Started out with the whole bunch in a nervous state as we zig zagged our way through a narrow bike path. After the 1st turn onto dirt, the pace got real hot for about a mile until we chilled for a short bit.

I was in good position sitting ~10th wheel until some numb twat came rippin' up the middle of the pack and their shoulder hooked my right arm and I went into Ruth. For about a second I thought we were gonna keep it up, but it looked like Ruth's front wheel got knocked and she went down hard and her bike hooked right in front of me. I was already off balance as I was still getting leaned on by the rider who came up on my right and once I hit Ruth's bike I went down. Not ideal at mile 4 just a short section away from the real critical double track section. I gathered myself, got the chain back on, and started motorin' to get back to the front.

Thankfully I was able to team up with Carter and we made back around mile 20. The front group was really stretching and compressing and people would surge or attack and then it would all come back together.

Then Lachlan went off the front and got a gap, and I decided that's where I wanted to be so I launched and bridged to Lachlan. We rolled real well together and got ~3min on the main pack before the major climb. About 1 mile from the top, a group of 7 caught us. I was able to change with them down the descent and over the next few rollers, but when Peter went hard up a long stretch I just couldn't hang.

I worked with Eric for a bit and we got within about 20 seconds, but we were both shattered and the gap quickly exploded. I dropped Eric shortly thereafter and spent the next 2hrs ripping into a hell of a head wind solo. I was still sitting 6th at that point, and made it to about half a mile to go when I turned onto the real steep city street kickers and a group came flying by me and my heart just sank.

I gave it everything I had to hold off any group that was chasing behind, but just didn't quite have the legs. Still pretty happy with this one after wasting all that energy chasing after the crash. Onto Big Sugar!