I decided not to get held up or elbowed in the woods or the narrow gates at the start, so had to get off nice and fast. This meant setting off at 400 pace, but it worked well enough and I got clear, nobody went with me so I was all alone for the first half km. I couldn't catch anyone up going round the pike due to the wind. Oddly I overtook 3 people on the climb. The new descent is not as good as the old one, it's just too easy and feels hard as hell underfoot. The first lady slowed slightly on the last ramp up out of the woods so I decided to make a dash for it. I knew it was going to hurt and it had to be a sudden burst or she might just go with me. I got her and was in terrible O2 debt as I crossed the line. Finished in about 42.30 so well under my target of 45m. Good show, lots of pretty women on horses.