Well my $0.02 is as follows: if we continue the principle that we will be faster in a group from the start to the top of Witkoppen than solo, then the approach to downhills would be the same as uphills. No-one is saying, if they did and I missed it, my apols, that we shouldn't climb up hills at a pace which is economically for the individual. All that was agreed is that we'd delay hitting the gas on the other side until we've all re-grouped? So downhills would be the same, descend economically, safely and within your limits (see the GCN video) and then after the downhill, we delay hitting the gas until we've regrouped? The challenge to the above downhill approach is if a downhill is followed immediately by an uphill, as the delay, perhaps extended, at the top of the uphill may cause the group to break up? I can't remember the course well enough to identify any points where this might happen........ I do think the more we 'unpack' tactics ahead of time, and on the day (!), that it will be a challenging ride for all of us, and probably in differing ways. Whether you are a strong rider who is helping out (kudos to you gents and ladies) or an 'original' I-group rider who may well be operating above and beyond one's normal intensity level (that'll be me!), or even wondering why the group is dawdling at times (remember YOU may not be the lowest common denominator at that point) it's going to play out differently from most of your/our previous races. My guess is, however it works out (you drop off, get dropped etc), you'll arrive at a point in the race when you've gone faster and more economically, done some 'new' stuff, and had more fun, than you would have done solo. Hopefully that's the point......?
