TAREE rider Jacob Fryatt is the leading rider in the Indian Pacific Wheel Race from Perth to Sydney, while Michael Cross is on track for an April 10 finish.
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They are into the 10th day and both are still going strongly.
"What I planned to be a shorter ride turned longer. A massive day with 290km of riding, but got me 130km further than my plan. With a tailwind for a lot of the day, I took fair advantage of that and pushed through some pain,'' Cross wrote on his blog.
"After stopping in Ceduna and restocking (thanks to Shianne at Foodland) I set off for Wirulla where I knew there was nothing open to restock at all, instead choosing Poochera a further 40km down route, where I booked a bed and looked forward to a shower and some rest. A second night in the bivvy with possible rain wasn't my favourable option and with no other choice, it had to be the long ride. Arriving into Poochera @10.30 pm. Not ideal, but I now have a comfy bed calling me. Thanks to the guys for letting me arrive late, so appreciated today!''
Fryatt rode from Murray Bridge to Portland, a massive 520km.
"He still looks to be doing okay physically, or he's hiding it pretty well,'' Cross wrote.
Cross's wife, Tanya, has been in regular contact.
"Michael's in good spirits and he had a good day Sunday,'' she said.
Tanya added that he is on track to finish on April 10 - his 50th birthday.
"He's had problems with a badly chaffed bum - he had to ride 190km out of his seat because he couldn't sit down,'' Tanya added.
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"He did have one moment where he wasn't sure if he could keep going, but he's over that now and he's starting to ride into a bit of form.''
As of yesterday Cross had ridden 2179km and Fryatt 3488.
Tanya said Fryatt could be finished as soon as this weekend and said he's 'hundreds of kilometres' in front of the nearest rider.
The pair are raising funds for Jason 'Buddy' Miller, a close mate of Cross's, who has had both his feet and hands amputated after contracting an infection.