I decided that starting as close behind Andy was the best strategy to defend my second place. We started almost straight away and had a steady run drifting downwind to the first turn where conditions were gradually improving.

Just after the second turn we had a good run under the overdeveloping clouds which I could see ahead were beginning to rain.

Andy got into cloud just before me and James Ewence followed in after. I took the climb to 8000ft (7.3kt average over 5200ft) and glid through the cloud and rain, round the turn and to the sunshine at cheltenham where a couple of small climbs and a good final glide got me home first.