DPA/Oceanside, California

Achim Heukemes set off on Tuesday on a quest to set a new record in one of the world’s toughest endurance competitions, the Race Across America: a nonstop bicycle race from the US west coast to the east coast.
The 63-year-old extreme athlete will cycle day and night, trying to reach the finish line in 10 days, 10 hours and 10 minutes—faster than anyone over 60 ever has.
“The clock starts when I start and it stops when I reach the end.  What happens in between is irrelevant—the clock keeps ticking,” Heukemes said, waiting for the race’s start at a beachside snack bar in Oceanside, California.
In between, however, is the challenge. There lie 4,834 kilometres of desert, mountains and wind-whipped plains, and the perils of the open road on little or no sleep. Competitors have a limit of 12 days to finish the race. Since the event was founded in 1982, race organizers said, fewer than 200 ever have.
Heukemes may be better prepared than most.
From his home in Rottendorf in the southern state of Bavaria, the grandfather of two has made a life of traveling long distances, first as a truck driver, and for the last 30 years, as an endurance athlete.
He holds world records for crossing Europe, Australia and the United States. He once completed 10 Iron Man events in 10 days, one after the other.
The last time he crossed America coast to coast, he did it twice - once cycling, then again on foot.
“I can handle distances. I can handle little sleep. I can live with sleep deprivation. I’m used to that from driving a truck,” he said.  The key is to stay connected to one’s own body and to listen.
“The body always sends warning signals. When you understand them, you can work with your body,” he said. “I just trust my body.”
Race organizers say the US summer heat—with temperatures that can soar to over 37 degrees over parts of the route—is the biggest challenge to European competitors.
But Heukemes said in endurance races the greatest challenge comes from within.
“Imposing your will on your body - that’s what I find fascinating about extreme sports. It’s your will that makes the difference between victory and defeat,” he said.
He said fans’ messages, sent over his website and Facebook page, help keep the wheels turning. His support team read them to him as he rides through the night.
“I love that so many people write me, ‘ride a little faster, push a little harder, think about your 10-10-10,’” he said. “That always motivates me.”
Heukemes isn’t the oldest person in the race—a 71-year-old Russian and a 69-year-old Frenchman have a few years on him. But he also knows he’s not the youngest.
“It’s very important that everyone rides his own race. I’m not going to let the young guys tempt me into putting on the gas,” he said.
His daily target of 460 kilometres a day is fast enough to set his own record, and that’s fast enough.
Rick Boethling, Race Across America’s executive director, told dpa Heukemes’ 10-10-10 was an ambitious goal for someone who has never ridden the race before.
“There’s no race that’s comparable. So no matter what he’s done, he’s never done this,” he said.
That was about to change. As waves crashed on the foggy beach along Oceanside’s bike path, Heukemes and 39 other solo cyclists from 17 countries queued up for their turn under the inflatable black arch that marked the starting line.
Just a few dozen fans turned out for the start of the race, easily outnumbered by the cyclists and the support teams that drive alongside them, keeping them safe from traffic, fed and awake. A sound system blasted electric guitar.
At 1:30 pm (2230 GMT), Heukemes cycled up to the start line, relaxed and smiling as he flashed a peace sign at spectators. A race official handed him a GPS tracker, which he slipped into a pocket on his shirt. And then the countdown began.
“Five, four, three, two, one...”
The clock started. Heukemes let out a whoop, and set off down the road.