DAY2 BACK HOME

I'll cover Stage 2 - but, first let me say that in order to do well in a race like this, I've come to the following conclusions: (1) you probably need to live in the region because, (2) train like you want to race because you'll surely race like you trained, (3) if you have any health, physical and/or mechanical issues, you're screwed.

Stage 2 had the follow description for part of the stage and it pretty much described the craziness of the race - I went over the handlebars in this section and so did the guy in front of me - "hazardous downhill section, very primitive trail, perhaps only 50% or less rideable. Use caution."

I cannot begin to describe how horrible this section turned out to be but, I'll say that they only used the word "primitive" once but, there were more sections that fit the description. This section was only 5km and felt like 20km. It was full of downed trees, big,big roots & rocks everywhere, steep drops usually into a creek with a steep climb on the other side and/or a mud pit. This section was much more like an adventure race than a mtn bike race - we just happen to be carrying mtn bikes instead of backpacks.

Altitude uphill 4000 ft., Distance 60km. There was one climb to almost 6000ft in altitude.

Please pray for our troops, we lost 15 great men today, Ciao, V.B.