her nearest competitor. She had led by 150 miles a day earlier.
The Race Across America covers 3,020 miles from Oceanside, Calif., to Annapolis, Md.
Earlier in the race Sheufelt had spent part of a day in the hospital with altitude sickness while crossing the Colorado Rockies. She lost her lead but regained in a day or so.
Sheufelt is no stranger to the Race Across America or ultra-endurance cycling.
She won a 508-mile race through Death Valley in California a couple years ago and last year in the Race Across America she teamed with Joel Sothern to set a 2-person record in the 50-59 mixed age group with a time of 6 days, 21 hours, 48 minutes.
She is part Tlingit and frequently rides using her totem/tem name of Wooshketaan.