Stage 5 - First Day Going Solo

The biggest bummer of continuing without a partner is having to line up in the "open" section behind all the seeded riders. With seven seeded sections you're behind at least 400 riders. I say at least because if you don't get to the start early in the open section you could end up behind another 300+riders. Such was the case this morning for me. It took me 8k before I was able to make way to the E seeded riders. By them I was pretty cooked. I rode with Stijn and Lindsey to water stop 1. At that point i knew i had to chill. The pace had been fast despite being the longest stage in the race's history at 143k. They had extended the cutoff by an hour just for today. I wouldn't need it today.
The course brushed the coast for about 17k which was nice and cool except for the sand. Actually the sand was an advantage as I was able clear sections that others had to walk. Then I broke my chain. I lost a few minutes and had shifting problems all the way to the next water stop where Shimano was to help fix it. It gave me a forced rest which probably served me well for the rest of the day. I felt unusually strong after a tough crosswind section where I worked with four riders in a very nice echelon. We reeled in quite a number of fading riders. I came into town towing a large group including Dylan and Robbie who are with our massage therapists(btw we get the every day and it is keeping of going) I pulled almost the entire final 5k. One individual rider tried to take the sprint but i felt like it was mine so i took it. It didn't mean a whole lot but it was fun.
It was a long but beautiful ride over variable terrain and scenery.