By a wide margin my favorite stage race of the Fall (traditionally). Beach race is always a madcap exhibition of pro level skills. Such is the nature of a track like this that backmarkers are quickly jammed up with the leaders attempting to penetrate the massed carnage. A highly dangerous single wide metal tunnel assures nobody can outright dominate at the front.
Bearing that last in mind. For the first time ever course design was a bit of a letdown. I’d say a pass is deserved this year when every event was in doubt. It bears mentioning because of how consistently innovative the designers are on what is a fairly static track layout. Lap after lap things fall apart more than they allow being linked. Which after about 2:30 ends up making things very interesting.
Small language warning for those not WFH.
Update: Best video to come out of this year’s stage race so far. Most of these GoPro videos stink of big sponsor money robbing you of the real experience. Being inside the race on a bike set up to choke on dust and rocks long enough to suffer untold abuses. Lee “Conkers” Thomas deserves every tin nickel and slug quarter he can shake loose from Youtube for this video.
Increased level language warning if sensitive ears are nearby