RAAM update - the end is in sight for Robic and Redgrave

We're now entering the closing stages of the men's RAAM solo event, and it looks as if it's going to be the Jure Robic show again. The Slovenian four-time winner has pulled away from second placed Gerhard Gulewicz (AUT) and is three time stations ahead with only five left on the route – he's just 130 miles from the finish now. Australian Matthew Warner-Smith is in the third podium position.

In the women's event, recumbent rider Barbara Buatois is comfortably in the lead after two and a half thousand miles, four time stations ahead of her nearest rival, South African Michele Santilhano. Italy's Sabrina Bianchi lies in third position.

The teams have been fairly flying across the continent; we were excited to see the UK's two 8-man teams – Convicts of the Road and the Sir Steve Redgrave Crew – occupying first and second spots on the road, before we realised that was because Team Type 1 and Team ViaSat of the USA had already crossed the line, the former at an average speed just a whisker under 23mph. Still, our boys are doing well. It looks like Convicts of the Road are more or less assured of third place now but Steve and his chaps will be anxiously looking over their shoulders at the DurhamCares team who were only 8 minutes behind at the last checkpoint.

In the 4-man competition Team RAF Survitec Epic are finding the going tough and they've dropped another place – they're now running seventh – while Team Sharp4Prostate are still up in fourth spot. USA-based team Bandwidth.com are making the running and they're just over 200 miles from home.

Velocity Bikes are hanging in there in the 2-man race, they have another 1,000 miles to go but not much hope of catching the Biking Vikings (NOR) or Team Summit (USA).