The Tour of the Medndips is a 3 stage race with a 5km time trial, 105 kms rolling course and a 80 kms hilly race on day 2. The Mendips are brutal. Harptree hill led up to the "rolling" stage was 1.5 kms at average 10% with a max grade of 14% - We would finish up Harptree on day 2, add in Barrington Coombe and Blagdon Hill and thats a lot of climbing (check these out on STRAVA - they are horrific). So, 2nd in the TT on day 1 (very pleased with this and would have been happy if this was as good as it got). 2nd stage sat in the bunch hoping it would not split and got 8th leaving me 3rd overall 6 seconds down on the leader into the last stage. The difference between glory and failure in cycling is tiny. I attacked with a group after about 25 kms, in a group of 8 and we made it to the base of Harptree with 30 seconds on the bunch. 4 minutes later and I lost the stage by half a wheel - but won the overall by 10 seconds. If the bunch had caught us I was so tired I would have come in last. This is the biggest win of my road career so far - very pleased.