Stage 1 saw 28 riders toe the line for the days 65 mile leg and 7800 feet of climbing, with Evan Plews being the only pro. Right from the start everyone was viewing this as a more intimate race with the chance to really get to know your competitors since there were so few to ride with each day. We rolled off with a seaside start right on the Pacific Ocean beach in Rosarito before heading inland along the back farm roads that challenged every rider with mangy dogs chasing you as each farm/house rolled by. With in the first 5 miles the climbing began with steep rolling hills highlighted with the steep climb up Tequila Hill where our group of 7 stopped for shots of Mexico's finest before setting back out to the first rest stop. Conditions remained cool and as we approached the second aide station at the 50 mile mark the headwinds kicked up to 20+ mph - always a pleasure to ride into a strong wind during the entire 19 mile climb. Evan blew through the course so fast the finish area was yet to be set up by the time he rolled into Tecate to end day 1. In Masters I grabbed my first stage win and was able to take 6 minutes out of second.

Stage 2, an 85 miles slog across the back country of Baja, on paper looked to be fairly easy with only 5500 feet of climbing, until the prerace meeting revealed the presence of 13 - 17 miles of deep sand that would be unrideable, and the fact that we would be sharing a section of the course with the Baja race vehicles that were prerunning the course for next week's race. Race day dawned with temps in the low 40's and the continuation of yesterdays menacing headwind which stayed with us for the first 53 miles of the course. This was the first time I have had to get off and walk on a flat section due to the deep sand with the other option being riding through the bush (complete with thorns and rattlers) to stay in the hard pack - tried both and went for the walking. The stage ended with a fast descent down hardpack road with sections of deep sand and of course near the bottom a pitbull that was all teeth and drool chasing you near the bottom. After the downhill we were treated to 6 miles of washboard road with sections of deep sand before rolling into the finish that included young bmx riders throwing rocks at some of us! Once again Evan blew the field away and rode into town, had a margarita and stretched before the finish line crew showed up. Again I nabbed another stage win and further padded my lead, taking another 35 minutes out of second. This time would prove vital as the bronchitis I had been battling the past few weeks was coming back in a big way.

Stage 3 kicked off with a 2.5 hour bus ride to the Valle de Trinidad. The days 53 miles and 6800 feet of climbing opened with what seemed to be the traditional 5 mile sand and washboard slog to the base of the climb to Mike's Sky Ranch which featured pitches in excess of 18 degrees. The descent was fast and rocky, serving up 2 flats before finally pulling into the first rest stop and the ensuing hike a bike to the summit for a descent that was better suited for the Red Bull Challenge then a stage race. Feeling like someone had me in a bear hug the entire stage I marked time against second in Master's over the balance of the course. The final descent was another fast dirt road section made all the more tricky by the loss of my rear brakes, the sand having finally worn them to the point of no return. Of course to make us all suffer the final 5 miles were over, you guessed it, sandy washboard road. Evan did his usual show and I struggled in second in Masters losing 8 minutes of my lead. Then back on the bus for 2.5 hours of beer drinking before getting to the hotel and dinner.

Stage 4 was shortened to just under 40 miles and 2200 feet of climbing after most everyone agreed that the had been enough sand and the 3 mile beach section near the finish should be dropped, which it was. By now the bronchitis was so bad I could hardly breath and knew I would be giving up time, the question was how much. It only got worse on the first descent when I hit a bone jarring ditch in the trail that even Stan's couldn't save. Keeping a cool head I rode on at the pace I felt would cover me for the finish. Then midway through the stage I suffered a third and fourth flat and with no tubes left went begging from anyone. Managed to pull it back together, dig deep to put in the required effort and come home first in Masters with an 8 minute lead and 6th overall.

In the end despite all of the concerns about safety not once (aside from the dogs) did I feel we were put into an uncomfortable situation. Armando Carrasco did a good job of putting on a race that highlighted some of the most beautiful parts of Northern Baja.Now it's Margarita time!